STAY WITH ME.

CHAPTER THREE.

After my shift, I drove in a fog to her office. The reality of what I was about to do pulsed in my veins like adrenaline. I felt the weight of it in every step as I entered the building, my hands damp with nerves. Her office was tidy, with soft lighting and muted decor meant to be comforting but which only amplified the numbness I felt.

Karen greeted me with a warm, professional smile, her handshake firm but gentle. “Emma, thank you for coming in. I understand you’re considering a divorce?”

I nodded, swallowing against the tightness in my throat. “Yes. My husband- he cheated on me. I just- I need out.”

Karen’s expression softened with understanding and she gestured for me to sit. “I’m sorry to hear that. Let’s go over some basics to make sure we’re approaching this in the way that’s best for you.”

Her questions came one by one, careful and precise. How long had we been married? Did we share any significant assets? Bank accounts, property, anything that might require division? She asked if we had children, and I shook my head quickly. Somehow, that answer felt like the easiest one of all.

“Would you like this to proceed quietly, or would you prefer he be served in a more official setting?” she asked, her pen poised over the paper.

The thought of Jake’s face, his reaction, flashed in my mind, and a surge of exhaustion hit me. “Quietly. I don’t want- I don’t want a scene. I don’t want a confrontation.”

Karen nodded, making a note. “We can handle it discreetly. I’ll prepare the initial paperwork, and once you review and sign, we can proceed with filing. We’ll need his cooperation, of course, but if he doesn’t contest, this could be resolved without much complication.”

As I answered her questions, the implications of Jake’s position began to sink in. Jake wasn’t just anyone- he was a managing partner at one of the top firms in the city, and if he chose to, he could drag this process out for years. The man who’d shared my life for half a decade was now someone with enough power and resources to make my own life a nightmare.

I cleared my throat, voicing my worry, “Jake’s connected. I don’t think he’ll let go without a fight. I’m afraid of what he might do professionally and personally. He’s not the kind of man who loses easily.”

Karen’s expression didn’t waver; if anything, she seemed to take it all in stride. “That does add a layer of complexity,” she admitted, jotting down a note. “When someone in a position like his has personal reasons to contest, it can become difficult. He might challenge the grounds, refuse cooperation, or try to outmaneuver in terms of finances.”

She paused, thoughtful. “I’ll be honest: if Jake intends to contest, it could mean a drawn-out process. He could argue on asset division, even privacy claims if we’re not careful. Some firms go to extremes for top clients like him, making the case as expensive and exhausting as possible. However,” she leaned forward slightly, her eyes steady, “if we’re discreet, and if you’re prepared to face some delays, we can do this. You have rights, Emma. And as difficult as it might be, we’ll work to minimize his influence here.”

Her assurance gave me a strange sense of comfort, like an anchor I could hold onto in this storm. But the reality was stark- I wasn’t just fighting for my freedom; I was going up against someone I’d once trusted, someone who now felt like a stranger.

She laid out the paperwork for me to review. “For now, I recommend a quiet approach. Let’s start by drafting a basic settlement, a document he might feel inclined to agree to without escalating. If he fights, we adjust. But you’ll need to be ready for a drawn-out case, for moments where he may apply pressure, try to sway you back, or make this difficult.”

The weight of her words settled around me, chilling in its implications. Jake’s anger was not something I’d considered before- not truly. But now, faced with the possibility of his influence, his power over my life and reputation, a fresh wave of determination took root. This wasn’t just a choice; it was a battle.

By the time I signed the first set of papers, I felt a strange mixture of dread and relief. This step was small, but real. Karen’s voice was calm, steady, “Emma, this won’t be easy, but remember, you’re not alone. We’ll keep each step simple, safe, and secure. And whatever challenges come up, we’ll take them head-on.”

As I walked out of her office, the evening air felt cold but fresh.

****************************************************

The days slipped by in a hollow blur. I worked, slept- if you could call it sleep- and worked again. Each shift was a battle to focus, my body weighed down by something heavy I couldn’t quite shake. Megan kept glancing at me with a crease between her brows, but she didn’t press, which I appreciated. It was a cycle of trying to hold it all together while my heart barely held on. Jake’s messages went unanswered. My parents? Silent. Only Lily had the nerve to text me a handful of times, asking if I’d “cooled down.” I could hardly stomach it.

But the dam broke one night during a chaotic shift. I was restocking supplies when the room began to spin. I steadied myself on the edge of a counter, breath coming in sharp gasps, trying to shake off the feeling. I’d been exhausted, sure, but this- this was something else.

“Emma? You alright?” Megan’s voice pierced through the haze, but it sounded distant, echoing in my mind like she was speaking from a tunnel.

I opened my mouth to respond, but all that came out was a gasp. The room tilted, then fell away completely.

A familiar beeping sound pulled me back. I blinked, my vision hazy, until Megan’s face swam into focus. She was hovering over me, relief and worry mingling on her face.

“Emma,” she breathed out, squeezing my hand as I stirred. “Oh my god, you scared the hell out of us!”

My mouth felt dry, my body heavy, like I’d been underwater and was only just breaking the surface. “What- what happened?” My voice cracked.

“You fainted,” she replied, brushing a piece of hair from my face. “Completely collapsed. Scared us all half to death.”

I tried to sit up, my mind spinning as the room came into view. A handful of colleagues were standing nearby, watching me like I’d just risen from the grave.

“Fainted?” I managed, shaking my head, trying to clear the fog.

Megan’s face softened, a strange mix of emotions flickering across her features. “Emma, you’re pregnant.”

For a second, I thought she was joking. “I’m what?”

“You’re pregnant, Emma!” she repeated, her voice tinged with awe. “We ran some basic tests, just to make sure you were alright, and well, it looks like you’re going to have a baby!”

My heart dropped into my stomach. I blinked, trying to process her words, but they felt foreign, like she was speaking a different language. “No- no, that can’t be right,” I murmured. “That can’t-“

But her face held nothing but certainty. Around us, my coworkers began breaking into smiles, congratulations already spilling from their lips.

“Oh, Emma, that’s amazing!”

“You’re going to be a wonderful mom.”

“Congratulations, Emma! Wow, such a surprise.”

I could only nod, feeling the weight of the news pressing down on me. Wonderful? A mom? The words sounded hollow, bouncing around in my head, trying to find a place to settle. I forced a small smile, hoping it looked genuine. “Yeah, thanks, I just- didn’t expect this. At all.”

Megan’s hand was still on my shoulder, her face softening. “You okay, Em? You look shell-shocked.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, but the c***k in my voice betrayed me. “Just- I need a moment.” I could feel my heart pounding, and I was sure everyone in the room could hear it. The reality of it all was crashing down on me with dizzying force. A baby. A baby in the middle of my life falling apart, in the midst of a divorce from a man who-

Megan gave me a gentle smile, patting my shoulder. “Take all the time you need. This is a lot to take in, I know.”

She didn’t know the half of it.