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Novel Catalog
Chapter 21 Tattled On Her
Mason paused in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room as though searching for something he couldn’t quite find. “Ms. Smith,” he started, his voice measured yet carrying an edge of sincerity, “Mr. Rainsworth has asked me to bring you back.”
Cecilia remained still, her expression a mix of indifference and quiet pain. She had grown used to hearing the same title over the years—“Ms. Smith.” It had been her label, the one that always tied her to a man she could no longer recognize. For three years, she had been Nathaniel’s wife, constantly reminding herself that she was part of his world. But now, that title felt like a chain, dragging her down instead of uplifting her.
“I’m not going back,” Cecilia replied firmly, her voice unwavering despite the storm of emotions inside her. “If you’re here, you can help me contact Nathaniel. Tell him I want to meet today, to finalize the divorce.”
Her heart ached as she spoke those words. She had never imagined that it would come to this. Her marriage, once full of promises and dreams, now felt like a distant memory. The decision to end it was hers, and yet it still felt like a betrayal of everything she had once believed in. But she knew it was the right choice. It had to be.
Mason stood frozen for a moment, taken aback by her coldness. He was no stranger to the strained relationship between Cecilia and Nathaniel. He had seen how desperately Cecilia had clung to her husband, how she had once followed him like a shadow, unwilling to let go no matter how distant he had become. But now, there was nothing left of the woman who had once adored Nathaniel. She had made her choice, and it was clear she wouldn’t be swayed.
“You should know,” Mason said, his voice softer now, as though trying to offer some advice, “Nathaniel isn’t someone who can be easily swayed. He’s dealing with his own demons right now. If you really want this divorce to happen, you have to be prepared. It’s not just about you anymore, Cecilia. You have to consider what this will mean for him as well.”
Cecilia heard the words, but they barely registered. She had heard it all before, the endless explanations and justifications. But she was past that point now. She had been patient for too long, waited for Nathaniel to see her, to love her as she had loved him. But he hadn’t. And now, she was done waiting.
“I’ve made my decision,” Cecilia said, her voice steady and resolute. “I don’t want him anymore. I can’t keep chasing after someone who doesn’t want me. Tell him, Mason, I’m ready for the divorce. I just want to move on with my life.”
Mason’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. He could see the finality in her tone, the way she had shut herself off from the world, determined not to fall into the same traps again. There was no more negotiation, no more hope for reconciliation. It was over.
For a moment, he just stood there, his gaze lingering on her as if trying to gauge whether she truly meant what she said. But in the end, he simply nodded. “I’ll pass along your message, Ms. Smith.”
Before he turned to leave, Cecilia spoke again, her voice a whisper that hung in the air like an unspoken truth.
“Mason,” she called out, and he paused, glancing back over his shoulder. “I don’t need him. I never did. I don’t need anyone who doesn’t want me. But… I’ll never forget how he made me feel. Even when I wasn’t enough for him.”
Mason’s expression softened, a flicker of something akin to sympathy in his eyes. But he didn’t reply. He simply nodded once more, then walked out the door.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Cecilia stood still for a moment, staring at the empty space he had left. The silence in the room was deafening, and she could feel the weight of her decision pressing down on her chest. She had made her choice, but it didn’t make the pain any less real.
The rain continued to fall outside, relentless and unforgiving, mirroring the storm inside her heart. She walked over to her phone, hesitating for a brief moment before unlocking it. Her fingers hovered over Nathaniel’s name, and for a fleeting second, she thought about calling him, asking him for one last conversation. But she quickly dismissed the thought. There was nothing left to say. The damage had already been done, and no amount of words would change what had happened between them.
Cecilia took a deep breath, then deleted his contact from her phone. It was time to let go, to finally set herself free from the man who had once been her everything. No more second chances, no more hope.
Her eyes welled up with unshed tears, but she blinked them away, refusing to let herself break down. She had already cried too much over the years, wasted too many tears on a love that was never truly hers to keep.
As she stood there, the rain outside continued to pour, but Cecilia knew that, for the first time in a long while, she was finally ready to face whatever came next. There was no going back now. She had chosen herself.
