“Chloe, don’t get cocky. You think you’ve
won? Liam is mine now!”
“Tiffany, I don’t want Liam. But you’d better
stay away from me. Or you’ll regret it.”
I hung up and blocked her number.
Liam showed up at my parents‘ house.
He looked dishevelled, unshaven, his clothes.
wrinkled.
“What do you want?”
“Chloe, can I please come in and talk?” His
voice was hoarse.
I sidestepped, holding Jason, and he entered.
“Chloe, I know I messed up. Please forgive
- me. Let’s get back together.”
“Liam, are you still dreaming?”
“Jason is so young. Do you want him to grow
up in a broken home? Please, just forgive me
this once.”
“Yes, Jason is so young,” I said, my voice
laced with sarcasm, “and yet you still
cheated.”
His face hardened. “Chloe, do you have to be
like this?”
Claire walked in, carrying groceries. “What
are you doing here?” She stepped in front of
me, glaring at Liam. “Get out of here, you
piece of trash!”
I felt a surge of warmth at Claire’s
protectiveness.
“Claire, stay out of this. This is between
Chloe and me.”
“Between Chloe and you? You have some
nerve! You cheating scumbag!”
Liam, speechless, pleaded with me. “Chloe, I
got fired. I have nothing left. Let’s go
somewhere, just us, and start over.”
“Get lost! Chloe deserves better!” Claire
shoved him towards the door.
“Chloe, are you really going to be this
heartless?” Liam made one last attempt.
I stared at him coldly. “The moment you
betrayed me, there was nothing left between
us.”
“Do you want me to become like your
mother?”
He flinched as if struck. He looked at me in
disbelief, tears finally spilling down his
cheeks.
He said nothing more, just stood and followed
me to the courthouse.
After signing the papers, he handed me the
divorce certificate. “Chloe, I’m sorry…”
I didn’t reply, just took the certificate and left.
My phone rang. It was Claire.
“Chloe, your visa’s approved! I booked the
flights. We leave tomorrow!”
I paused, then laughed. “Okay. I’ll be ready.”
I hung up and looked back at the courthouse.
The sun was on my face. I closed my eyes,
savoring the feeling of freedom.
Life abroad was busy and fulfilling. Claire’s
mom helped with Jason, allowing me to focus
on work. I hadn’t felt this absorbed in my
career in years.
Claire’s company was young and energetic,
reminding me of my own ambitious younger
self.
“Chloe, company dinner tonight. Are your
coming?” Anna, a colleague, asked.
I rubbed my temples. “You guys go ahead. I’m
く
too tired.”
“Chloe, you haven’t relaxed in ages! You’re
going to turn into a robot!”
My phone rang. It was my former mother–in-
law.
“Mom?”
“Chloe, I’m getting divorced.” Her voice was
calm.
I was stunned. “What happened?”
She chuckled. “Nothing happened. We just
can’t do it anymore. While I can still walk, I’m
going to live for myself.”
“Mom, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Chloe. Don’t worry. I’m going on a
trip soon. Haven’t felt this free in years.
“”
“You’re right, Mom. You deserve to live for
yourself.”
I hung up, still a little dazed.
“Chloe, are you alright?” Anna asked,
concerned.
く
I shook my head. “I’m fine. I’ve changed my
mind. I’ll come to dinner!”
Anna beamed. “Really? Great! Go get ready!
I’ll help you pick out an outfit!”
That night, I put on makeup and went to the
restaurant. My colleagues were impressed,
showering me with compliments. One man, an
Asian–American, kept glancing my way. I later
learned he was our new Creative Director,
David.
Months later, Tiffany’s name was trending
again, not as a glamorous influencer, but as a
distraught single mother, accusing Liam of
abandoning her and their child.
She was pregnant, looking, claiming Liam
refused to provide any financial support. She
cried about her struggles, Liam’s cruelty, the
hardship of life.
Liam issued a statement, promising to pay
child support but refusing to marry her.
The internet exploded, condemning him as
heartless. Tiffany used the opportunity to
further paint herself as a victim. Liam became.
a pariah, his career taking a major hit.
I felt nothing.
But Tiffany’s desperation hadn’t reached its
peak.
The next trending topic was
#TiffanyBlakeAbortion. The comments section.
was a chaotic mix of speculation and
judgement.
“Seriously? Five months pregnant and she
had an abortion? That’s cold.”
“I heard she had complications, hemorrhaged,
might not be able to have kids anymore.
وو
Even though I knew Tiffany was trouble, I felt
a pang of something…not sympathy, but
perhaps pity.
For the next few months, Liam and Tiffany’s
drama played out in the headlines. Their toxic
<
relationship became public fodder.
But public attention is fickle. Gradually, the
news died down.
