Marriage Made Her Dangerous

Nova stands under the intense cold of the rain; this sort of weather can numb a person's entire nervous system, but Nova feels nothing other than the growing pain of her heartbreak. She gets a call from her lawyer and friend, Lauren, "Where are you right now, Nova? I just got off work and saw your message. How dare that sorry mistake of an imbecilic buffoon do that to you?" "Lauren, it's fine. He's a human with rights, we are only married by vows, not some blood oath." "Don't give me that, Nova. You know what, just tell me where you're at. I can't let you be by yourself alone at such a time." "I'm standing in front of Infinity Bar on Blue Lite Street." "Okay, I'm around that street. Just wait for me, okay? Nova, WAIT. FOR. ME. I'm coming to pick you up. You hear me?" "Okay, I'm waiting for you right in front of the bar." Lauren hangs up and Nova continues to stand under the cold rain as people under their umbrellas rush past her, with some turning for a split second to look at her before running off. Three minutes later, Lauren's car parks in front of Nova and Lauren opens the passenger door, letting Nova in. Nova gets into the car and Lauren speeds off. The drive to Lauren's place was a silent one with Lauren stealing occasional glances at Nova, looking thoughtlessly through the window. Twenty minutes later, Lauren gives Nova a mug of hot cocoa. "Hope the shower wasn't too hot." "No, it was fine." "Okay. So, umm... how did you find out?" "Well,..." An Hour Ago... Nova walks into the Infinity Bar, looking for someone or something. A waiter walks up to her, "Good evening, madam. Is there something I can help you with?" "Yeah, I'm looking for Room 3C7." "Okay, do you have a reservation for that room?" "My friend actually hired the room for the entire night. Here's the invitation." "Barbara Jones. Just a second, I need to check the invitation list." The waiter goes through the list and sees 'Barbara Jones' listed there. "Your name's on the list. I'll take you there." "Of course," Nova follows the waiter as he guides her to the room. After a while, the waiter stops in front of a door. "You'll find your friends inside." "Thank you very much." The waiter nods and walks off whilst Nova stands outside to listen in on the conversation already going on inside. "Wow, I never thought you could actually say something that cruel about your beloved wife, Lyon." "But he's not wrong; Nova loves him too much to even think of arguing with him, talk more about leaving him. Her loyalty to him is pathetic. You should just leave her and replace her with Eliza; she's more refined and elegant than Nova." "Yeah, you two are way too close to be just friends. Just get married already." "I really respect Miss Nova, but it's like you have all said, Lyon deserves a woman of elegance to take of him, his name and reputation." "Well, what says you, Lyon?" "She's harmless—by the time she realizes I've already moved on, she won't even know what she has lost. She exists only because I allow it. Once I'm done, she'll fade—quietly, like she never mattered." That sentence doesn't hurt loudly. Rather, it freezes her. Quietly, she retreats and begins to leave when the waiter from before calls out to her, "Madam, is there a problem?" "No, I need to get something outside." Nova rushed out, leaving the waiter behind. "Then, I called?" "Yes-" "If I get my hands on that pathetic excuse of a coward, I'm for sure losing my career, dignity, reputation, and life and I still won't care." "Calm down, Lauren. I still need your expertise on divorce. But I doubt it would leave me with anything tangible." "What do you mean?" "Well, unfortunately for me, my dad gave everything to Lyon the day we got married." "WHAT?! How could he, after all the effort you put into growing that company?" "He's my dad. Sure he saw something that made him think Lyon was the one-." "Sorry to say this, girl, but your dad has lost every respect I had for me. I always thought he was sure of all his assumptions." "Yeah, me too. I need to get back home." "Uhh… hello, this is your home." "I mean the one I live in—" "No, you can't be serious right now. What if that lowlife is there?" "He won't do anything to me, Lauren. Trust me, the last thing he wants is the blood of his soon-to-be-replaced wife on his hands. I'll call you if anything happens, okay?" "You promise?" "Yes, I've got to go." "Bye." Lauren walks Nova out and watches her get into a cab. She walks back into her house stewing with anger and pity. Unknown to her, Nova wasn't really as weak as she makes herself out to be. Nova steps inside the house and immediately senses something is off. The house is too quiet. Not peaceful¬arranged. Her shoes echo on the floor. The air smells clean, stripped of warmth, like a place prepared for inspection. Then she sees it. An envelope on the table. Centered. Waiting. Her name is typed, not written. She doesn't rush; taking her time, she sets her bag down on the table first, settles down on the sofa. Only then does she open it. Divorced papers. Already signed. No note. No explanation. No decency. Just his signature—confident, final, certain she will panic. She reads every page once. Slowly. Not because she needs to—but because she refuses to be rushed out of her own life. Her hands don't shake. Her chest doesn't tighten. What she feels is colder than anger. Clarity. "So this is how he chose to end it. Not with honesty. Not with courage. But with paperwork and absence. She places the documents back into the envelope, aligning the edges carefully. The gesture is almost tender. Anyone watching would think she's fragile. She isn't. She looks around the house—his house now—and realizes something he never will. He didn't discard her, he released her. She walks to the bedroom and packs only what belongs to her. Clothes she bought herself and shoes worn into shape by her own steps. Nothing sentimental. Nothing borrowed. She leaves the rest untouched, as if she was never meant to be permanent here anyway. Before she leaves, she pauses once more in the doorway. No tears or goodbye. Just a quiet promise forming behind her eyes—unspoken, irreversible. He thinks this is the end; it isn't. It's the moment she stops asking to be chosen... and starts choosing herself. Nova gets into another cab to a three-star hotel to avoid getting into any unnecessary drama. She calls Lauren after taking a cool shower, "Hey, I was beginning to worry about you. Was he at home when you got there?" "No, he wasn't." "Probably because he's spending time with that stupid bimbo of a mistress of his." "Lauren, can we talk about something else? Please?" "Sure, girl. What's up?" "We need to meet tomorrow at your office. It's very important." "Okay... What about?" "I'll tell you tomorrow at the office." "I don't think I like this mystery, but okay, I'll be awaiting your arrival tomorrow." "Thanks, Lauren. You're the best." "I know, I know. That's why you love me more than you know who." "Oh, Lauren. You're crazy and that's what I like about you." "Please, stop, you're beginning to sound like Lucius." "Your boss, right? It's been a while since we've talked about him. So, tell me, is he still wildly chasing you?" "Yes, unfortunately. I can't seem to get rid of him. I know he's my boss and all, but he's hella annoying..."