Chapter 26: Claiming My Story

Jason and I agreed to go together.

We coordinated outfits—nothing too flashy, just enough to show we were a team. He promised to pick me up after his meeting, and I felt a flicker of excitement I hadn’t felt in years.

In the morning, he suddenly told me he had something urgent and told me to go ahead first.

He kissed me goodbye, promising to catch up soon. I checked my reflection one last time before heading out, nerves fluttering in my stomach.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I reached the private dining room door, I heard them still gossiping about me.

The voices were louder this time, meaner. I lingered in the hallway, invisible but acutely present.

The voices inside grew nastier and nastier.

It was open season on Tessa Sanders, and nobody was pulling their punches. I straightened my spine, refusing to let them see me flinch.

In the noise, I clearly heard Lillian’s voice!

Her voice carried, sweet and self-assured, the perfect blend of concern and condescension.

She said, “Everyone knows my sister Tessa married Derek in my place! Those three years of marriage had a big impact on her. I hope when she arrives, you all won’t make things hard for her!”

She played the part of the gracious bride, but I knew better. Her words dripped with pity, painting me as the tragic figure in her fairytale.

Lillian was always good at saying nice things!

She had a talent for twisting sympathy into a weapon, disarming her critics with a smile.

If she really cared about my reputation, she would have stopped them when they started talking!

But she didn’t!

She let the rumors run wild, content to be the center of attention. I clenched my fists, refusing to be shamed by her kindness.

“Let’s talk.”

Derek’s voice was sudden, slicing through the din. I turned to find him at my elbow, looking every bit the corporate king in his tailored suit.

I don’t know when Derek appeared beside me.

He seemed to materialize out of thin air, his presence commanding even in a crowded hallway.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, looking noble and striking.

He wore his success like armor, every detail impeccable—from the knot of his tie to the shine of his shoes. It was clear he’d come a long way from the boy next door.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

I brushed past him, chin held high. My days of begging for scraps were over.

I looked down and tried to walk past him, but he anticipated my move and stepped in front of me, blocking my way.

He moved with the precision of a chess master, always one step ahead, unwilling to let me go without a fight.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

His voice was tight, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. I stared at the floor, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

“Busy.”

The word was curt, final. I hoped it would be enough to end the conversation.

“Busy with what? So busy you can’t reply for hours?”

He pressed, unable to accept my new boundaries. The old Derek, always needing answers.

I looked up and stared at him. “When I’m with my boyfriend, there’s a lot to do!”

His jaw clenched, the muscle ticking in his cheek. I almost felt sorry for him—almost.

Whatever he was thinking, his face instantly tightened.

The pain was clear in his eyes, but I refused to be drawn in.

“Do you know what kind of person Jason is, and you’re… dating him?!”

His voice rose, tinged with desperation. The gossip had clearly reached him, and he hated being out of the loop.

I stayed calm. “I didn’t know what kind of person you were, but I still married you!”

My words hit their mark, and he recoiled as if I’d slapped him. It was the truth, and we both knew it.

“That’s different.”

He tried to justify his choices, but the excuses sounded hollow, even to him.

“How is it different?”

I pressed, determined not to let him off easy. The old dynamic was gone, and I wasn’t going to let him rewrite history.

Before he could answer, I added, “Right, Jason and I are together by mutual consent!”

I threw the words at him like a lifeline, reminding us both that I finally had a say in my own life.

Maybe my tone was too mocking, because Derek’s face stiffened.

He swallowed hard, pain and anger warring in his eyes. I almost felt guilty—but not enough to take it back.

I turned to go, but as soon as I took a step, he grabbed my wrist.

His grip was firm, desperate. For a moment, I saw the boy he used to be—lost and afraid.

“When did you and Jason start?”

His voice was low, rough with longing. I could feel the old hurt flaring between us.

“What’s it got to do with you?”

I twisted my arm, trying to pull free. I was done being answerable to him.

I tried to shake off his hand, but the more I struggled, the tighter he held.

The pressure was just shy of painful, a silent plea not to leave him behind.

“Tessa, did you rush to divorce me back then just for him?”

His question hung in the air, full of accusation and regret. I met his gaze, unflinching.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let go!”

I wrenched my arm away, anger rising in my chest. I wouldn’t let him make me feel guilty for choosing myself.

He wouldn’t budge. “You can be with anyone, just not him!”

His jealousy was raw, almost childlike. I shook my head, exasperated by his refusal to move on.

“Are you crazy?!”

I stomped on his foot, hard enough to make him let go. The shock on his face was almost satisfying.

He let go in pain, and I took the opportunity to pull away and step back several times.

I retreated, putting a safe distance between us. My pulse raced, but I stood my ground.

“You’d better go have your wedding, brother-in-law!”

I spat the words out, the old wound finally scabbing over. The look on his face was priceless—white as chalk, lips trembling.

Derek’s face instantly turned pale.

His pride crumbled, and for once, he had nothing left to say.

His lips moved, but he didn’t say a word.

I watched him struggle for words, but none came. The silence between us was louder than any argument we’d ever had.

I admit, for a moment I felt a sense of revenge!

It was a fleeting satisfaction—payback for years of pain and humiliation.

But that pleasure was fleeting, replaced by a sudden, unprecedented clarity.

In that moment, I realized I was finally free—from his expectations, my family’s judgment, and the shadows of my past.

“Tell Lillian—what I owed her is paid back. From now on, we owe each other nothing!”

And for the first time, I meant every word.

I walked away, head held high, ready to write the next chapter of my story—one that belonged to me, and me alone.