23. Sally

“Director Shields, of the renowned Zenith Enterprises, was arrested just this morning on charges of illegal dealings – dealings of what, we don’t yet know.”

The sound of the newscaster’s voice sends an eerie sensation down my spine. It’s more to do with what she’s saying than her voice, though. More than a week after we returned back home, Drakar finally admitted the purpose of our trip and his investigation. It broke my heart a little to get irrefutable proof that our romantic getaway wasn’t about romance at all.

Now, Director Shields, the director of Drakar’s company, has finally been apprehended for the crimes my husband has been trying his damn best to gather evidence on.

My husband. But for how much longer?

With Shields finally coming face to face with karma, my role as Mrs. Drakar Tvojan may soon become redundant.

The glaring light of the television mocks me with each flicker scaring the shadows away before inviting them back in.

You knew, it jabs viciously. You knew the parameters of this marriage when you signed on the dotted line.

Yes, I knew. So, why does my heart clench at the thought of taking this ring off my finger?

I shift my ring finger, watching the diamond sparkle in the glow of artificial lighting. The truth is that I’ve always been a means to an end where Drakar is concerned. My presence was a temporary fix, and time has run out.

As the newscast drones on in the background, I can”t help but feel a sense of impending doom. I had hoped that once the scandal was resolved, Drakar and I could finally explore the possibility of a real relationship. We’ve grown close over the past few months, and I’d allowed myself to believe that there might be something more between us. But now, as I hear the newscast, I realize that I was just fooling myself.

The newscaster”s voice is somber as she reports on the latest developments in the case. Director Shields has been arrested, and the evidence against him is mounting. I should be relieved, but instead, I feel a sense of dread. Without the scandal hanging over us, what reason does Drakar have to keep up the charade?

I hear the sound of keys jingling outside the door, and my heart races in anticipation. This is it. The moment of truth. I take a deep breath and steel myself for whatever comes next.

And then I hear it. The sound of his voice, low and urgent, as he speaks into his phone. ”We don”t need to continue the marriage charade anymore.”

My heart sinks like a stone. So it”s true. Now that the scandal has been resolved, Drakar no longer has any use for me. The realization hits me like a ton of bricks, and I can”t help but feel a sense of betrayal. Hadn”t we grown closer over these past few months? Hadn”t we shared something real?

Apparently not.

I listen to Drakar”s words on the phone, feeling like someone has punched me in the gut. The pain is immediate and intense, and I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I try to hold them back, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

Shattered by the revelation, I gather my things silently, as I hear Drakar make his way straight to his home office. My movements are mechanical and robotic.

I can”t believe I was so foolish to think that this marriage was anything more than a sham. I’ve allowed myself to be blinded by the possibility of a happy ending when all along, it was just a means to an end for Drakar.

But it seemed so real at times. The way he held me. The way he’d kiss me. The way we could sit with each other and it was like nothing in the world could disturb what we had. Or at least, what it felt like we had.

I take one last look around the space, my eyes lingering on the photo of us that sits on the mantle. It seems like a lifetime ago that it was taken. I can”t help but feel a sense of regret, knowing that I will never be able to really experience the happiness that we faked in that moment.

“Goodbye,” I whisper, feeling my throat swell with emotion.

I square my shoulders and make my way to the back door, my heart heavy with the weight of my disappointment. I know that I need to leave, to put this all behind me. But as I step out into the cool evening air, I can”t help but feel a sense of loss. This was the life I had imagined for myself, and now it”s all slipping away.

As I slide into the driver”s seat of Matilda, I can feel the weight of my emotions pressing down on me. The quiet hum of the engine is a stark contrast to the tumult inside me, and I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I glance in the rearview mirror and see the reflection of the building where I had hoped to build a life with Drakar. It”s all gone now.

“I never should have…” The words get caught in my throat.

I look out the windshield, but the streets ahead are blurred by my tears. I can”t believe that this is how it ends. After everything we”ve been through together, it all comes down to this. I thought we had something real, something that could last. But I was wrong.

“Of course you were,” I scold myself. “A man like him… He’d never give me the time of day unless I had something to give.”

And that’s exactly what happened.

I take a deep breath and start the car, pulling out onto the road. My hands grip the steering wheel tightly as I try to focus on the road ahead. I don”t know where I”m going, but I know that I can”t stay here any longer. I need to get away from the pain and the heartache.

I”m not usually one to cry, but this pain is too much to bear. I feel like I”ve lost a piece of myself, and I don”t know how to move forward. I try to focus on the road, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Drakar. I wonder if he”s thinking about me at all, or if I was just a means to an end for him.

Eventually, I pull over to the side of the road, my car idling softly. I take a deep breath and look out at the darkened landscape. There”s a peacefulness here that I haven”t felt in a long time.

I close my eyes and let the tears come, feeling the pain and heartache wash over me. I know that this is just the beginning and that there will be many more tears to come. But for now, I just need to let it all out.

“Fuck!” I shout, slamming my hands against the steering wheel. “Fuck, fuck, fucking shit!”

That”s all I can say or do for a long time.

When I finally open my eyes again, I take a deep breath and start the car. I don”t know where I”m going, but I know that I can”t stay here forever. I need to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it may be.

I take a deep breath and whisper to myself, ”I”ll be okay. I”ll get through this.”

My movements are mechanical, fueled by the heartbreak that is coursing through my veins. Each mile feels like it”s widening the chasm between us, and the reality of my departure is settling in with each passing moment.

As I drive, I replay the events of the past few months in my mind. The way we met, the way he pulled that prick, Aurelius, off me like he was nothing but a bothersome insect. I remember feeling so helpless, so scared. But Drakar was there, like a knight in shining armor. I’d never had anyone do such a thing for me.

Drakar was so kind, despite the gruffness. He listened to my pathetic sob story and… he seemed like he really cared. Deep down… didn’t he? I remember the way he would smile at me, the way his eyes would light up when we connected on the things we shared in common. I thought that maybe, just maybe, there was something more between us.

But now, the truth is staring me in the face. Drakar never loved me. He never intended to. And I was just a pawn in his game. I feel the tears start to fall again, and I let them come. I don”t try to hold them back anymore. There”s no point.

I take a deep breath and wipe away the tears. I know that this is just the beginning and that there will be many more challenges ahead. But for now, I just need to keep driving. One mile at a time. I need to find a way to move forward without Drakar.

I think back to the way he said those words on the phone. ”We don”t need to continue the marriage charade anymore.”

There was no emotion in his voice, no hint of regret. He was just a businessman, closing a deal. I feel a pang of hurt in my chest, but I push it away. I can”t let myself get bogged down in the pain. I need to focus on the future.

“You’ll get through this,” I tell myself, almost demanding it. “After the life you’ve lived… This is just another bump in the road.

As I drive, I start to feel a sense of determination. I won”t let Drakar”s betrayal define me. I am stronger than this. I will find a way to move on, to build a new life for myself.

And maybe I”ll find a way to move forward without Drakar.