Divorce Time

Chapter 2

He had completely forgotten it was Charlene’s birthday. Even though Charlene had braced herself for disappointment, she still couldn’t help but feel a sting of sadness.

After getting ready for the day, she was about to head downstairs when she heard Jasmine and their nanny, Latonia, chatting away.

“Is everything alright, sweetie? You seem a bit down,” Latonia inquired, concern lacing her voice.

Jasmine answered sadly, “I was really looking forward to hitting the beach with Ms. Hawkins tomorrow. Dad and I had everything planned. Now that Mom’s shown up out of nowhere, it’d be kind of awkward if she came with us. And Mom’s always so mean to Ms. Hawkins.”

Latonia said, “Honey, she’s your mom. You shouldn’t talk like that. It could hurt her feelings.”

“I know, but Dad and I like Ms. Hawkins more. Can’t I have Ms. Hawkins be my mom?”

Charlene couldn’t make out Latonia’s response after that. She had raised Jasmine with all the love a mother could give. Yet these past two years, the father–daughter bond had seemingly grown stronger with her husband, Thorne, spending more time with Jasmine. Thome had moved to Goldland last year to expand his business, and Jasmine insisted on going with him.

want to stay with her. But she couldn’t stand the thought of Jasmine being unhappy, Go she

as Jasmine’s words weighed her down, rooting her to the spot. She had taken time off work to

repacked the gifts she had brought from home into

to say she had taken the child out, telling Charlene to reach out if she needed anything.

the bed, Charlene felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness. She had made this trip, leaving her job behind, only to realize only to realize they didn’t need her. Her presence felt like a joke.

some time, she left the house and wandered through this land that was both foreign and familiar to

the morning’s conversation, she hesitated on whether to go back and include her daughter

I need to cancel

Thorne, work

plans on a whim, never considering her feelings. Did it hurt? Maybe it once did.

come all this way, eager and hopeful, only to be met with indifference from both her

the time. As she was about

with their daughter, sharing laughs and bites of her pastry while Thorne looked on with affection, his attention seemingly reserved

matter. And there was their daughter, born from Charlene’s flesh, enjoying the company of another

woman.