Chapter 83: Cramps
Mara sat at her desk, staring blankly at the paperwork in front of her, but the words blurred together, meaningless against the storm raging in her mind. She tried to focus, to drown herself in work, but the confrontation with Ethan clung to her like a shadow.
Her heart was heavy, her mind restless. She needed a moment of comfort, maybe even a little pampering, but Steve was busy—meetings lined up one after another. There was no one to turn to, no escape from the weight pressing down on her chest.
Just as she was about to force herself to at least attempt productivity, a knock at the door broke through the silence.
She looked up as her assistant stepped in, holding a brown envelope.
"This just arrived for you, ma’am. It was delivered by courier."
Mara’s breath hitched the moment her eyes landed on it. Her stomach twisted painfully, and her heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears.
There was only one thing this could be.
The divorce papers.
Her fingers trembled as she reached for it but stopped just short, staring at the envelope as if it were a ticking bomb.
"Ma’am?" her assistant called hesitantly. "Are you okay?"
Mara forced herself to breathe, schooling her expression into something unreadable. She nodded quickly, reaching out with steady hands—or at least trying to make them appear steady. "I’m fine. Thank you. You can go."