Chapter 16 - Sadi No Longer Looks Down
Three years later, I returned to the Galleria alone.
No Arthur.
No Elias.
No Roman.
My choice.
The boutique still smelled like cedarwood.
For a moment, my body remembered Trevor’s kick and the marble beneath my
knee.
Then a sales associate approached.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m browsing.”
“Take your time.”
That was all.
I found a simple silver bracelet and bought it for myself.
Trevor no longer practiced at his old firm and had rebuilt a quieter
life elsewhere after the legal and financial consequences of his
actions.
I did not follow him.
Chloe eventually married someone else.
Roman and I were still married.
Still complicated.
Still learning how to love each other without confusing protection with
control.
People still lowered their voices when they said his name.
I no longer found that impressive.
What impressed me was that he had learned to ask before stepping into
battles that belonged to me.
I thought about the woman I had been years earlier, sweeping spilled
coffee grounds from cheap linoleum while apologizing to the man who had
thrown the bag.
I wished I could tell her something.
Not that she would marry a rich man.
Not that Trevor would someday be exposed.
Not that she would wear cashmere.
None of those things were rescue.
I would tell her:
You are allowed to stop apologizing.
My phone buzzed.
Roman.
Did you buy me another useless accessory?
I smiled.
No.
Three dots appeared.
Suspicious.
I typed:
I bought something for myself.
His reply came immediately.
Good.
I slipped the bracelet onto my wrist and caught my reflection in the
dark glass.
Loose jeans.
White sneakers.
Simple sweater.
Still me.
Money had changed my circumstances.
Roman had changed my understanding of partnership.
Time had changed my fear.
But dignity had not arrived with any of them.
It had always been mine.
I stood and walked toward the escalator.
Nobody moved aside because they knew my husband.
May you like
Nobody needed to.
I knew exactly where I belonged.
