Page 32 of Breaking
She lifted the bag and moved past him, pausing only for a moment before heading downstairs. Her fingers brushed against the small envelope in her pocket-the one containing her wedding rings. Her little diamond ring which she treasured. Troy had offered to replace it with a bigger one but she wanted to keep the old one from when Troy couldn't afford a more expensive one...that is, until now. She left it on the mantle of the downstairs fireplace. It no longer belonged to her.
She didn't slam the door when she left. She didn't have to. The silence she left behind was heavier than any words they could have exchanged, settling over the house like an unspoken farewell.
As she pulled out of the driveway and manoeuvred around Troy's car, her hands steady on the wheel, she saw Troy step onto the drive. He stood there, his posture uncertain, his expression helpless as he watched her go. For the first time, he seemed truly lost, as if the reality of her leaving had only just settled in. But Jenna didn't look back again. She had made her choice.
Later That Day
Jenna sat across from Olivia Harper, a lawyer she had seen at many of Troy's company events. Olivia, known for her sharp legal acumen, looked at her with mild curiosity. She had never been openly condescending to Jenna, just watchful and quiet.
"You'll forgive me for asking," Olivia began, her tone professional, "but why come to me? I assumed you'd use someone outside of Troy's professional network."
Jenna met her gaze, her voice steady. "Because I need someone who knows how he works. I need someone who won't waste my time."
Olivia leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "All right. What do you want out of this?"
"Nothing," Jenna said simply.
Olivia's eyebrows rose. "Nothing? You've been married for over twenty years, and you're telling me you don't want a dime?"
Jenna nodded. "That's correct. I don't need anything from him. I just want out."
The lawyer studied her for a moment, her expression softening. "You understand that prenuptial agreements are not automaticallyenforceable in courts in England and Wales. Traditionally, they were unenforceable as being against public policy. It is something we can fight."
"I know," Jenna said. "And I'm not contesting it. In fact, I don't want their pittance. I am leaving most of my clothes and all my jewellery behind. However, I want it to go on record that my earnings are my own property along with my laptop, iPad, and clothes. They will also not contest the amount spent on my night classes for my bachelor's."
Olivia sat back in her chair, her eyes sharp and dissecting. After what seemed like a long time, she leaned forward and frowned, the standoffish edge in her demeanour melting slightly. She reached for a tissue box on her desk and passed it to Jenna, who had begun to tear up. "Do you understand that if we do this, you get nothing? Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice quieter.
Jenna took a tissue, her voice breaking slightly as she spoke. "Because I'm tired. Because I've spent years trying to be enough for him, for his family, for everyone-and it's never been enough. I don't want anything from him, because I don't want him to have any hold over me. I just want my freedom."
Olivia nodded slowly, her respect for Jenna growing. "All right. I'll draft the papers. And, Jenna... if I came across as abrupt... I'm sorry."
Jenna managed a small smile, the first genuine one in days. "Thank you, Miss Harper."
"Please call me Olivia".
"Olivia, then"
She left the office with nothing but a newfound sense of determination. As she walked out into the crisp afternoon air, she felt the first stirrings of hope, fragile but undeniable.
Chapter 29
Troy
Troy sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on the small envelope resting in his lap. The word "Troy" was written in Jenna's delicate handwriting, and the sight of it made his stomach clench. For a long moment, he simply stared, the silence of the room pressing in on him. Finally, with trembling fingers, he reached for the envelope and peeled it open.
The wedding rings spilt into his palm; their weight far heavier than the gold they were made of. Troy's breath hitched as he turned them over in his hand, his thumb brushing against the familiar grooves. His eyes burned, and for a fleeting moment, he thought he might cry. But the tears didn't come. Instead, a knot of unease settled in his chest, twisting tighter with each passing second.
She had no right to do this. No right to just leave like this. He had worked hard-so hard-to give her everything she could ever want. A beautiful home, financial security, a life most people could only dream of. And this was how she repaid him?
He pressed his white knuckles into his eyes. This room was his safe place. Jenna was always so welcoming. She was ready to try new things in bed even if she was not always comfortable with what he wanted to try. And she had never turned him down. Never. She never had a headache, like some of his friends' wives. He just wanted to take her in and revel in her softness when they closed the door on the rest of the world. Why had he been sleeping in the guest room recently?
His grip on the rings tightened, his mind flashing back to the day he'd placed them on her finger. Their wedding had been hurried, a shotgun affair orchestrated by his mother. Margaret had insisted it was necessary to avoid any scandal, and Jenna had gone along with it without complaint. His father was a silent disapproving presence in the background, though Jenna had signed the prenup without even really going through it. I know she thought she was proving her love for me.
"It doesn't matter how big or small the wedding is," Jenna had said softly that day, her hand resting on his arm as they stood outside the church. "All that matters is us."
Troy had kissed her then, grateful for her calm demeanour, her ability to weather his mother's domineering presence. But now, as he sat in their empty bedroom, the memory felt like a cruel joke. Was it ever really about us? Or was it always just about what I could give her?
The door creaked open, and Max poked his head in. "Dad, you, okay?"
