Chapter 4 The Divorce

Nicole froze, stunned-it was the first time in two years of marriage that Walter had ever called her personal phone.

Brenda quickly gestured, urging Nicole to snap out of her daze and pick up. With shaking hands, Nicole managed to answer.

"H... Hello?"

"Nicole..." Her husband's deep voice resonated through the line.

"Yes? Walter..." she breathed, her heart pounding and nerves stretched thin.

"I take it you've wrapped up whatever you were doing abroad?" Walter's tone was flat and unfeeling.

"Yes, my studies. Like I said in my message, I finished my specialization and..."

"I don't care." Walter cut her off, blunt as ever. Didn't he care at all? Nicole's heart plummeted-so this wasn't a call to congratulate her? "Are you coming back tonight?"

"Uh... no... I'll be back the day after tomorrow... I have to handle some paperwork first..."

"Whatever you need to do isn't my concern..." Walter interrupted again, cold as ice. "I'm only calling to let you know."

"Let me know? About what?" Nicole asked, bewildered.

"When you return, the divorce papers will be waiting for your signature. I refuse to keep up this farce any longer..." Walter's words landed like a punch, leaving Nicole breathless.

"What?" Nicole's whole expression changed in an instant.

"What's going on?" Brenda whispered, noticing the shock etched across her friend's face.

"Now you know. When you get here, you'll just sign-no drama, and none of your usual tricks..."

"Walter, I..." Nicole's eyes glistened.

"By the way, where are you?" Walter suddenly asked. "I hear music-and a lot of men talking..." In the background, the shouts of a few guys playing pool echoed faintly through the phone.

"I... Uh... I'm in a bar..." Nicole said, startled. "I'm with a friend. We're celebrating my graduation..." Her voice faltered, confused by the question.

Walter had never asked her anything like that before. He had never shown the slightest interest in her whereabouts.

"Of course... "You went abroad to study-supposedly," Walter muttered sarcastically. His teeth clenched audibly as anger seeped into his voice. Then the line went dead.

Nicole let the phone slip from her fingers. A wave of dizziness washed over her. Was it real? Had all of that truly just happened?

"Nicole, what happened?" Brenda grabbed her shoulders and shook her gently, forcing her to snap out of it. Nicole stood there frozen, tears still streaming down her face.

"He... He... Walter... Walter asked me for a divorce." Nicole struggled to speak. The words came out broken and uneven. She reached for her glass and drained the remaining wine in one desperate gulp.

"He did what?" Brenda exclaimed. "Over the phone? That miserable, heartless man!" Her voice shook with fury.

"I... I don't know," Nicole sobbed. "I don't understand what went wrong. What am I supposed to do... I thought... I hoped... that you would miss me, that you would finally realize. I always believed that one day you would fall in love with me. I tried everything, Brenda, I swear I did, and he never believed me... Maybe... maybe I understand him. Look at me, Brenda. Walter is right. Someone like him could never be interested in someone like me." Nicole's words dissolved into incoherent sobs as Brenda watched her with quiet, aching sadness.

"Nicole," Brenda said softly, reaching for her. "Don't say that..."

"I thought he cared for me, even a little," Nicole went on, her voice cracking. "After his father died, he didn't ask me for a divorce. I took it as a sign-I let myself hope he might feel something for me. How foolish was that?" Her lament deepened. "What am I supposed to do now, Brenda? Tell me, what should I do? Our families' companies are merged, and after his father's death, Walter took charge of everything. He handed my father the full share owed to our family, but as for me... He only provided what I needed to live as his wife-a house, food, clothes. It took me a year and a half to save enough for this specialization. And now, after the divorce, I'll have nothing left!"

"Don't say that!" Brenda burst out, her voice thick with emotion as she saw her friend so broken. "That's why you studied so hard, Nicole! Isn't that right?" She gripped Nicole's shoulders firmly. "You did it to become an independent, empowered woman, so start acting like one!"

Nicole blinked, caught off guard; Brenda had never yelled at her like that before.

