My Coworker Asked About My Secret Husband, I Said Strangers Chapter 12

I went to Austin alone.

In high school, I’d left my small town for a boarding school in the city, and then left that city for Crestwood.

It had taken so much time and energy, and I’d worked so hard, but I’d never given up on myself.

Now I was going even farther, on my own merit.

The first time I left for the city, I’d been a nervous wreck.

Now I was calmly heading to the other side of the world. No more fear. No more hesitation. Just excitement for what came next.

At the airport, I kept feeling like someone was behind me. It wasn’t until I passed through security and looked back that I saw a tall figure standing in the crowd.

We looked at each other. He gave a small smile, his eyes red-rimmed.

It took me a month to adjust to Austin.

The work culture was good, less gossip, and people cared about their privacy.

Three months later, I flew back to Crestwood, not just to get my mom, but to finalize the divorce.

Brandon and I agreed on a time and both showed up at the courthouse.

His eyes were downcast. When he signed, his fingers hesitated. I saw his face flush, his eyes glistening with silent tears.

After the divorce was finalized, Brandon stared at me with red-rimmed eyes, looking proud and broken all at once, lonely.

After a long time, his voice came out hoarse. “Madison, marrying me… do you regret it?”

Honestly? No. I think everyone has their own lessons to learn. He was mine.

In our time together, I’d genuinely felt the warmth of his family and his love, subtle as it was.

If not for those words, I would have stayed with him forever. Even if they were just angry words, they became the fault line between us.

“I don’t regret it, Brandon.”

He nodded. “I regret saying those things.”

Some words land softly but leave deep scars.

After the divorce, I got a significant settlement. The Coles, feeling guilty about my grandfather’s life-saving act, gave me an eye-opening amount of money and some of their company stock.