Reaching for the Stars Without You

Jason’s internet darling had gone blind. Panicked—a rare state for the usually unflappable Jason—he moved into Katherine’s home that very night. As he turned to leave in haste, he tossed out an order. “Dorothy, I’m bringing Katherine home to care for her. Get the house ready in the next few days. I’ll text you the instructions.” He spoke to her as if she were the household maid. Dorothy clutched the hem of his jacket, her voice timid. “I heard Miss Katherine lost her sight. Is she… alright?” Jason let out a cold laugh. “You’re well-informed.” But she didn’t let go. Instead, she held out a document. “Will you be back tonight? This is for Miss Katherine’s medical expenses.” His displeasure was plain. He signed without a glance. “Not tonight. Don’t call me unless it’s urgent. Do your duty as a wife and stop being so suspicious.” Agitated, he turned and left, never realizing that what Dorothy had handed him was a divorce petition. ............................................................................. Dorothy was the treasured wife of Jason, the golden boy of the city’s old-money elite. For seven years, their marriage had been storybook-perfect. So no one expected him to fall for Katherine. If Dorothy was Jason’s white rose, then Katherine was the stunning red rose that had captivated him. A single kiss sealed their affair, and for three years Katherine followed him without a title. Perhaps out of guilt, Jason poured all his resources into her, sculpting her into a major influencer. And then, at this pivotal moment, she went blind. Dorothy looked at the table laden with dishes she’d cooked herself and felt a twist of irony. It was the story of these ten years—once a feast full of promise, now just cold leftovers. Outside, the roar of a car engine faded into the distance. Dorothy suddenly remembered the first time she’d met Katherine. The younger woman had been lounging in Jason’s executive chair, legs crossed, looking her up and down. “*Honey*, a woman like you is too plain for someone like him.” Katherine wasn’t wrong, really. Those who loved Dorothy cherished her quiet elegance; those who didn’t simply found her aloof and cold. A wry smile touched Dorothy’s lips. It had taken an outsider to see clearly what she’d spent a decade proving to herself. Once, she too had believed she would be his exception, his favorite. Until three years ago, when Jason started finding fault with her hair, her figure, even her clothes. “Why can’t you ever dress for the occasion?” “You look so worn out. Have I not treated you well?” “Can’t you take better care of yourself? You’re starting to sag. It’s embarrassing to be seen with you!” She understood. He just had Katherine as a comparison now, a shining contrast that made her seem dull. Dorothy ran her fingers over the jade pendant her grandmother had left her, surveying the packed bags. Before leaving, she instructed the housekeeper to dispose of every last thing that belonged to her. The anniversary gifts that once symbolized sweet love were left behind in the villa. Their wedding photo was smashed and tossed into the trash. Her phone kept buzzing, notifications pinging one after another. Dorothy opened it. A prenatal exam report filled the screen. “Katherine is pregnant. Her condition is unstable. We need to divorce officially, just as a formality for now. I need to be with her.” “Redecorate the house to her taste. I don’t trust anyone else. Handle it personally.” “Hire a maternity nurse, a family doctor, a caregiver, and a nutritionist. You take care of it.” Finally, the phone fell silent. Dorothy had no desire to maintain even the last shred of her dignity. “Jason, we’re getting a divorce.” She blocked and deleted him from every platform, announcing her single status with flair on her social feed. Let those ten years be food for the dogs. Dorothy Jiang would never look back.