Chapter 2: The Breaking Point
Raegan stood frozen in the doorway, her grip tightening on the document in her hands. Luis’s voice echoed in her ears, and Mitchel’s cold, dismissive words felt like a slap to her face. She had always known their marriage was unconventional, but she never imagined it would come to this—being discussed like a pawn in a game she didn’t even know she was playing.
“Raegan,” Luis repeated, his tone shifting from casual to concerned. “How long have you been standing there?”
Mitchel turned, his sharp features unreadable as his eyes met hers. For a moment, there was silence, heavy and suffocating. Raegan’s heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to stay composed. She wouldn’t let them see how much this hurt.
“I just came to deliver this,” she said, her voice steady as she held out the document. Her hand didn’t tremble, though her insides felt like they were collapsing.
Mitchel took the file without a word, his expression still unreadable. Luis, however, looked uneasy, his usual confidence faltering under the weight of the awkward situation.
“Raegan, I—” Luis started, but she cut him off.
“It’s fine,” she said, forcing a small smile. “I’ll get back to work.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away, her steps measured and deliberate. She could feel their eyes on her back, but she refused to look back. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her break.
Once she was out of sight, Raegan’s composure began to crack. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps as she made her way to the elevator. The walls of the hallway seemed to close in around her, and she felt like she was drowning in a sea of betrayal and heartbreak.
When the elevator doors closed behind her, she finally let herself crumble. Tears streamed down her face as she leaned against the wall, her body shaking with silent sobs. How could Mitchel be so cold? How could he dismiss her so easily, as if their marriage—and her feelings—meant nothing?
And Lauren. The name burned in her mind like a brand. Lauren Murray, the famous designer, the woman who had once held Mitchel’s heart. The woman who still held it, apparently.
Raegan had always known about Lauren. She’d heard the stories, seen the photos of the glamorous couple they once were. But she’d convinced herself that it was in the past, that Mitchel had moved on. Now, she wasn’t so sure.
The elevator dinged, signaling her arrival on the ground floor. Raegan quickly wiped her tears, straightened her posture, and stepped out, her mask of professionalism firmly back in place. She couldn’t let anyone see her weakness, not here, not now.
As she walked back to her desk, her mind raced. She needed to think, to process everything. But more than that, she needed to decide what to do next. She couldn’t keep living like this, in a marriage that was nothing more than a facade.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a notification on her phone. It was another news alert about Lauren Murray. This time, the headline read: “Lauren Murray’s Return Sparks Rumors of Rekindled Romance with Dixon Group President.”
Raegan’s stomach churned as she clicked on the article. There were more photos of Lauren and Mitchel, this time at a high-end restaurant. They looked cozy, intimate, like a couple deeply in love.
She couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed her bag and headed for the exit, ignoring the curious glances from her coworkers. She needed air, space, time to think.
Outside, the crisp autumn air hit her face, a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere of the office. She walked aimlessly, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She thought about the baby growing inside her, the life she had dreamed of building with Mitchel. But now, those dreams felt like a cruel joke.
As she wandered, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Mitchel: “Where are you? We need to talk.”
Raegan stared at the screen, her fingers trembling as she typed out a reply: “I’m done talking.”
She hit send before she could second-guess herself, then turned off her phone. For the first time in years, she felt a sense of clarity. She couldn’t keep living in the shadow of a man who didn’t love her, who saw her as nothing more than a convenience.
It was time to take control of her life, for herself and for her baby.