Beyond the Divorce

Michelle held onto my arm and wouldn't let go, pressing herself against me.

"Let go of me! If you have something to say, just say it" I impatiently pulled my arm away.

Her clinging annoyed me, and I had to compromise. "Alright, I'll tell you when I'm free!"

When Michelle saw me relenting, she quickly grabbed me again, cautiously asking, "How about today?"

I pulled my arm away again. "I have plans today."

"No? What about tomorrow? Tomorrow, it is!" She seized the opportunity and refused to let go.

I glanced at her, wanting to break free as soon as possible. I had had enough of her antics.

"Fine!" I said reluctantly.

But as soon as the word left my mouth, I almost bit off my tongue.

I just wanted to get her away from me. When Michelle heard me agree, she happily exclaimed, "You're the best! I'm glad we were classmates!"

I cursed her in my heart. 'How shameless!'

"I'm leaving now!" I finished speaking and walked toward the exit, not wanting to stay a moment longer.

Behind me, Michelle shouted, "You'd better bring Atlas with you tomorrow, Chloe! We want to meet both of you!"

Her shout caught the attention of those leaving work, and they all looked at her in surprise.

I walked quickly toward the exit, thinking, forget about it! Atlas wasn't someone you could just meet whenever you wanted. Back at Fremont Bay, I was surprised to see my dad sitting in the living room as I hadn't seen him there in a long time. He was waiting for me.

When he saw me come in, he stood up and smiled. "I'm done with work!"Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I sat beside him and said, "Why aren't you working today?"

He said, "We finished early today. There wasn't much to do. The new plants haven't arrived yet. You finished work early, too. Where's Atlas?"

I chuckled inwardly. Dad might have waited here the whole time if I had not returned early today.

"I didn't have much to do either, so I left work early to come home. I had no plans for the evening and wanted to have dinner with you guys," I said.

I always thought my parents treated me pretty well. I was the apple of their eye.

If I had never discovered that I was once the real Stella White, I think I would have had a happy, ordinary life under their care.

But I was the real Stella White; they had deprived me of those memories.

"Hmm! Looks like my daughter is all grown up." My dad sighed.

His words pierced my heart. I had lost my memories, but their

memories of me must still be intact. However, it was clear that they were still very fond of me.

I had no reason not to forgive them.

I quietly took a deep breath, regaining my composure. I asked "Have you seen the news?

Matthew's case has been

concluded. He was released on the

spet."

I was sure he knew, but he probably didn't know how to bring it up.

My mom came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands. "You're back early today! Where's Atlas?"

"He had something to do. He'll be back later." I lounged on the sofa lazily.

My dad leaned forward to look at me, asking, "Is he okay?"

"We have a lot of things to deal with. I need to wait for him to come back to handle it. It's quite a mess!" I said.

My dad's face grew serious. He said, "I wanted to tell you that this should end now that Matthew has been declared innocent, Chloe.

"You've been kind enough. No

ex-wife could do what you did. You

don't owe anything to the Murphy family. You were very generous, especially considering what he to you in the past. I believe you've done right by your coce. As

for what comes next,

be

careful and don't..."

"I understand, Dad. Don't worry," I interrupted him.

My dad nodded with relief and didn't say anything more.

But I added, "I've made things very clear to Matthew's assistant, and that's the end."

"Hmm! I'm sure I can trust you to handle things," My dad nodded.

He wouldn't have brought up any of this if he trusted me!