I Saw The Comments Predicting My Divorce And Fired The Cause First Chapter 08

I Saw The Comments Predicting My Divorce And Fired The Cause First Chapter 08

The new apartment was tiny, a one-bedroom with a kitchen barely wide enough for the fridge door to open.

But the balcony was huge.

Move-in day, I dragged a rug out there, set up a little coffee table, and tucked a beanbag into the corner.

At night, the whole city skyline lit up right in front of me.

Piper helped me move the last of the boxes, then threw herself onto the couch and tore into Miles for ages.

“How could he? Huh? How could he? You lived in a basement with him for years, stretching a single bagel to last all day, you sold every piece of jewelry your mom left you.”

“And the second he gets rich, he takes another woman to see the northern lights?? What kind of man does that?”

“Enough.” I tossed her a water bottle. “It’s done.”

“You’re just going to walk away like that?” Piper sat up, staring at me like I’d lost my mind. “Harper, are you serious right now?”

“You should’ve taken him for everything: the house, the cars, his dignity.”

“Piper.”

“What?”

“I brought the photo mosaic.”

Piper went quiet. Her eyes drifted to the corner of the room.

The mosaic, Miles’s face built from hundreds of our photos, was propped against the wall.

The gap where his heart should’ve been, the one that had always been empty, was filled now.

With a photo of me.

I’d taken it in Frosthaven, red parka, standing alone in the snow, a blue ice cave glowing behind me.

Without him.

“Just me.”

Piper stared at it for a while. Then she crossed the room and pulled me into a hug.

“Harper. I’m so proud of you.”

I smiled.

“I’m in my thirties. I’d hope I’d figured something out by now.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Before, you were always Miles’s wife. This is the first time I’ve seen you as just Harper.”

Miles’s company ran into a wall.

Piper told me, because she always did.

She sent a barrage of voice messages. I played the first one.

“Harper, oh my God. Apex Holdings just backed out of their contract

with Miles. His company’s stock tanked overnight!”

I was editing photos. I barely looked up.

The second one came in. “Do you want to know WHY they pulled out? Because they just signed Julian as their brand ambassador!”

“There’s an exclusivity clause. If they’re working with Julian, they can’t work with Miles’s company. They have to choose one or the other!”

My hand stilled on the mouse.

Third message. “Harper, did Julian do this for you?”

I didn’t reply.

That night, Miles asked to see me.

Said it was important. He picked the deli we used to go to.

I almost said no. But I went.

The place hadn’t changed, same owner, same menu, same everything.

Miles was at our old table. Two pastrami sandwiches sat waiting.

“Hey.” He stood and pulled out my chair.

“What did you need to talk about?”

“Eat first.” He slid the plate toward me. “Pastrami with extra pickles, your old order.”

I didn’t touch it.

“Miles. What is this about?”

He went quiet, then set down his fork.

“The Apex Holdings thing. You heard about it?”

“I heard.”

“That was Julian’s doing.” He locked eyes with me. “He’s making a move on you, isn’t he?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Harper, listen to me.” His voice hardened. “Julian isn’t who you think he is.”

“He’s been in the industry for years. You don’t stay on top that long without getting your hands dirty.”

“Stop.” I stood up. “You dragged me out here to bad-mouth him?”

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“You gave up that right when you signed the papers.”

I grabbed my bag.

“Do you know why his marriage ended?” Miles’s voice followed me. “His ex said he was controlling. That he isolated her from everyone in her life.”

I stopped walking.

“Miles.” I didn’t turn around. “Even if that’s true, it’s my call to make. Not yours.”

“We’re done. You don’t get a say in my life anymore.”

I walked out into the autumn air. The wind had teeth.

My phone buzzed. A text from Julian.

[Tomorrow’s location changed. I had my team send you the new address. Try to get some sleep.]

I read it. I didn’t reply.

The comments rolled in…

[The ML is SPIRALING.]

[Smearing the competition. Classic desperate ex move.]

[Wait though, is the thing about Julian’s ex-wife true? The controlling stuff?]

[Idk but she’s obviously in no state to see red flags right now.]

[True or not, she’s a grown woman. She’ll figure it out herself.]

[Team Harper!! The ML showing up to stir drama at this point is just pathetic.]