Open Marriage, Broken Promises: When Love Turns to Ashes novel Chapter 14

Seven years of her life, drained away.

James floundered, then his eyes lit up, like he'd found a way out.

"This is about Lily, isn't it? You're jealous."

He grabbed her again, his voice pleading.

"Look, I won't see her again, okay? I messed up. I won't do it again."

His arms wrapped around her.

"Emily, don't leave me. You're the only one I love. I swear."

Love.

Coming from his mouth, it was a joke.

She didn't waste another second.

She shoved him off and snapped her suitcase shut.

"When you're ready to be an adult, we'll talk."

She pulled her suitcase toward the door.

James' face twisted with rage.

"You walk out that door, don't ever come back."

Perfect.

No more gaslighting.

No more walking on eggshells. No more him.

She turned back, smiling.

"Deal."

James felt it then.

Like an icy wind had ripped straight through his chest.

But his pride wouldn't let him say the words that might make her stay.

So he just stood there, frozen, as Emily walked out of his life.

The first thing Emily did after leaving James?

Call Susan.

Back in college, they weren't just best friends—they were partners in crime, building AI models before the rest of the world caught up.

They were unstoppable.

Until Emily gave it all up for James.

Biggest mistake of her life.

Love fades. Work? Success? Money?

Those never betray you.

When Susan saw her, she smirked.

"Well, well. Look who's back."

"Decided to slum it with us corporate grunts?"

Emily laughed.

"I'm getting a divorce."

Susan's jaw dropped.

She'd seen James and Emily's love story from the beginning.

She'd even supported Emily when she left their AI project to play housewife.

Now this?

"You're kidding."

Who she was about to become again.

Nightfall.

Susan led Emily into the restaurant.

Emily's eyes instinctively landed on the man sitting across from them.

Well, what were the odds?

Alex arched a brow, his voice laced with amusement.

"Your boss making you work under duress?"

"Seems kinda cruel to send someone in with battle scars."

Susan blinked, just now noticing.

"Shit, Emily, what happened to your face?"

"Ran into something."

Last night was too ugly to rehash—especially not in a professional setting.

Susan waved it off.

"You gotta be more careful."

Then she slid a folder across the table.

"Alex, this is the AI system our company is about to launch…"

She launched into her pitch.

Emily sat beside her, chiming in now and then.

She may have been out of the game for years, but she never stopped learning.

By the time Susan wrapped up, Alex had already closed the file.

Expression unreadable, he picked up his steaming cup of tea, letting the rising vapor blur his features.