He Stole My Job, I Took Back My Life

Chapter 1

My husband, Steven Collins, a professor at Weston University, had promised to write me a recommendation that would help me land a faculty position there.

Instead, on the very day everything was supposed to fall into place, he told me he wanted a divorce.

"Megan, my mentor's wife is critically ill," Steven said. "Her dying wish is to see her daughter hired by Weston and carry on the family's academic legacy. The quickest way to make that happen is for her to apply as my spouse. Let's get a temporary divorce. Once everything is settled, we'll remarry."

In my previous life, I believed every word.

I signed the divorce papers and accepted a teaching assignment in a remote rural district, trusting his promise that he would bring me back to the city after three years.

He never did.

I spent the rest of my life trapped in that forgotten town.

Only after I died alone did I learn the truth.

His mentor's wife had never been at death's door. She had gone on to live a long, healthy life.

Looking at him now, I let out a cold, humorless laugh.

"Fine," I said. "I'll agree to the divorce. After all, your mentor's wife's life is more important."

After the divorce process had been finalized, the clerk handed me my copy of the divorce decree.

Without sparing the man beside me another glance, I tucked it into my bag and turned toward the exit.

Behind me, Steven called out in confusion.

"Megan Ford, where are you going?"

I looked back at him, my expression perfectly innocent.

"Steven, we're divorced now. Obviously, I'm leaving. Did you expect me to go home with you?"

He stood there in stunned silence, uncertainty flashing across his face.

"Is... is there really nothing else you want to say to me?"

I almost laughed.

Wasn't this exactly what he'd wanted? He had everything he'd asked for, so why did he suddenly look disappointed?

Still, I forced a gentle smile.

"Steven, of course, I never wanted this divorce. But this is your mentor's wife's final wish. You've always believed in repaying the people who've helped you. I don't want to make things harder for you."

A complicated look settled over his face.

"I... I thought you'd refuse. I thought you'd fight me."

In my previous life, when he'd first suggested the divorce, he'd insisted it was only temporary. He'd promised we'd remarry soon and that he'd still find a way to get me a position at Weston.

How could I have agreed so easily?

I argued with him for days. I refused to eat. I cried, pleaded, and begged him not to leave me. I even suggested other ways to help his graduate student.

He had shoved me away without a trace of warmth.

He said, I couldn't see the bigger picture.

He called me selfish and narrow-minded.

After I had sacrificed every shred of dignity, he finally promised that my rural assignment would last only three years. Then we'd remarry, and he'd arrange a position for me at Weston.

Instead, I remained stranded in that isolated town.

He never brought me back.

And he never divorced Francine.

I lowered my eyes, pretending to be hurt.

"How could you think that, Steven? I know you didn't have another choice. Or... is that really how you see me?"

For the first time, guilt flickered across his face.

He stepped closer and reached for my hand.

"That's not what I meant, Megan. I just... I didn't expect you to agree so quickly. It almost felt like you couldn't wait to divorce me."

Quietly, I dug my fingernails into my palm until tears filled my eyes.

"Steven, why would I ever want to divorce you? If I'd known you'd think so little of me, I would have listened to my heart instead. Maybe I should have acted like the unreasonable, heartless woman you expected me to be."

I slipped my hand from his grasp and turned away, pretending I was too heartbroken to face him.

Before I could take another step, he caught my wrist again.

"Megan, where are you going?"

I immediately stepped back, putting distance between us as I glanced around.

"Steven, we're divorced now. We should keep our distance. If someone sees us together and gets the wrong idea, how are we supposed to explain it?"

His hand hung awkwardly in the air before he slowly lowered it.

"Then... where are you going to stay? Maybe you could—"

I cut him off before he could finish.

"Maybe what? You expect me to move back into your faculty housing? The three of us living under one roof? You, your graduate student, and me? Then what exactly was the point of getting divorced?"

His face turned scarlet before all the color drained away.

"Megan, you've got it all wrong. I've only ever thought of her as one of my students. I would never..."

I had heard enough.

"I know," I interrupted with a faint smile. "Of course, I trust you, Steven. So hurry back and take care of everything. The sooner it's settled, the sooner we can remarry, right?"

I adjusted the strap of my bag. "I'll be going now."

Ignoring him as he called my name again and again, I walked away without looking back.

This time, I wanted only one thing...

To erase Steven Collins from my life forever.