1 yanked my sleeve away in disgust, ignoring his pleading. “Don’t touch me. You’re repulsive.”
James stared at my unconcealed disgust, opened his mouth, then closed it with a bitter smile before slowly getting up and leaving.
Due to James’s major personal misconduct damaging the company, he had to sell all his shares to cover losses and was voted off the board.
I adapted well to my new job and was soon promoted to permanent staff.
Nina and Alex took me out to celebrate.
Nina waved enthusiastically as I arrived.
As soon as I sat down, she thrust her phone at me. “Look, your ex is streaming.”
James appeared to be at home, drunk, slumped in his chair with red–faced and unfocused eyes, surrounded by empty bottles.
Comments flooded in: “Cheater and homewrecker, regret means nothing now.”
“Killed your own child for your mistress, how dare you play victim. Unbelievable.”
“Did you ever really love her?”
James ignored the insults but raised his eyes at the last comment, speaking nostalgically. “I used to wonder why I had to hide things from her, avoid telling her things, make excuses when she found out.”
“It was because I was afraid – afraid she’d leave me like she has now.”
“I loved her. Why else would I marry her?”
Comments flooded with “scumbag” and “pathetic.
Later, someone wrote: “No suicide attempt today? Waste of data.”
I looked away. Nina put down her phone, shaking her head. “What trash.”
“And Sophie switched platforms but got attacked by her own fans. Don’t know if she’s out of the hospital yet.”
I smiled and shook my head. Having moved on, I didn’t care anymore.
Alex opened a bottle of wine, looking lovingly at Nina. “Don’t let others ruin the mood. We’re here to celebrate Rachel’s success.” 11
I raised my glass with a smile. “Yes, here’s to a bright future.”
The End.
