Love, Broken, and Found

After our second divorce, I had applied and got hired as Jeff's assistant. I carried his favorite caramel latte, heart racing with hope, as I pushed open the door to his office.

Instead, I found him leaning back in his chair while kissing Larissa, who was sitting on his lap.

I lost it. I lunged at Larissa, fists swinging, and Jeff slapped me to the floor.

People had gathered outside the office, peeking in.

Everyone assumed I was still the CEO's wife, so their eyes were full of judgment as they looked at Larissa.

To spare her from gossip, Jeff ignored my tears, snatched my bag, and dumped everything on the floor.

The divorce papers lay there like a warning sign, announcing to the world exactly what our relationship was.

From then on, every time Jeff and I divorced, he made it public on social media.

Everyone knew Jeff loved Larissa. I was just the shameless woman who refused to leave his side.

But this time, Jeff's worry was unnecessary.

I grabbed my suitcase without hesitation.

"Don't worry. I won't bother you two again."

Jeff looked at me suspiciously for a moment until I pulled the suitcase handle and stepped toward the door. Then, he reminded me a little anxiously, "We'll get remarried on the 13th next month. Don't forget."

I paused for a second.

What a coincidence.

My flight out of the country was booked for the 13th.

-

After Larissa returned, Jeff didn't think about me once.

This time, I stopped obsessively tracking his every move, which I'd do after every one of our divorces, waiting at every place he might appear.

Instead, I spent my days enjoying myself with my best friend, Scarlett Hargraves. We were living our best life.

Before I knew it, only 20 days were left until I'd leave the country.

One evening, Scarlett and I were waiting for our food at a restaurant when we ran into Jeff and Larissa.

Jeff had his arm around Larissa's waist. They laughed and talked as they walked in together, looking like the perfect match.

"Helen?"

Jeff's eyes immediately locked on me.

Larissa leaned close to him, draping an arm around his shoulders while smiling sweetly. "Helen! What a surprise."

Seeing my gaze linger on Larissa, Jeff instinctively stepped forward, putting her slightly behind him.

I knew he feared I might act like I used to and lunge at Larissa without a second thought.

But I didn't. I even held back Scarlett, who was itching to defend me.

I smiled casually. "Yeah, what a surprise."

Sensing my restraint, Larissa smiled even more confidently.

"Sorry, Helen," she said, swinging Jeff's arm and pouting. "Jeff promised to reserve this place just for me. Looks like you'll have to eat somewhere else. Right, Jeff? Say something, or Helen will think I'm picking on her."

Jeff's eyes flickered toward me for a second, a mix of hesitation and calculation. Finally, he just nodded.

He didn't say a word, but the message was clear, louder than any speech.

Scarlett rolled up her sleeves, ready to confront them, but I gently pressed her arm down.

"It's okay. We can go somewhere else."

Yeah, we'd go somewhere else—anywhere without Jeff.

With my departure abroad looming, I wasn't going to waste time on pointless arguments with my ex.

After all, as a competent ex, I was supposed to treat Jeff as if he didn't exist.

The restaurant manager, sensing the tension, stepped in with a smile.

"You two look so happy together. What a beautiful couple."

Jeff's eyes flicked to me with a mix of caution and curiosity, as if wondering what I might say or do.

But I ignored it completely, took Scarlett's hand, and walked away.

Jeff stared after us, stunned that I hadn't reacted at all.