Outgrowing Love

“Really? Andrea, have you finally made up your mind? This is great!”

On the other end of the call, Owen spoke with a noticeable Briellic accent. He sounded excited. I simply nodded, calm and composed.

I had met Owen during a cross-border case I handled for an overseas client. Back then, he was the defense attorney on the opposing side. At the time, I noticed clear signs of fabrication from the evidence his client had submitted. So, I immediately requested a recess and informed him of my concerns.

After hearing me out, Owen didn’t question my motives just because I was his opponent. Instead, he conducted a thorough investigation into his client’s materials and discovered that a large portion of the evidence had indeed been falsified. He immediately terminated the attorney-client relationship, protecting both his own reputation and that of his firm. Otherwise, if the truth had only come out after the verdict, his entire firm could have been blacklisted from the industry.

From that moment on, Owen took a strong interest in me, both in my integrity and my sharp instincts. He invited me multiple times to work overseas, offering me a position as a partner at his firm, along with a seven-figure base salary to support my living expenses. However, back then, I was still lost in the perfect illusion Sean had carefully spun for me.

All I wanted was to build a life with Sean, so I turned Owen down. Owen, though, didn’t get upset. Instead, he left me his personal number and told me that if I ever changed my mind, his firm would always welcome me.

Thinking back on it now, my choice back then wasn’t worth it. For Sean, I gave up a bright future. I spent seven years of my youth exhausting myself to the point of breaking, and in the end, I didn’t even make partner at his firm, nor did I ever receive the title of a legitimate wife. At this point, it was time to start thinking about my own life and have a fresh start in a new environment.

After hanging up with Owen, I immediately submitted my resignation to Sean through my phone. What surprised me was that Sean, who usually took forever to reply—sometimes even until the next day—approved my resignation instantly this time.

Just as I was wondering about it, a notification of a new post from him popped up on my screen. In the photos, he and Brittany were in a private room at a karaoke bar, holding hands. They were singing together, laughing, and he was even feeding her snacks.

I couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic laugh. No wonder he approved it so quickly. It was because he was busy on a date with her.

Sean had always been low-key and reserved. He barely posted on social media throughout the year. Even on our wedding anniversary or birthdays, he never shared a single photo. On the rare occasions he posted something work-related, he would carefully edit every image, making sure even the slightest corner of my clothing was cropped out as if being associated with me would embarrass him.

Yet, this time, he posted a full set of nine photos in one go. In the comments, Brittany openly showed off their relationship.

[I just wanted to sing to the baby in my belly, and my husband here canceled a case worth hundreds of thousands in legal fees just to keep me company and help me relax. Where can you find a husband like this?]

Looking at her smug expression in the photos, I laughed. Just earlier, Sean had told me she wasn’t feeling well—that she was emotionally unstable and couldn’t work. Now, she looked perfectly fine.

Besides, I vividly remember Sean hated karaoke bars. Back then, his biological father had met an escort in a karaoke bar, who later destroyed his family and ultimately led to his mother’s death. Because of that, Sean had never stepped into a karaoke bar again.

Even when clients offering million-dollar legal fees invited him, he would refuse. He would turn around and leave the moment he arrived at the door, choosing to lose the business rather than go inside. And now, just to make Brittany happy, he walked in without a second thought.

Love sure was powerful enough to make someone overcome even their deepest trauma. And he knew I could see all of this. Yet he still posted it, allowing Brittany to provoke me in the comments by calling herself his wife.

I knew he wanted me to get jealous and to apologize. Unfortunately for him, he had miscalculated.

Instead of contacting Sean, I dialed my best friend, Faye Green.

“Faye, it’s my treat tonight. Would you like to see your favorite model with six packs?”