Two Hearts

Leaving Things Behind

Laura POV

I drove home with my heart pounding in my chest. I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know how Chris would react. Would there be shouting? Accusations? Anger? I hoped it wouldn't turn into a full-blown argument because that was the last thing I needed right now. The children would be home later, and I desperately wanted everything settled before then.

The divorce papers were already signed on my side. The lawyer and I had agreed that I would give them to Chris personally and contact him afterward. Everything seemed simple enough on paper.

But despite everything that had happened between us over the years, Chris and I had never seriously talked about divorce. Somehow, we had always continued existing side by side. I supposed we'd become so used to one another that neither of us imagined life could be different.

When I arrived home, I noticed Chris wasn't there yet. There was no smell of beer, no television blaring in the background. The apartment was quiet.

That gave me a small advantage.

And hope.

At least if he wasn't drunk, there was a chance this conversation could remain civil.

The kids were still at their after-school activities, which was another blessing. I only had to gather the courage to do this. Emotionally, I wasn't ready. Not even close.

It wasn't long before the front door opened and Chris walked in. As expected, there was a beer in his hand. But he was still sober enough.

I knew it was now or never. Dragging this out any longer would only make me a coward. And honestly, it wasn't right to remain married to one man while preparing to move in and pretend to be another man's wife.

Even if nothing real would happen between Daniel and me. Even if the entire thing was a business arrangement. It still felt wrong.

"Hey. You're home already?" Chris asked casually.

"Yeah." I hesitated for only a second before forcing the words out. "Chris, we need to talk. About our marriage. About us."

My throat tightened.

"I want a divorce." I handed him the papers before I could lose my nerve.

For a moment, he simply stared at them. The silence stretched. The longer it lasted, the more nervous I became.

I was waiting for the explosion. The anger. The accusations. Instead, Chris took the documents and looked at me quietly.

"I felt it coming." His voice was calm. "You should've left me a long time ago."

I blinked.

That wasn't the reaction I'd prepared for. Not even close.

Without another word, he walked to the kitchen table, grabbed a pen, and signed.

Just like that.

When he finished, he pushed the papers back toward me.

"Now you're free." He paused before adding with a bitter laugh, "Funny. I couldn't give you the life you wanted. Now some rich bastard can." Then he walked away.

I stood frozen.

Did he know? Had he heard something? That couldn't be possible.

Then I looked down at the documents - The law firm's logo. Of course. One of the most prestigious firms in the city. Anyone who saw it would immediately know there was serious money involved.

Chris wasn't stupid. He knew something unusual was happening. If only he knew the truth. If only he knew why I was really doing this.

A few days later, Chris was gone. It had been his decision. He insisted on staying with a friend until he got back on his feet and found a place of his own.

In a strange way, I respected him for that. It was easier for one man to move than for a woman with two children and an entire household.

As for the children, we reached an agreement surprisingly quickly. They would stay with me, and Chris would see them whenever possible. Weekends, holidays—whatever worked.

It seemed fair.

And for the first time in years, I found myself completely alone in the apartment. The loneliness was overwhelming. Because now there truly was no one else - No partner. No husband. No one to share the weight of life with. Now everything rested on me.

A sudden phone call interrupted my thoughts - Eric. I already knew what it was about.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Laura." His voice was warm and steady as always.

"I'm calling about the move. How would next weekend work for you? I'll arrange everything. All you need to do is pack. The moving company will handle the rest." His efficiency still amazed me. Every problem seemed to have a solution before it even appeared.

"That works," I replied. "I think I can have everything ready by then."

As soon as the words left my mouth, reality hit me. Everything. Years of memories. Clothes. Furniture. Boxes. Our entire life. Gone.

"Laura?" His voice pulled me back. "Are you alright?"

I swallowed hard.

"You sound sad."

How did he always know? Even over the phone. Even without seeing me.

"Just a little," I admitted. "We've spent so many years here. It's hard to leave."

"I understand."

There was a brief pause.

"Try looking at it differently. A new beginning. New opportunities. Sometimes we have to start over before we can reach something better."

For some reason, his words helped. Maybe because he genuinely believed them. Maybe because I wanted to believe them too.

"Thank you," I whispered. "For everything."

"You don't need to thank me."

Another pause.

"I trust you, Laura."

The conversation ended shortly after.

Just as I was about to stand up and start sorting through the mountain of things scattered around the house, a small voice stopped me.

“Mom?”

I turned and found Markus standing in the doorway, clutching his favorite hoodie in both hands. His brown eyes looked unusually serious.

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

He hesitated for a moment, shifting from one foot to the other.

“Are we moving?”

The question hit harder than it should have.

Children always knew. Even when you tried to protect them, they noticed the tension, the whispered conversations, the worried looks you thought they hadn't seen.

I forced a smile.

“Why would you ask that?”

Markus shrugged.

“Because Dad left. You’ve been sad for a long time. And now you keep staring at papers and making lists.”

My heart squeezed painfully. Sometimes I forgot how observant he was. I crouched down until we were eye level and brushed a hand through his hair.

“We might be moving, yes.”

“Far away?”

“No. Not far.”

“Will Ellie and I have to change schools?”

“I don't know yet.”

He nodded slowly, processing the information. Then he asked the question that truly mattered.

“Will we be okay?”

For a second, I couldn't answer. Because the truth was—I didn't know. Not really.

I had signed a contract with a stranger. I was about to move my children into the house of a man I barely knew. Everything about my future felt uncertain.

But one thing I did know was that I would do absolutely anything to keep them safe. So I smiled and pulled him into a hug.

“Yes,” I whispered. “We're going to be okay.”

Markus wrapped his arms around my neck.

“Good.”

And somehow, hearing him say that made me want to believe it too.

The following days passed in a blur. Boxes filled every room. Decisions had to be made. Some things would go into storage. Some would come with us.

When I explained my plan to Eric, he immediately agreed to arrange two trucks—one for storage, one for Daniel's house.

By the time moving day arrived, I barely felt ready. Yet somehow, there we were.

Standing in front of an enormous mansion - Me. Ellie. Markus.

And an entirely new life.

The house was beautiful. Perfect. Expensive. And strangely cold. It didn't feel like a home. It felt like a place where someone existed rather than lived.

For the first time, I found myself feeling sorry for Daniel. Maybe he'd gone through more than he let anyone see. Maybe that's why he'd built walls around himself.

Eric was waiting outside with a woman around my age.

"Laura. It's good to see you." As always, he greeted me with a genuine smile.

"This is Maria. She manages the property." Maria smiled warmly.

"Welcome, Mrs. Carter."

The title caught me completely off guard. Mrs. Carter. For the first time, it felt real.

I smiled politely, then looked around. Searching for someone. The one person who should've been there.

"Where's Daniel?" I asked casually.

Silence.

Eric's jaw tightened.

Maria looked uncomfortable.

"We don't know," she admitted.

I frowned.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

Neither of them answered immediately.

Then Eric finally spoke.

"No one has seen him for three days."

My heart stopped.

Three days?

How was that even possible?