Chapter 11
He asked me to marry him.
Not with a ring. Not on one knee. But with
that familiar twinkle in his eye, and that soft
smile that made him look like the boy I once
knew–when love was easy and promises
were unbroken.
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“What do you think?” Mateo asked gently, his
hand brushing a stray curl behind my ear.
“Why don’t we make this wedding real?”
11:26 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
My breath hitched. For a moment, my body
froze. The silence around us stretched,
punctuated only by the soft crunch of snow
beneath our feet as we stood by the lake, its
surface frozen like the words I couldn’t quite
say.
“Mateo…” I whispered.
He waited. Patient. Hopeful. And so, so kind.
“I can’t.”
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11:26 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
His smile faltered. Not completely–but
enough to sting.
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“I’m not ready,” I said, forcing the words out
before my heart betrayed me. “I don’t think I’ll
ever be. Marriage… it’s not something I want
anymore.”
“Because of him?” he asked quietly.
I didn’t need to say his name. Mateo already
knew. Jackson.
11:26 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
“I thought marriage was a fairytale,” I
murmured. “I believed in the promises. The
forever. The ‘in sickness and in health.‘ But it
was all… lies. I gave everything. And when I
needed him most, he wasn’t there. He chose
everything else—everyone else—over me.”
Mateo looked down at the snow, nodding
slowly.
“I lost so much,” I said. “Not just a husband.
Not just a baby. I lost trust. I lost myself. So
no… I can’t be a bride again. I can’t tie myself
to someone, only to unravel again.”
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11:26 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
The silence that followed was warm, not heavy. A quiet understanding passed
between us.
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“I’m sorry,” I added, reaching for his hand.
“You’re… incredible. But I need to be free. I
want to be alone–not because I’m afraid-
but because I need to know who I am outside
of being someone’s wife.”
Mateo finally smiled, and this time it was real
-tinged with sadness but full of respect.
‘Friends, then?” he asked.
24 JUI
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
“Friends,” I echoed, squeezing his hand.
The next few days in Finland were like a
lullaby before waking. We made the most of
every hour–sharing hot wine at open–air
markets, laughing under thick wool blankets,
watching the stars from quiet hills. We didn’t
talk about what could’ve been. We just lived.
Simply, and fully.
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On my last day, Mateo gave me a tiny snow
globe with a reindeer inside. “In case you ever
forget how brave you are,” he said.
11:26 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
I hugged him for a long time. Part of me
wanted to turn back, to risk it all, to try again.
But I couldn’t. Not yet.
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At the airport, I looked back one last time and
saw him standing there, hands in his pockets,
eyes soft. I waved. He waved back. And then I
left.
Returning to New York was jarring.
Gone were the quiet hills and frozen lakes. I
was met with the chaos of city streets, deadlines, obligations, and a business empire
11:26 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
waiting for its rightful heir.
My father’s company had been in a slow
decline since his illness worsened. Now, with
his trust in me restored, it was time to step in
-to become the woman he always believed I
could be.
The day I landed, my phone buzzed with a call from Gerald, our loyal butler.
“Miss Trina,” he said, his tone tight with
urgency. “He’s back.”
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11:26 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
“Who?” I asked, even though I already knew.
“Mr. Jackson. He’s been coming to the estate.
Asking about you.”
sighed and closed my eyes, rubbing my
temple. “Did you tell him anything?”
“Of course not. As you instructed, I’ve
redirected him to various locations. But he’s
persistent.”
“Keep doing it,” I said. “If he shows up again,
send him away. Don’t let him know where I
11:26 AM
Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
am.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
387 46%
I tossed my coat on the chair, mind swirling.
So now he wanted to look for me? After
everything?
Too little, too late.
I barely had time to process the call when I
had to rush to the hospital. My father was
waiting, and nothing–not even Jackson-
would come before him now.
11:26 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
Dad was weaker. His voice was thinner, but
his eyes still held that quiet fire. He smiled
when I entered the room, holding out his
hand.
“You came back,” he said.
“Of course I did.”
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We talked for hours. About the business, yes,
but mostly about life. He asked if I was happy.
“I’m getting there,” I said.
11:26 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
“That’s enough,” he replied.
He fell asleep halfway through our
conversation, so I quietly turned on the small
TV mounted in the corner, needing the noise
to drown out my thoughts.
What I saw next drained every ounce of color
from my face.
A news anchor’s voice cut through the room.
“… Jackson Dela Torre and longtime business
partner Donna Reid are officially engaged.
11:27 AM Tue 24 Jun
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Let’s Divorce, My Husband
The couple announced their upcoming
spring wedding earlier today, stating it was
the natural next step in their professional and
personal relationship…”
My body went cold.
The screen flashed with images–Jackson in
a tuxedo, Donna in a white dress, her arms
looped around his. The same woman who
whispered doubt in my ear when I cried. The
same woman who told me Jackson didn’t
need a weak wife.
11:27 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
I stared at them. My former best friend. My
ex–husband.
So this was what he meant by looking for
me?
I scoffed.
“Desperate to find me,” I muttered bitterly,
“and yet planning a wedding all along.”
I switched the TV off before I could throw
something at it.
11.41 AIVI
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
45%
For a moment, I just stood there–fists
clenched, jaw tight, heart pounding. But then,
something surprising happened.
I exhaled.
Deep and steady.
Let them have each other.
Let them bask in their delusions.
Because I was done being the woman left
11:27 AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
behind. I was done begging for love. I had
walked away from a man who broke me–and
now I was building something new.
Something mine.
And they could plan a thousand weddings, but I wouldn’t let that pull me back.
Not this time.
Not ever again.
AM Tue 24 Jun
Let’s Divorce, My Husband
