I Saw The Comments Predicting My Divorce And Fired The Cause First Chapter 04

I Saw The Comments Predicting My Divorce And Fired The Cause First Chapter 04

The shoot was on the coast.

I got there way before dawn.

Set up the gear, tested the light, dialed in the settings.

The wind off the water was brutal, sand stinging my face with every gust. I barely noticed.

My heart had been hammering since the night before, and it hadn’t slowed once.

Right as the sun broke over the water, a black SUV pulled up.

Julian stepped out.

White tee, black jeans, hair falling loose across his forehead like he hadn’t bothered styling it.

It had been years since I’d first seen him on stage, and he looked almost the same.

No, he had changed.

Leaner now, jawline sharper. And there was something behind his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

The kind of depth only years can carve.

“Hi, Ms. Hayes.” He extended his hand.

I shook it, praying he couldn’t feel how damp my palm was.

“Hi.”

“I’ve been through your portfolio. Bold composition, beautiful use of light. I asked Ms. Mercer specifically for you.”

A quick smile. “Hope that doesn’t make you nervous.”

“Not at all.” I steadied myself. “I’ll make it count.”

We got to work.

Julian was a dream to photograph. He had an instinct for the camera. I barely had to direct him.

I crouched in the sand, hunting angles, the sun scorching through my shirt. I hadn’t felt this good in weeks.

On our first break, my phone buzzed.

The divorce agreement, from Piper.

[You’re really going through with this?]

I stared at the file. Miles’s collar smelling like someone else’s perfume. Him in Willow’s kitchen, cooking like he belonged there.

[Yes.]

Better to leave on my own terms while he still felt guilty enough to play fair than to wait for him to throw me out with nothing.

A few days into the shoot,

I was mid-adjustment when the comments swarmed my vision.

[OMGGG the ML and Willow are in Frosthaven!! THE NORTHERN LIGHTS!! It’s so gorgeous I could cry!!]

[It’s literally freezing there and the ML just took off his coat and put it around Willow’s shoulders I’M SCREAMING.]

[WAIT this is THE scene from the original plot, where the ML confesses to Willow!!]

[KISS KISS KISS KISS KISS!!]

The camera slipped out of my hands and hit the sand.

“Harper?” Julian was at my side in two strides. “Are you okay?”

“I’m… I’m fine.”

I crouched to pick it up, but my hands were shaking so badly it took two tries to get a grip on it.

The aurora.

He’d promised to take me.

Back in college, he’d held my hand and said, “Harper, when I make it big, I’m taking you to see the northern lights.”

He told me they meant forever.

I waited for years.

And he took her instead.

“Harper, you don’t look well.” Julian crouched beside me, searching my face. “Is it the heat?”

“Maybe…”

He flagged down his assistant for an electrolyte drink and pressed it into my hands.

“Head back to the hotel, get some rest. We’ll pick up tomorrow.”

I wanted to argue, but I nodded.

My head was a mess. Anything I shot right now would be hollow.

“I’m sorry. I’ve set us behind.”

“Don’t worry about it. Take care of yourself first.”

Back at the hotel, I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the ceiling until my vision blurred.

The AC droned on, steady and low, the only thing keeping pace with the thudding in my chest.

I almost laughed.

I’d already decided to leave him. So why did that promise still have its teeth in me?

I opened my chat with Miles and sent the divorce agreement.

[Look it over. When I get back, we’ll sign.]

I expected him to call immediately.

At the very least, I thought he’d ask why.

He didn’t.

Hours passed.

Miles didn’t reply.

Later that evening, the doorbell rang.

I opened it. Julian stood in the hallway, holding a cup of chamomile tea.

“Feeling better?” He held it out.

“Much better, thanks. I’ll make up the time tomorrow, I promise.”

He hesitated. “Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”

“My parents’ 50th anniversary is coming up soon. I’d love to hire you to do a portrait session for them, if you’ve got room in your schedule.

“I’ll pay triple your usual rate.”

I blinked. “Me?”

“Yeah. Your work has this warmth to it. You can feel it in every frame.”

“That means a lot. I’d be honored, seriously.”

“Great. My parents actually happen to be in town. Would you like to have dinner with us tonight? We could talk through the concept.”

“Sure, let me get changed.”

After Julian left, I checked my phone.

Still nothing from Miles.

I got dressed and headed to the restaurant.

Julian and his parents were already seated.

“Mr. Thorne, Mrs. Thorne, it’s so nice to meet you.”

“Oh, come sit down, sweetheart!” Julian’s mom grabbed my hand and pulled me into the booth, beaming. “Julian, you didn’t tell me she was this pretty.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Thorne.”

Julian caught my eye from across the table and mouthed, Relax.

I smiled back.

Mrs. Thorne kept hold of my hand the whole time, talking like we’d known each other for years.

She told me how she and Mr. Thorne had met, the early years, the rough patches, fifty years compressed into dinner conversation.

“Fifty years.” She patted my hand. “Harper, honey, I’m trusting you to make us look good.”

“I won’t let you down, Mrs. Thorne. I promise.”

The door to the private dining room flew open.

Every head turned.

Miles stood in the doorway.

He looked like he’d come straight from the airport, suit rumpled, tie pulled loose.

His eyes swept the table, Julian, his parents, and landed on me.

His eyes were red. “You’re leaving me for him?”

His voice cracked.

“You’ve already… met his parents?”