His Ignored Wife, Her Silent Goodbye

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 004

MARGARET'S POINT OF VIEW

As I entered the office that morning, my fingers tightly held the envelope containing my resignation letter. The envelope seemed heavier than expected because it bore the burden of all my years here and the many sacrifices for a marriage that never truly existed.

As I set the letter on Jacob's desk, he looked up at me, his brows furrowed, and he reviewed the text on the page.

"You're resigning?" His voice held a genuine surprise.

I nodded. "Yes. Effective immediately."

He paused briefly before reclining in his chair to examine my expression. Jacob knew about my marriage to Frederick, but he never discussed it openly. Among the entire company, he stood as one of the few who understood the truth about Frederick's cold and distant behavior towards me over the years.

He confessed that he never imagined I would leave. "You worked hard to get here."

I showed a slight smile even though it felt empty inside. "Things change."

He took a deep breath before grasping the letter and reading its contents once more. I will review this information and organize your replacement shortly.

"Thank you."

I resumed my walk to my desk without acknowledging the curious glances from my coworkers. My coworkers recognized me as a dedicated worker who always avoided special treatment regardless of my association with Frederick. My reputation grew from hard work instead of my family name.

Everything I had built was about to come to an end.

—

After I left my office, Jacob stayed at his desk, staring at the resignation letter I had left behind. He remained troubled by his suspicion that Frederick and I had experienced an event significant enough to make me abandon all my hard work.

As we concluded our discussion on company matters during our next virtual meeting, he paused before mentioning it.

"Sir, regarding Margaret—"

Frederick showed only a brief look of attention away from his laptop screen. "What about her?"

"She's resigned. Effective immediately."

There was a pause. A quick flash appeared in Frederick's eyes, which could mean surprise. After showing a hint of annoyance, he quickly returned his expression to its standard impassive mask.

He instructed me to manage it according to company policy. "There is no need to report this to me."

That was the end of it.

Jacob bit back a sigh. Of course. Even now, Frederick didn't care.

—

The desk clearing was done before noon. A colleague disrupted my train of thought by tapping my shoulder. "Not calling your daughter today?"

I shook my head. "No, not anymore."

Every morning, I called Bella at dawn and followed up again at midday for several years. But things had changed. She didn't need my calls anymore. Being entirely truthful revealed my inability to continue enduring the rejection I constantly detected in her voice.

I went grocery shopping after work, where I bought essential items and potted plants for my apartment. Whenever I purchased items for my own use, I experienced an odd sensation because they seemed alien to me.

While I cooked dinner that evening, my thoughts drifted back to previous times. I had dedicated many years to giving unconditionally to a family that had never fully embraced me. The man I had deeply loved merely endured my existence without acceptance.

My marriage required me to leave everything behind—my career, my dreams, my independence. Currently, I am attempting to take back what I have lost.

—

In the evening, I searched for the latest information about the UK Tech Innovations Expo. Attending this event has been my lifelong dream, yet different circumstances always prevented me from doing so.

I reached for my phone this time to place a call. Can you book a ticket for next month's expo for me?

The voice on the other end hesitated. "Are you sure? Your previous two ticket requests resulted in no-shows at the event. The tickets for this event are highly sought after, yet you have wasted them both previous times.

I took a deep breath. If I don't attend the event, this will be my final ticket request.

There was a pause, then a sigh. "Fine. Consider it done."

I hung up, staring at the phone.

Returning to the industry felt daunting. My work used to place me at the forefront of technological advancement. After dedicating numerous years to prioritizing my family, I questioned whether I was still capable of staying current. Could I still prove myself?

I had to. There was no other choice.

—

Work and solitude consumed my days as they raced by in a blur. I wrapped up the company's pending tasks while getting ready for upcoming challenges. I didn't contact Frederick. And, unsurprisingly, he didn't contact me either.

Not even Bella reached out. Not once.

I wasn't surprised. One-sided conversations between us began six months ago. She ceased making calls independently and replied solely when I initiated contact first. Even on those occasions when she responded, her answers came across as distracted and far-off.

My role in her life had always been passive and unnoticeable.

My thoughts drifted to whether she would realize my absence if I vanished entirely. Would Frederick?

Had I turned into nothing but a shadow existing in their memories?