The moment those words left my lips, a collective gasp swept through the room.
The audience below erupted into chaos, camera flashes igniting like bursts of starlight in a turbulent night sky. Reporters leaned forward, their murmurs swelling into a cacophony of excitement.
In the midst of it all, Bruce stood frozen, his eyes widened with disbelief—a reaction I had never seen on him before.
For years, I had played the role he had cast me in: the obedient, docile woman whose world revolved entirely around him. In his mind, marrying him was my ultimate dream, the pinnacle of my aspirations. And yet, here I was, shattering that illusion with a single, irrevocable act.
His disbelief quickly morphed into something sharper—contempt, laced with ridicule. He must have thought I was bluffing, staging a dramatic rebellion to win his attention. His lips parted, no doubt ready to launch into some biting remark, but I didn’t give him the chance.
“I’ve already made up my mind,” I said, my voice steady as steel. “I’m moving to another city for work. I’ve received an offer, and I plan to accept it. As for the resources you’ve provided, I’ll repay them in full—with interest.”
