"Mr. Shaw is... not available right now—"
The call went dead before she finished.
A few minutes later, a message came through—there was a return-to-work reception that evening.
I got the address from someone and took a cab straight there.
By the time I arrived, the reception was already underway.
Derek stood on the small stage, rattling off last year's achievements. After handing out a few rounds of red envelopes, he stepped down to make the rounds, toasting table by table.
When he reached Adela's table, someone started egging him on.
"Mr. Shaw, Adela helped the company land such a huge deal this year—aren't you going to show some appreciation?"
"Oh, stop it!" Adela swatted the person beside her with a coy pout, then ducked her head with a smile. "Mr. Shaw already gave me a red envelope!"
"Then how about a lovers' toast? Liven things up a little!"
The drinks had been flowing, and more and more voices joined the chorus.
Derek laughed—open, easy, magnetic. He pulled Adela close, and they linked arms, glasses raised.
The crowd cheered as they swapped glasses and drained them in one go.
The atmosphere was that of newlyweds toasting at their wedding.
I sat among the crowd, invisible—like a voyeur at my own betrayal.
Tears splashed into the wine glass in front of me. I wiped them away in secret, forcing myself to accept what I was seeing.
When I lifted my gaze, my eyes locked with a man sitting in the far corner.
I shook my head with a bitter smile. The ache in my chest spread, slow and relentless.
My sinuses burned until I couldn't breathe. I stumbled out of my chair and half-ran to the restroom.
The woman staring back at me in the mirror was haggard, hollowed out, barely recognizable. In that moment, everything I'd been holding together shattered.
Ten years—reduced to the cruelest joke.
I don't know how long I stayed in there. Eventually, I pulled myself together and headed for the door.
But the voices outside stopped me cold.
"Didn't you say you'd file for divorce after she had the baby? Why are you still dragging your feet?"
"Is it because she had a boy? Is that why you don't want to leave anymore?"
Derek let out a long sigh. "She hasn't even finished her postpartum recovery yet. I'm not about to file now and have everyone pointing fingers at me."
"Last time you 'accidentally' left that condom wrapper out in the open, I didn't make a fuss about it, did I?"
"Baby, just be patient."