The evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the sprawling mansion that Katherine called home. The grand dining room, with its high ceilings and ornate chandeliers, was bathed in the soft light of the setting sun. The room, adorned with expensive art and luxurious furnishings, reflected the lavish life she shared with her husband, Leonard. Yet tonight, the elegance of her surroundings felt hollow.
Katherine sat at the edge of a long, polished mahogany table, her fingers lightly tracing the delicate patterns on the fine china plates she had carefully set. The table was prepared with meticulous attention to detail—crystal glasses, silver cutlery, and a centerpiece of fresh roses, their fragrance mingling with the aroma of the dinner she had prepared. Every dish was one of Leonard's favorites, a tribute to the man she had devoted herself to over the past two years.
The clock on the wall chimed softly as it struck 7:00 p.m. Katherine's heart gave a small flutter of worry. Leonard was late. She glanced at the empty chair across from her, the anticipation she had felt earlier now giving way to a growing sense of unease. Where could he be?
Katherine stood and walked over to the large bay window, peering out into the expansive driveway. The sky was turning a deep shade of purple, and the perfectly manicured lawns of their estate were bathed in twilight. Still no sign of Leonard's car. She bit her lip, trying to suppress the anxiety creeping into her thoughts.
"He's just running late," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the huge room. "Maybe there was an emergency at work."
But even as she said it, the words felt hollow. Deep down, Katherine knew she was probably the only one who had remembered their anniversary. Leonard had never truly cared about such things. He was always more consumed by his business dealings, more focused on his work than on her.
But despite everything, she had still harbored a small hope that tonight would be different. She had allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, Leonard would surprise her—acknowledge the day and show her that he cared, even if just a little.
As the minutes ticked by, Katherine returned to her seat at the table, her fingers nervously smoothing the folds of her burgundy silk dress. She had chosen it tonight in hopes that it might make him happy. But now, as the reality of the situation settled in, she wondered if she had been foolish to expect anything at all.
At the sound of a car engine approaching, her heart leaped. Katherine quickly stood up, smoothing her dress one last time before hurrying to the front door. The grand foyer echoed with the click of her heels against the marble floor as she made her way to the entrance, her pulse quickening with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
She reached the massive oak door and paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. This was it. Leonard was home, and they would finally have the evening she had been longing for. She could picture him smiling as he walked through the door, perhaps even apologizing for being late, and they would sit down to the meal she had worked so hard to prepare.
But when Katherine opened the door, her smile faltered. Standing on the doorstep was not Leonard, but a man she didn't recognize. He was tall, with neatly combed hair and a sharp, tailored suit that showed he meant business. He was in the middle of raising his hand to press the doorbell when Katherine beat him to it. His hand paused mid-air, and then he slowly lowered it, offering her a polite, almost rehearsed smile.
"Mrs. Katherine Ford?" His voice was smooth, but there was a certain detachment to it, as if he were about to deliver bad news.
Katherine blinked, her confusion evident. "Yes, that's me… Can I help you?"
The man cleared his throat, shifting slightly. "My name is Tommy White. I'm Mr. Leonard Ford's attorney."
Katherine's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a cold chill creep down her spine. Leonard's lawyer? Why would Leonard's lawyer be here, on their anniversary no less? Her eyes flicked behind Tommy, half-expecting to see Leonard's car pulling up behind him, but there was nothing.
"Oh, I see… um, Leonard isn't home yet," she stammered, trying to keep the unease from her voice. "But you can come in and wait for him, if you like."
Tommy hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. Katherine led him into the living room, a space as grand and meticulously decorated as the rest of the mansion. Tommy sat down on one of the plush, cream-colored couches, placing a sleek black briefcase on his lap. He didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Actually, Mrs. Ford, I'm here to speak with you."
Katherine's stomach churned with unease. "With me?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tommy nodded, his expression turning serious. He opened the briefcase with a soft click, pulling out a thick stack of papers. He held them out to her, and Katherine stared at them, her mind refusing to process what was happening.
"I'm afraid I have some difficult news to deliver," Tommy said, his tone professional, but not unkind. "Mr. Ford has decided to file for divorce."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Katherine felt the world tilt on its axis, and for a moment, she thought she might faint. Her hands trembled as she reached out to take the papers, the stark white pages feeling heavy and cold in her grip.
"This… this must be some kind of mistake," she managed to say, her voice shaky. "Leonard would have told me… he wouldn't have sent you here like this…"
Tommy shook his head, his expression one of practiced sympathy. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Ford. Mr. Ford gave me clear instructions to handle this matter. I assure you, everything is in order."
Katherine's eyes scanned the papers, though the words blurred together. Terms like "irreconcilable differences" and "property division" jumped out at her, but she couldn't focus. The world felt surreal, as if she had stepped into a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.
"Why?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Why is he doing this?"
Tommy hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "I'm not at liberty to discuss Mr. Ford's personal reasons, Mrs. Ford. My role is simply to ensure the legal process is followed correctly."
Katherine's grip tightened on the papers, her knuckles turning white. Anger began to bubble up inside her, mingling with the shock and pain. How could Leonard do this to her? How could he end their marriage, just like that, without even facing her? After everything she had been through, was this how it was going to end?
"When did he decide this?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her efforts to stay composed.
"A few weeks ago," Tommy replied, closing his briefcase with a soft snap. "He instructed me to handle all the necessary paperwork and to deliver these documents to you today."
"Today," Katherine repeated bitterly, her gaze dropping to the papers in her hands. Their anniversary. Leonard had chosen their anniversary to serve her with divorce papers. The realization felt like getting kicked when you're down.
Tommy stood, sensing the conversation was coming to an end. "I understand this is difficult, Mrs. Ford. I'll leave you to review the documents at your own pace. When you're ready, you can contact me, and we'll proceed from there."
Katherine didn't respond, her mind still reeling from the shock. She barely registered Tommy's departure, the sound of the front door clicking shut as he left her alone in the quiet, dimly lit room.
Finally, the anger that had been simmering beneath the surface erupted. With a cry of frustration, Katherine threw the papers onto the marble floor, where they scattered in a chaotic mess. She could feel her chest tightening, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her like a suffocating blanket.
"Damn you, Leonard!" she spat, her voice thick with emotion. "How could you do this to me?"
No, Katherine wouldn't let Leonard get away so easily.