Beyond the Divorce

Chapter 8 Unexpected Company

I forced myself out of bed the following day. The dark circles around my eyes were horrible, and Matthew noticed them. He asked in surprise, “

The following day, I forced myself out of bed. My dark circles were horrible.

Matthew saw my haggard face and asked in surprise, “Are you sick, Coco? Why do you look so pale?”

“You kept me up all night,” I retorted, not in the mood for pleasantries.

He was stunned but hugged me with a shy grin. “No more drinking for you. Exercise is better instead since it helps with sleep.”

didn’t know why, but my stomach churned when I heard his words. I rushed to the bathroom, vomiting

behind me and patted my back. “What’s wrong with you? Maybe

well. You should take Ava to kindergarten. I’ll

over me. “Then get some sleep

to my husband and daughter’s chatter get softer as they left. Finally, they closed the door behind them, and I left the bed to run to the window.

look away until Matthew drove out of the gated community. My eyes teared up as I wondered if only everything could return to how it was before. Afterward, I changed into my jeans and t-shirt and tied my hair into a ponytail before slipping on a cap.

found the most strategic spot facing

overlooked one crucial detail. He often used the underground parking,

only realized this on

phone. He seemed to be talking on the phone as he headed toward Crowne Square. My heart raced

wasn’t going far. He crossed the road at

the perfect palace for elites in the surrounding commercial district to hang

and glanced at the floor-to-ceiling windows, wondering if I should follow him inside.