Chapter 19
Colette’s heart felt like a heavy stone in her chest as she walked toward the restaurant where she’d barely worked for a week. The thought of asking for time off, especially an entire week, seemed almost absurd. She knew the manager wouldn’t be happy–how could he be? She hadn’t even had time to prove herself, and now she needed to vanish for days on end.
The air felt thick with tension as she stepped inside the restaurant, her mind already bracing for the worst. When she approached the manager, she could see the look in his eyes–the one that said he had already made up his mind. As she explained her situation, her words felt hollow, knowing they wouldn’t change the inevitable.
Sure enough, his response was curt and expected. “Return your apron by the end of your shift and clear out your locker.” The finality of his words hit her like a punch to the gut, though she had prepared herself for this outcome. All throughout her shift, the thought gnawed at her: was she deliberately being foolish, or was this some inherent flaw in her? It seemed like her life was a perpetual loop of mistakes, and here she was, caught in the same trap once
again.
The hours dragged on, and each passing minute felt like a reminder of her own perceived stupidity. As she folded the last napkin and wiped down the last table, she couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of despair. She was back at square one–no job, no stability, and once again tethered to the man who had brought her so much pain.
Leaving the restaurant for the final time, Colette felt the cold bite of reality. She had willingly sacrificed something important to her for Matt once again!. The somber, grey clouds overhead matched her mood as she trudged home, feeling defeated and utterly lost.
The next morning brought no relief. The gloomy atmosphere of the previous day had seeped into the new dawn, leaving Colette with a sense of impending doom. When the doorbell rang, her heart sank further, knowing who would be on the other side.
“Devil is here to get his due!” Zoe chirped after peeking through the peephole, her tone dripping with disdain. The comment stung, but Colette didn’t have the energy for another argument. “Zoe, please,” she whispered, her voice heavy with resignation. She was too tired, too emotionally drained, to defend her choices–choices she wasn’t even sure were her own anymore.
“No point saying ‘Please‘ to me.” Zoe tusked, slipping on her jacket as she prepared to leave for work. “You’ve sold your soul to the devil. Better be ready to pay for it, darling.” The words hung in the air like a curse, a truth Colette couldn’t deny.
Outside, Matt stood by his gleaming white BMW, every inch the perfect gentleman as he opened the door for her. The contrast between his polished exterior and the turmoil inside her was stark. As she slid into the passenger seat, she couldn’t help but feel like she was sealing her fate all over again.
Matt took the driver’s seat, the engine purring to life as they pulled away from the curb. Colette stared straight ahead, her thoughts a whirlwind of regret and uncertainty. She was heading back into the storm, and the worst part was, she wasn’t even sure why.
As soon as they pulled away from Zoe’s apartment, Matt flashed Colette a smile. “Packed enough for a week?” he asked, his voice laced with an almost casual cheerfulness. But Colette could only manage a half–hearted shrug in response. The loss of her job had cast a dark cloud over her mood, and the last thing she wanted was to chat with the man who was at the center of her frustration.
The car’s engine hummed as they merged onto the road, but it wasn’t long before something felt wrong–terribly wrong. A familiar scent began to fill the car’s interior, creeping into her nostrils with a sickening sweetness. It was the Eau de Parfum–pink peonies and lychee–a scent she knew all too well. Iris’s signature perfume. Colette’s breath caught in her throat, her stomach twisting into knots.
She had stood beside Iris enough times, suffocating under that cloying aroma, to know it anywhere. Her eyes widened in horror, staring at Matt’s face as if seeing him for the first time. Her mind raced. Iris had been in this car. Recently. There was no other explanation for that scent lingering in the air like a ghost.
1/2
11:17 pm GP PP
The End Of a Marriage
Chapter 29
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