"Listen to me, Nicole Matthew," Brenda said, her tone unwavering. "You are done begging that jerk Walter for anything, and you will not keep humiliating yourself for him. That idiot doesn't realize the incredible woman he's losing. Got it?" Nicole could only nod, tears brimming in her eyes. At that moment, thinking for herself felt impossible. "You're going to sign those damn divorce papers, and then you'll demand a managerial position at the company. They can't deny you that-it's still your family's business, even if you're divorced. You'll work your way up and become exactly what you've always wanted to be-a beautiful, independent woman. You'll save your mother. Just watch-Walter will see the mistake he made." Brenda ended with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"What?" Nicole stared at her, bewildered.

"You're not going to let him get away with this," Brenda insisted. "You need to make him see that he's the one losing out."

"No... I don't understand..." Nicole murmured, her brow furrowing.

"We'll turn you into an absolute diva," Brenda declared. "Your soon-to-be ex-husband will be green with regret the moment he sees you with another man. That'll be your revenge..."

"With... with another man?" Nicole stammered, even more confused. "What man?"

"A real man," Brenda said with a smirk. "Someone gorgeous, powerful, the kind of arrogant brute who turns heads when he walks in a room. Just wait-Walter will regret ever letting you go. And if we have to, we'll hire you a fake boyfriend." Brenda's mischievous grin grew wider.

...

Nicole shifted restlessly in her seat, glancing toward the bar's entrance every few minutes. She still couldn't quite figure out how she'd let Brenda talk her into this.

"Nicole, enough already-stop fidgeting! You're making me anxious," Brenda complained, her patience thinning.

"I can't do this, Brenda. I really can't..." Nicole muttered, stealing another nervous look at the door.

"Of course you can!" Brenda insisted. "Come on, it'll be fun. It's a shame I won't be there, but just picturing it..." She grinned to herself, clearly entertained by the thought.

"I don't want to," Nicole admitted, dropping her gaze. "I'm not someone who takes revenge. That's just not who I am..."

"Don't think of it as revenge. It's nothing serious, Nicole..." Brenda replied, pausing as she considered how best to ease her friend's worries. "Just treat it as a harmless little joke. Aren't you at least curious? Wouldn't you like to see how your husband reacts?"

"I... well... maybe I am curious," Nicole admitted, cheeks reddening. The idea of Walter being even a little jealous felt oddly thrilling, even if it seemed impossible.

"Then it's settled!" Brenda declared.

"Wait... Tell me something," Nicole said, leaning closer. "How did you find this man so quickly?"

"Let's just say..." Brenda shrugged, feigning innocence. "I'm an independent woman who isn't interested in falling in love, but I do like to spoil myself with a handsome man every now and then."

"Brenda!" Nicole gasped, scandalized, her entire face burning with embarrassment.

"Okay, okay, I'm kidding," Brenda said, laughing. "Honestly, I just searched online. It was easy..." She checked her watch and her eyes went wide. "Oh my God, look at the time!" She suddenly jumped off her stool.

"What? What is it?" Nicole asked, completely bewildered.

"It's late, I have an appointment, and that man still hasn't shown up. Ugh-how irresponsible!" Brenda grumbled, stamping her foot in frustration.

"What? You have to leave?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"Then... I'll go with you," Nicole offered, starting to rise, but Brenda stopped her with a firm hand.

"No way. You're staying right here and waiting for him. I'm messaging the agency now; he'll be here any minute," Brenda explained, tapping quickly on her phone. She fished a thick envelope from her purse and pressed it into Nicole's hand. "Here, this should cover everything-just don't pay him all at once."

"So much... there's so much money in here! I can't take this, Brenda. How could I ever repay you?" Nicole stammered, scandalized, trying to give the envelope back to her friend.

"Relax, Nicole..." Brenda said warmly, squeezing her shoulder. "You can pay me back by telling me all the juicy details-or, better yet, when you're running the company better than your future ex-husband ever did, you can return the favor then." With a playful wink, Brenda turned and started toward the door.

"Brenda-wait!" Nicole called out, her voice edged with nerves. Brenda turned back, expectant. "I... How am I supposed to recognize him? I've never even seen him before..."

Brenda's eyes sparkled with mischief. "When the tallest, most muscular, and downright attractive man in the entire bar walks in. You'll know."