Chapter 9: Unraveling
Julian swiftly removed his suit and draped it over Rita, who was crying and screaming as if the world was coming to an end.
“Olivia, get out!” Julian bellowed, not noticing how pale I had become.
Roy, still recovering from the shock, quickly moved to support me. “Are you okay, Mrs. Frost?”
I gritted my teeth, my eyes bloodshot with anger. “Julian, you really make me sick.”
I pushed Roy’s hand away. I could barely stand, but I refused to accept help.
Roy glanced at me, concern evident. “Ms. Frost seems to have hurt her back. It looks pretty serious.”
Julian’s face shifted with guilt, as if my pained expression finally reached him. He dropped his hold on Rita, hurriedly stood up, and chased after me.
I made my way out of the office and stumbled to the elevator. “Sherry, I want to end this now. I don’t want to see his face again.” My voice cracked with emotion as I leaned against the elevator corner, choking back sobs. I couldn’t go back to the office in such a state. I had to force my way out, heading for my new house instead.
Sherry, sensing the breakdown in my voice, grabbed her purse and keys. “Where are you?”
I gave her the address.
“Okay, I’ll be right over.” She knew me well—having grown up together and been my divorce lawyer. While I seemed soft on the outside, Sherry understood there was steel beneath the surface.
Since discovering Julian’s infidelity, I had stayed composed, quietly preparing the divorce papers. Even when the pain cut deep, I kept my emotions in check, never letting Sherry see me cry. But this time… I had completely broken down. Even the strongest walls can crumble under the weight of unbearable pain.
“I’ll wait for you,” I said, my voice hollow. I closed my eyes, letting my hair fall over my face, blocking out all the light. My thoughts felt like they were being pulled into a never-ending black hole.
I had no idea how much time passed before I heard a muffled voice in the elevator.
“Are you done?”
My eyes snapped open, as though the blinds in my mind had shattered.
I was met by the sight of a black wool coat, its shoulders filling my vision, framing a pale neck. Cold, deep eyes stared at me.
“It’s you…” I recognized him immediately, my eyes fixed on his face.
He seemed to have a headache, likely annoyed by the fact that I had taken over the corner of the elevator. He leaned over, blocking my path like a mountain. Instinctively, I raised my hand to push him away. “What are you—”
Before I could finish, his long fingers brushed my elbow, guiding me aside to tap the fingerprint scanner.
I hadn’t fully realized what was happening until now. The elevator hadn’t moved because I hadn’t pressed the button… and I had blocked the fingerprint lock. How embarrassing.
The elevator finally started moving. I pressed the button for my floor, accidentally catching a glimpse of his destination—Floor 46. The air in the small space seemed to thicken, like congealed ramen broth.
His phone vibrated. He answered with a deep voice. “Yes? Hah? Bust measurements? Ms. Frost asked that…?”
My neck creaked as I turned my head, tension rising in my chest. I took a deep breath. “Um… I hope you weren’t offended.”
His expression remained calm, unreadable.
The elevator doors dinged, and I quickly stepped out, holding my back in discomfort.
By the time Sherry arrived, I was lying on my stomach, the pain still lingering, but a small sense of relief washing over me.
“What happened?” she asked softly, crouching down beside me.
I realized that the awkward moment with the man in the elevator had somehow calmed me down. I recounted the events at the office, and Sherry’s anger flared.
“While you’re still bleeding in his office, he’s parading that homewrecker through the lobby? Screwing around during business hours? And he DARED shove you?! You’re sure you just want divorce papers?” She stabbed a croissant angrily. “They’re practically pissing on your doorstep.”
My back still ached, and I winced as I tried to roll over. “You know, I didn’t choose this path because I was afraid of him. I’m going to tell him that I’m done with him. I’m done with this unfaithful, rotten man. I’m throwing him away like garbage.”
Sherry’s gaze softened, and she gently rubbed my head. “Then how did you get yourself into such a mess?”
“Got… carried away,” I muttered. “But in fifteen days, even if they fuck on my desk, I’ll just order air freshener.”
Sherry made a face. “Ew… that’s gross.”
“It’s like animals mating. I’ll spit at most.”
“… I’ll pray for your stomach then.”
Sherry bought me a plaster for my back and stayed with me until it got dark.
Meanwhile, Julian searched everywhere he thought I might be. He called all my friends and even went to my parents’ house, but I was nowhere to be found. Sherry was the first person he contacted, but she said she didn’t know where I was. When he called a second time, she didn’t pick up. By the tenth time, I finally spoke up.
“Take it, he should know you left the firm in the afternoon.”
“Son of a bitch,” Sherry muttered, walking to the balcony to answer the phone.
I heard her sneer through the glass. “Thought you’d throw a party now that Olivia’s ghosted? No more cockblocking from your little side piece, huh?”
I could hear Julian’s gravelly voice on the other end. “Let me talk to her.”
“Sorry, I don’t know where she is. Oh, maybe she jumped into the sea. Should I get you search-and-salvage vessels?”
She hung up, a smile curling on her lips.
Julian’s face must have been thunderous.
Sherry’s phone rang again, and I said, “I’ll take it.”
There was a long silence on the other end before Julian’s voice came through, heavy with emotion. “Where are you? I’m coming to pick you up now! How’s your back? Does it still hurt?”
“Heh…” I laughed bitterly. “Save the Lifetime movie act for your mistress.”
