Narration: Paige
Upon my arrival, my friends greet me at the airport. Sarah starts crying and hugs me tightly. I don't say anything; her pregnancy has made her very emotional, at least that's what Ethan has told me through messages.
Riley is as usual, she's not as affectionate as Sarah. I greet them both and we head to Sarah's house. I'm surprised to see that they have everything planned out, even the lawyer has her own room in this house.
At Emily's house, my friend and Mason's father are waiting for me. I greet them both with hugs, and what can I say about Simba? He's thrilled to be with the people he missed. It hurts to see certain things, like my baby being happier here than with me. Despite having space and the ocean to run and enjoy, I feel like he's happier being with everyone here than being with me. It's something I've been contemplating, it hurts to face the truth, but it's an option I will consider when I leave.
They update me on my friend's pregnancy news, show me the photos, and I give them the gifts I brought for each of them. I look at the baby pictures and get emotional. I'm not usually sentimental, but it's the first time I see them in person. It's different from seeing them on the phone or through a camera. I cry tears of joy for my friends, and we celebrate with some beers.
After talking with everyone, Emily asks me.
"Can we take Simba with us? At least for today, we've missed him so much," she says with excited eyes.
"Of course." I crouch down and kiss my baby, who happily goes with them.
It's just the three of us now, and my friend Riley looks at me. Before she says anything, I tell her,
"Don't worry, I've practiced my cold expression, and I have it perfectly prepared."
She nods as she listens and responds,
"I hope so. I won't tolerate you being all sweet with him. He doesn't deserve it, and I'm sorry, Sarah, I know he's your friend, but what he's doing is not right, and you know it."
Sarah replies,
"I know, I haven't even talked to him in days. I understand that he's going to be a father and all that, but what made me furious was that he wants to live in the same house where he lived with you. I agree with you being completely cold to him. I'm being the same way too."
"Well, in a few hours, I have to go sign the papers. I'll go take a bath," I tell them both.
"Go ahead, we'll wait for you here," they both respond at once.
I take a bath and search for the clothes I brought specifically for this moment. Yes, I brought a specific outfit to wear for the signing. Well, Tabatha chose it, and I liked the outfit, so that's why I'll wear it today. As I get dressed, I look at my reflection and practice the cold expression I'll wear when I see Mason.
When I return with them, they're both looking at me in surprise since I don't usually dress like this. A change is always good, right?
They complement me with positive comments about my appearance, and I sincerely thank them for everything they say.
Both of them accompany me to sign the divorce papers, but they wait outside the room. It's the best thing they can do. As I enter, I see my lawyer who arrived before me to start preparing everything. I made a small last-minute change to the agreement. After finding out that he will pay me my share of the house because he will live there with his new family, I don't want that money. I prefer it to go to people who truly need it. It's not something I plan to involve Emily and her husband in; they don't need to know those details. I don't consider it necessary.
I sense a presence behind me that makes me tense. I don't have to turn around to know who it is. I won't recount the same things he did. I don't consider it necessary. I'll just say that it took a lot of effort to remain composed in front of him, especially when he insisted on wanting a moment to "talk" with me. From my side, there's nothing, other than work-related matters, to discuss with him. I'm disappointed by the little importance he gave me, and it's disrespectful that he will live in the same house I occupied for almost three years. It hurts, a lot.
My friends are the ones responsible for taking me to the company. Riley apologizes because she has something important to attend to, says goodbye to us at the entrance, and leaves. We walk and laugh because my friend tells me she would love to see Mason's face when he sees me dressed like this. I feel completely different from how he knew me.
We open the door to my office, and we see him sitting in my chair, waiting for me. Both of us stop laughing.
"Welcome to your company. Come closer, so I can bring you up to date with what has been done here," Mason says, pointing to the chair he stood up from when he saw us enter.
"Sarah, come with us. You know about the subject as well, and you would be helpful," I tell my friend.
"I'm sorry, I just remembered that I have to go get some things. I'll wait for you to have dinner," the traitor says, smiling and leaving my office.
I didn't want to be alone with him. I'm afraid of showing how I truly feel. I have to stay cold and composed.
I approach slowly and sit where he indicated, hoping he starts talking. His scent distracts me.
I watch him speaking and pointing out everything he has done during this time, but I only understand half of what he's saying.
At one point, he stops talking and looks at me before saying,
"Even if you don't believe me, I missed you, and it hurts that everything ended like this between us. I didn't want things to turn out this way. I fell in love, and there's nothing I can do about it. The heart doesn't follow orders," I hear him say, and I can't believe he has the audacity to tell me that he fell in love with that woman.
As if knowing it wasn't enough, he has to repeat it.
"I don't need you to say anything else, I already know that, and I wish you all the happiness in the world. I have already moved on with my life outside of this country, and you have to do the same. Let's focus on the work that keeps me here with you," I say seriously, taking some papers.
I see him distancing himself from me and taking a few steps back. He looks at me as if he doesn't believe what I just said, and I look at the papers to avoid having to look him in the eye.