I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the woman I no longer recognized. Sunken eyes. Pale lips. A shell of who I used to be. But under all that ruin… was fire.
"You gave everything, Catherine," I whispered to myself. "Now it’s time to take it back."
I threw Alan’s coat on the chair and walked straight to my closet. My old ballet flats were still there, dusty but intact. I grabbed them and held them against my chest, a surge of memories rushing in—spotlights, roses, standing ovations.
All the things I gave up… for a man who never saw me. Never again. Alan returned a few minutes later, eyebrows raised.
“You okay?”
“No,” I said, tying my hair back. “But I will be.”
He smiled. “You’re coming on tour, then?”
“I am. I need to move on.”
“Good,” he said. “We leave in three days.”
I nodded. “Three days is enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“Enough to make Louis wish he never let me go.”
Alan froze. “You’re not going to play dirty, are you?”
I smirked. “Why not? Lillian did. Louis did. Maybe it’s my turn.”
“I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”
“I’m already broken, Alan,” I said quietly. “There’s nothing left to destroy.”
THE next morning, I showed up at Louis’ company building like I owned the place. Because technically, I still did. I was his wife. No divorce papers. No annulment.
I walked in wearing a sharp black dress, red heels, and a confidence I hadn’t felt in years. The receptionist blinked. “Mrs. Javier—oh—uh—do you have an appointment?”
“I don’t need one,” I said, smiling politely. “Tell Louis his wife is here.”
A few minutes later, the elevator dinged open on the 20th floor. I walked out and met Carl in the hallway.
“Madam… I didn’t expect—”
“I’m full of surprises lately,” I said. “Where is he?”
“In the boardroom.”
I pushed the door open.
There he was. Louis. Mid-presentation. Surrounded by executives. Clean suit, sharp jaw, every inch the powerful CEO. Until he saw me. The confidence in his eyes cracked.
“Catherine?”
I walked in like I belonged there. Because I used to. And maybe I still did.
“I came to collect my things,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “The ones your mistress threw out.”
Murmurs spread through the boardroom. Louis cleared his throat.
“This isn’t the time.”
“Oh, I think it is,” I replied, cool and sharp. “After all, don’t CEOs pride themselves on being transparent?”
His jaw clenched. “I’ll speak to you privately.”
I smiled, stepping forward until I was close enough to smell his cologne. “You want private now? Where was your privacy when you left me bleeding in a hospital hallway?”
Silence. Dead silence coming from him.
I stepped back and turned to leave. “Don’t worry, Louis. I’ll send a moving company. That way, your little snake doesn’t have to touch anything that doesn’t belong to her.”
I felt the stares behind me, felt Louis’s fury burning—but I didn’t care. I leave his office. I smiled, feeling so relieved. Because for once in my life being with him, I had control.
THAT afternoon, I went straight to the dance studio. I hadn’t stepped inside in years. The wood floors. The long mirrors. The faint scent of resin and sweat. It felt like home. Alan greeted me with a bottle of water and a smirk.
“You’re glowing.”
“Revenge looks good on me,” I said, stretching my legs.
Justin joined us. “You seriously shook Louis up today. I heard from someone on his staff. Half the board now knows about his affair.”
“Good,” I said simply. “They should.”
Alan looked hesitant. “You sure you want to air all this? People might talk.”
“Let them,” I said. “Let them see who he really is. The more noise I make, the more people will realize I wasn’t the problem.”
I stood in front of the mirror again, this time in my leotard and tights. I lifted one leg to the barre, exhaled, and began stretching. Every muscle screamed, but I didn’t stop. Because the pain was familiar. It reminded me I was alive.
Alan played the music. The first few steps were shaky. But then the rhythm took over. My arms, my legs, my soul—everything began to move. By the time the music stopped, I was breathless and drenched in sweat. But I was smiling.
“You’ve still got it,” Alan whispered.
“No,” I said. “I’m just getting started.”
LATER that night, I was packing the last of my things when my phone buzzed. It's from an unknown number.
I answered. “Hello?”
“You think you’ve won?” Lillian’s venomous voice hissed through the line. “You ruined Louis’s career today.”
I laughed. “Oh sweetheart. He did that to himself.”
“You think he’ll come back to you now? You think showing up and dancing around in your pathetic tutu makes you powerful?”
“No,” I said calmly. “But reminding people that I’m still his wife does.”
“I’m pregnant again.”
“Try harder,” I said, rolling my eyes. “That lie only works once.”
“You don’t scare me,” she snapped.
“Good,” I said, hanging up. “Then you’ll never see it coming.”
THE next day, I filed a formal claim to freeze our joint accounts—something Louis forgot I could legally do as his spouse. By noon, he was calling me. I ignored the first three. Then finally answered on the fourth.
“What the hell are you doing?” he barked.
“Just protecting what’s mine,” I said sweetly.
“Unfreeze those accounts, Catherine.”
“I will. After you sign the divorce papers. And hand over half of your company shares.”
“You’re insane.”
“No, I’m just done being stupid.”
“You’re blackmailing me.”
“No, I’m negotiating. Lillian wanted to play house? Let her pay the bills.”
He was silent. I could almost hear the rage bubbling under his skin.
“Catherine… don’t do this.”
“Don’t beg,” I said coldly. “It’s not a good look for a cheater like you.” Then I hung up.
My hands trembled slightly, but I didn’t let myself cry. Not this time.
Alan walked in a few minutes later. “Everything alright?”
I looked up, smiling faintly. “Never better.”
“We leave tomorrow morning,” he said, sitting beside me. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
“I’m not just ready,” I said. “I’m reborn.”
THAT night, while going through my email, a new message popped up.
Subject: URGENT – Anonymous Tip
I opened it. Inside was a photo. Louis and an older man. My hands were shaking because behind them is my father!
The timestamp was dated four years ago before Louis proposed to me. Before I gave up my career.
A line of text followed:
"He didn’t marry you out of love. He married you because your father paid him to."
My blood turned cold. No! This is a lie! No! This had to be fake. A trick. A lie.
I clicked the next photo. My eyes widened in shock. It's a signed contract and there's my father’s signature and Louis.
The words blurred as my vision swam. It's a marriage Agreement. And the amount makes me in rage—Ten Million dollars. And the terms was—Catherine must not know.
Tears spilled down my cheeks.
“Alan!” I screamed, my voice cracking.
He ran in. “What happened?!”
I turned the laptop toward him. He read it. Eyes wide. Jaw clenched.
“I told you something was off about him,” he muttered.
I couldn’t breathe. My knees gave out and I dropped to the floor, shaking.
“Catherine,” he said, kneeling beside me, “What do you want to do? Tell me.”
I looked up, rage burning through the heartbreak.
“I want to destroy him!”
Alan’s phone suddenly buzzed. He checked it and froze.
“What is it?” I asked.
He looked up, pale. “Louis is here. He’s downstairs.”
I stood up slowly, wiping my tears.
“Good,” I whispered. “Let him come. I’ve been waiting.”
