It had been four days.
Four days since Nancy walked out.
Four days since she realized her marriage was built on strategy, not love.
Four days since her heart stopped trusting what her eyes wanted to see.
Adrian had called. Texted. Even showed up at her apartment.
She ignored it all.
She didn't need him to explain.
She needed to remember who she was without him.
---
Downtown – Legal Aid Office
Nancy stepped into the crowded, buzzing office of the non-profit where she used to volunteer before her life became a soap opera.
She'd taken a leave during the marriage. Too busy being Mrs. Blackwood.
But now? She wanted something real again. Something that couldn't be bought.
"Nancy Carter," her old supervisor, Ruth, greeted her with wide eyes. "I saw your wedding in the headlines. You okay?"
Nancy gave a small smile. "Getting there. I want to come back. I need… this."
Ruth studied her, then nodded. "Welcome home."
---
Meanwhile – Blackwood Tower
Adrian was a mess.
He hadn't touched work in days. The board was growing impatient. His assistant avoided his eye.
He kept replaying that moment—Nancy's face when she realized the truth.
He hadn't meant for it to unfold like that. Yes, he'd made moves. Yes, he'd pushed her into a corner.
But what he felt now? That wasn't strategy.
It was pain. And regret. And love, too damn late.
He opened his phone for the hundredth time.
One photo stared back at him—Nancy asleep on his shoulder, her face soft, peaceful.
God, he missed her.
---
Later That Week – Gala Night
Nancy hadn't planned on showing up.
But when Ruth handed her two last-minute tickets to a charity gala where many high-profile donors would be—including the Blackwood Group—she didn't hesitate.
She didn't wear anything flashy. No designer dress. Just a sharp, black satin gown with a high slit and a cold, calm presence that made people stop and stare.
Adrian saw her the moment she entered.
She didn't look at him.
She talked to investors, laughed with strangers, and stood tall as if the man who once kissed her like she was oxygen now meant nothing.
And that—
That nearly destroyed him.
---
He Approached Her Later, Quietly
"Nancy."
She turned, slowly. "Adrian."
"You look…"
"Don't." Her voice was quiet but firm. "Don't say I look beautiful. Don't pretend like this is still yours."
He swallowed. "Can we talk? Somewhere private?"
She tilted her head. "Now you want privacy? After building our lives in boardrooms and contracts?"
"I made a mistake," he said softly. "A big one."
"Yes. You did." Her voice cracked for just a second before sharpening again. "But the biggest mistake wasn't lying to me. It was thinking I needed saving."
Adrian's hands curled into fists. "I didn't want to save you. I wanted to keep you."
"Well, you failed," she said, stepping closer. "But it's okay. Because now? I'm saving myself."
And with that, she turned, her heels echoing through the marble floor—strong, stunning, and entirely out of reach.