The Marriage Bargain - ENGLOT

Chapter 23: Come Home

Cadence's POV:

It's been three years since I made the decision to leave everything and everyone behind to pursue my dreams. It was a difficult decision, the hardest thing I had to do. But since filming Alexander Cross' movie, I've won numerous awards and have become one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry. It's a far cry from the struggling actor I once was, living paycheck to paycheck and constantly going to auditions.

As I walk down the red carpet, flashing cameras and adoring fans surround me. I smile and wave, feeling a sense of gratitude for all the success that has come my way. But at the same time, I can't help but feel a twinge of sadness in my heart.

There are still moments when I feel lost and alone. I miss the familiar faces of my loved ones and the comfort of being in a familiar place....I still miss Emory. A huge part of me yearns for her. Every time I hear about all her amazing accomplishments, I feel this little pinch inside of me. I know that she's the one that got away, and I have no one to blame but myself.

...

I was sitting in my small apartment in London, going through some movie proposals and scripts when my phone rang. I looked down at the screen and saw Emory's name flashing. Seeing her name pop up brought a wave of emotions crashing over me.

I hesitated, unsure if I should answer. It had been three years since I last heard directly from her and I was both nervous and thrilled to hear her voice again.

"Hello?" I said, trying to keep my voice casual and holding my breath as I waited for Emory to answer.

"Cadence," Emory's voice was cold, distant. "It's been a while."

I wanted to jump into the phone and be with her again, to feel her arms around me and hear her tell me she loves me. But I knew better than to get my hopes up. "Yeah, it has."

"I need you to come home," Emory said abruptly.

"Home?" I felt a flicker of hope grow in my chest, wondering if she still feels love for me and wants us to take another chance.

"To sign the divorce papers," Emory continued, crushing my hope underfoot. "I'm getting married and I need you to come and sign the papers."

Married? My heart sank. It was like a bomb had gone off inside me, shattering everything I thought I had with Emory into a million pieces. She was moving on, and here I was, still pining for her. My hopes were dashed in an instant. I had always planned to come back for her, I had always thought that we would be together again someday. But now, it seemed that all of my dreams had gone up in smoke.

"I... I don't understand," I said, my voice shaking. "Why are you getting married?"

"It's none of your business," Emory snapped. "Just come and sign the papers, Cadence. I need to start my new life."

My new life? What about me? What about us? Tears pricked at my eyes and I moved the phone away. My heart sank. I should have seen this coming, but I had allowed myself to hope for the best.

I felt tears sting my eyes, and I tried to keep my voice from breaking. "You can't do this over the phone or email?"

"I need you to sign in person," Emory said firmly. "Please, Cadence. I'll pay for your plane ticket."

Silence stretched between us, and I realized that I had to go back to the place where it all fell apart. I had to face the pain and move on.

"No need," I said, my voice barely a whisper, trying to hide my pain. I took a deep breath before adding, "okay, I'll come back."

"Good," Emory replied. "I'll send you the details. I need you here tomorrow." Emory let out a sigh of relief, and I couldn't help feeling like I was making the biggest mistake of my life.