Starting Over, Standing Tall - Chapter 3

My best friend texted me.

“Sarah, I think I offended someone. I was just promoted last month and my supervisor just called me to his office saying he’s going to fire me.”

My lips were tight as I packed my things.

Leaving, I heard Vivian’s taunts.

“Sarah, aren’t you just like me, relying on men? I thought you were so strong willed.”

I paused, holding my suitcase, not to be outdone.

“Did you forget? I’m still married to him.”

Suddenly, Noah grabbed my arm.

“Sarah, who gave you the guts to bully Vivien in front of me? And I warned you. Have you forgotten everything I said?”

My heart felt a sudden sting.

Throughout our marriage, he never publicly acknowledged me.

People only knew he was married, and he wasn’t short of beautiful women.

Since I couldn’t participate in the competition, I didn’t need to wait a week.

With that thought, I felt a little better.

Before returning home, I went to a lawyer’s office and printed a divorce agreement.

I sent another text to that number.

“No need to wait a week. I’ll leave in 2 days.”

Back at the house, I sat on the sofa in a daze.

Noah was home earlier than usual.

He stood in the hallway, meeting my gaze.

It was like seeing the past me.

After work, I’d sit in the living room, waiting until late at night for my husband to come home.

I’d smile, take his coat and shoes.

Honey, are you tired? I learned a new massage technique. Want me to? For years, besides teaching dance, I revolved around him.

The cycle repeated, but I never got a kind word from him.

Now that I’ve distanced myself, seeing the past objectively, I realized how foolish I’d been.

Seeing my lack of reaction, Noah frowned. “What are you thinking about? Running away?”

I chuckled. “If I wanted to run away, what would you do?”

He walked toward me, pushing me onto the sofa, skillfully changing the subject.

“You don’t like your son? Then let’s have a daughter. Daughters are more obedient. They can keep you company. You’ll have an easier time at home.”

When I married into the family, the maid saw Noah’s indifference, and because I was quiet, they didn’t take me seriously, leaving all the hard work to me.

I loved Noah deeply, never complaining.

He saw my plight, but looked on coldly.

My thoughts returned to the present.

My night gown was pulled off.

His kiss landed on my body, fierce and domineering, with a punitive undertone.

No matter how he touched me, I was unresponsive.

Apparently, when you don’t love someone, your body doesn’t react.

Noah found it uninteresting and got off me.

“Sarah, I know your body. You shouldn’t react this way.”

He pinched my chin, scrutinizing me.

“Tell me, have you been with other men?” Noah loved women, but he was a clean freak.

He didn’t allow the women he slept with to be with other men.

A security guard at the studio liked to watch me dance.

Noah saw him and had the studio owner fire him.