Chapter 4 4

For a moment, she couldn't think. The collision had knocked the air out of her lungs, leaving her gasping and disoriented. Her bag spilled open beside her, papers scattering across the floor. Blinking through the haze of tears, Cleo looked up, her heart pounding.

The object she had run into wasn't a wall-it was a man. A tall, broad-shouldered figure stood before her, looking down with a mixture of surprise and concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice steady yet gentle.

Cleo didn't respond immediately. She tried to gather her thoughts, but the storm of emotions swirling within her made it impossible to focus. Her lips trembled, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as she clutched her chest, the ache there too unbearable to contain.

"Here, let me help you," the man said softly, crouching down to pick up her scattered belongings.

"No-don't," Cleo managed to whisper, her voice breaking. "Just leave me."

But the man ignored her protest, carefully gathering the papers and handing them back to her.

"thank you" Cleo whispers as she grabbed the papers with trembling hands and her heart pounding in her chest. Without sparing a glance at the man who handed them to her, she turned on her heel and bolted out of the room. She didn't care who he was or what his expression might have been. Nothing mattered anymore. All she wanted was to get away from the suffocating presence of it all. She reached her car, yanked the door open, and slid into the seat, barely pausing to catch her breath.

"Ma'am, is everything alright?" Sophie, her loyal assistant, asked, her voice laced with concern as she looked at Cleo's pale face.

"I just need to go home," Cleo muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't look at Sophie, didn't explain. She just needed to escape, to be alone with her thoughts.

The drive home was quiet, the only sound coming from the low hum of the engine. Cleo's mind, however, was anything but calm. Memories of Ethan flooded her thoughts, each one a cruel reminder of what she had lost. The house they were driving toward wasn't just a structure made of bricks and mortar; it was a place filled with echoes of laughter, love, and arguments-memories that were now tainted by the harsh reality of their end.

She thought about the nights they had spent talking until dawn, the way his laughter could light up even her darkest days. She remembered how they would argue over the smallest things, only to make love with the kind of passion that made her believe they were invincible. Ethan had been her life, her anchor, her everything. Everything she had ever done-every decision, every sacrifice-had been for them, for their future together.

She knew he had been distant lately, but she had never imagined it would lead to this. Divorce. The word felt like a dagger, sharp and cold, twisting in her chest. How could he just let go of everything they had built? How could he let go of her?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the blaring honk of a horn. She hadn't even realized they had arrived. As the car pulled up to the gate of her home, Cleo's chest tightened. This place, once her sanctuary, now felt suffocating. She could barely breathe as the memories pressed down on her, making the air feel heavy and oppressive.

"Sophie, I can't breathe," Cleo gasped, her voice panicked as tears welled up in her eyes. "Take me out of here."

Sophie, though confused, wasted no time. She helped Cleo back into the car and drove away from the house. The further they got, the easier it became for Cleo to breathe. Still, the ache in her chest remained, an unbearable weight she couldn't shake.

"Ma'am, are you okay now?" Sophie asked gently, glancing at Cleo in the rearview mirror.

"Yes," Cleo replied, her voice steadier now. "Thank you, Sophie."

"You're welcome, ma'am. But where are we going?" Sophie asked, her concern still evident.

"First, we'll stop at the pharmacy," Cleo said. "I need something for this nosebleed. After that, we'll find a hotel. I can't go back there tonight."

"Understood, ma'am," Sophie replied, her tone soft but resolute.

The rest of the drive was silent, a heavy stillness filling the car. When they finally arrived at the hotel, Cleo booked two rooms-one for herself and one for Sophie. She didn't have the energy to explain, and Sophie didn't press her for details.

Once inside her room, Cleo leaned against the door and exhaled deeply. The weight of the day was crushing her, but at least here, in this small, unfamiliar space, she could feel a tiny sliver of relief. She ordered food, took her medication, and sank into the bed.

As her head hit the pillow, exhaustion took over. Sleep came quickly, pulling her into a temporary escape from the pain.