Chapter 3: A Glimmer of Strength
Raegan wandered the city streets, her mind a storm of emotions. The crisp autumn air bit at her cheeks, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were consumed by Mitchel, Lauren, and the tiny life growing inside her. She felt like a ship lost at sea, tossed by waves of betrayal, heartbreak, and uncertainty.
But amidst the chaos, a small spark of determination began to flicker. She couldn’t keep living like this—waiting for scraps of affection from a man who saw her as nothing more than a placeholder. She deserved more. Her baby deserved more.
She found herself in a small park, the kind of place she used to visit as a child to clear her head. The trees were ablaze with fall colors, their leaves crunching under her feet as she walked. She sat on a bench, her hands resting on her still-flat stomach, and took a deep breath.
“What am I going to do?” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves.
The answer didn’t come immediately, but as she sat there, a sense of resolve began to take root. She couldn’t change the past, but she could control her future. She would no longer be the passive, lovesick woman who waited for Mitchel to notice her. She would be strong, for herself and for her child.
Her phone buzzed again, but she ignored it. She didn’t need to see the message to know it was from Mitchel. He was probably wondering where she was, why she hadn’t returned to the office. Let him wonder. Let him feel even a fraction of the uncertainty and pain she’d been carrying for years.
When she finally felt ready, Raegan stood and made her way back to the office. She walked with purpose, her head held high, her shoulders back. She wouldn’t let anyone see her weakness.
As she entered the building, she could feel the curious glances of her coworkers. Word must have spread that something was off, but she didn’t care. She went straight to her desk, ignoring the whispers and sidelong looks.
Matteo, Mitchel’s head assistant, approached her cautiously. “Raegan, are you okay? You’ve been gone for a while.”
“I’m fine,” she said, her tone clipped but polite. “Just needed some air.”
Matteo hesitated, as if he wanted to say more, but he simply nodded and walked away. Raegan appreciated his discretion. Matteo was one of the few people in the office who knew about her marriage to Mitchel, and while he’d never been particularly warm, he’d always been respectful.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Raegan threw herself into her work, using it as a distraction from the storm raging inside her. She answered emails, organized files, and prepared reports with a focus she hadn’t felt in months. It felt good to be productive, to remind herself that she was capable and competent, even if Mitchel never acknowledged it.
As the workday ended, Raegan packed up her things and headed for the elevator. She wasn’t surprised when the doors opened to reveal Mitchel standing inside.
“Raegan,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “We need to talk.”
She stepped into the elevator, her expression neutral. “About what?”
He pressed the button for the parking garage, and the doors closed. “About earlier. About us.”
Raegan crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the numbers above the door as they descended. “What’s there to talk about, Mitchel? You made your feelings—or lack thereof—pretty clear.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You overheard a private conversation. It wasn’t meant for you.”
“That doesn’t make it any less true,” she shot back, her voice steady despite the ache in her chest. “You don’t love me. You never have. I was just a convenient solution to your grandfather’s dying wish.”
Mitchel’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t deny it. Instead, he said, “Our marriage was never about love. You knew that from the beginning.”
“Maybe I did,” she admitted, her voice softening. “But that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt to hear you say it out loud.”
The elevator doors opened, and they stepped out into the parking garage. Mitchel walked toward his car, but Raegan stayed where she was.
“I’m not going home with you,” she said.
He turned, his expression unreadable. “Where are you going?”
“Somewhere I can think,” she replied. “Somewhere I can figure out what I want.”
For a moment, Mitchel looked like he might argue. But then he simply nodded. “Fine. But this conversation isn’t over.”
Raegan watched as he got into his car and drove away. When he was out of sight, she let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.
She didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, she felt a glimmer of hope. She was done being Mitchel’s shadow. It was time to step into the light and take control of her own life.