The Divorce Bargain

THREE

Isla

I sat alone in our bedroom, the silence suffocating me as the minutes ticked by. Seven o'clock had come and gone, and I was still waiting for Keenan to show up. Our five-year anniversary celebration in Napa was supposed to start hours ago, but it seemed I was flying solo tonight.

My eyes stung as I gazed at the luggage by the bottom of the bed, a painful reminder of my husband's broken promises. I'd tried calling him, but my calls went straight to voicemail. It was like he'd vanished into thin air, leaving me to pick up the pieces of our shattered plans.

A wave of despair washed over me as I thought of all the times Keenan had put work ahead of our relationship. Missed dinners, appointments, trips, all in a bid to get more money, more prestige, more connections. Our anniversary was just another casualty of his relentless drive for success. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of disappointment and heartache.

Hannah, our housekeeper, walked into the room with a concerned expression. "Hey, Mrs. Blackwood, I thought you'd left for Napa by now."

I forced a weak smile, trying to hide the tears welling up inside me. "I'm still waiting for Keenan."

Her eyes softened with sympathy. "Aw, sweetie, would you like some tea, a coffee?"

I shook my head, “That won’t be necessary, thank you Hannah.” As Hannah headed to the kitchen, I felt like I was crumbling inside. I couldn't take the pain anymore.

I thought about the girl I used to be - the one who'd had dreams and aspirations, who'd lived life with passion and purpose. Where had that girl gone? I’d traded her for ‘perfect Mrs. Blackwood’ who smiled on the outside and slowly dies on the inside.

I felt a sob rising up in my throat as I thought about the sacrifices I'd made for Keenan's career. The countless dinners, the charity events, the endless networking. I'd lost myself in the process of becoming Mrs. Keenan Blackwood.

Tears streamed down my face as I walked over to the the patio, feeling like I was staring into the abyss. I wanted to leave behind the life I'd built with Keenan - the life I'd thought was perfect. It didn’t feel so perfect anymore, it felt like I was slowly suffocating.

Keenan had promised me the world, and I'd believed him. But life had a way of changing people, and I wasn't the same girl I'd been five years ago.

Neither was Keenan.

I slid my wedding ring off my finger and placed it next to our wedding picture on the mantel. It was a symbolic gesture, but it felt like I was ripping my heart out.

As I stood there, I felt like I was saying goodbye to a part of myself. I was leaving behind the hope and dreams I'd had for our marriage.

I knew I couldn't stay here, not tonight. I needed to get out, to clear my head and figure out what I wanted to do next.

I grabbed my suitcase and walked downstairs, feeling like I was walking away from my entire life. Hannah was standing in the hallway, a look of concern etched on her face.

"Hey, where are you going?" she asked.

I took a deep breath and smiled, trying to reassure her. "I'm just going to take a little trip, Hannah. I'll be back soon."

But as I said the words, I knew I was lying. I wasn't coming back. At least, not to the life I'd known for the past decade. The worst part of this was I didn’t even know if Keenan would care; that’s what hurt the most.

I walked out the door and into the unknown, feeling like I was stepping off a cliff. I was leaving behind everything I'd known, everything I'd loved.

As I hailed a taxi and got in, I felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. What would happen next? Where would I go? What would I do?

And as the taxi drove away from the only home I'd known for half a decade, I felt a sense of sadness and loss wash over me. I was leaving behind the life I'd built with Keenan, the life I'd thought was perfect.

But as I looked out the window, watching the city lights blur by, I felt a spark of determination ignite within me. I was done being treated like an inconvenience, like I was unwanted. If Keenan didn’t know my worth I should at least know for myself.

I just hoped I'd make it through the night without falling apart. I knew in my heart this was the right decision. I just didn’t know if I’d survive it.