Page 43 of Breaking

Now, he might have lost the only person who had ever truly seen him for who he was.

He pulled out his phone again, staring at the message thread.

Unread.

His throat tightened.

He had always thought she would come back. That she just needed time.

But what if she wasn't coming back at all?

The panic that gripped him was unlike anything he had ever felt before.

For years, Troy Bradshaw had built systems, optimized processes, streamlined efficiency-he had always found solutions.

But this?

For the first time in his life, he didn't know how to fix it.

Chapter 35

Troy

Troy had expected Jenna to need time. He had told himself that she was angry, that she needed to cool off, that once the dust settled, things would go back to normal. She would come back, and then he would apologize for being a terrible husband. They'd argue, they'd find a way to move forward. He was still in denial.

So, when Olivia showed up at his office in person, he wasn't concerned. He had known Olivia through business circles, but he never considered that she might be involved in any of this.

He didn't expect her to place a thick manila envelope on his desk and fold her arms across her chest. "You've been served, Troy."

Troy stared at the envelope, the words not fully registering. "What?"

"Divorce papers." Olivia's voice was clipped, controlled, but there was an edge of something sharper beneath it. Disapproval. Maybe anger.

His stomach dropped. "You're her lawyer?"

Olivia didn't blink. "Yes."

He let out a short, incredulous laugh. "That's ridiculous. Jenna can't want a divorce."

Olivia's lips pressed into a thin line. "She does."

"She just needs time," Troy insisted as he repeated the narrative in his head, "She'll be back."

Olivia's gaze was cold. "She's not coming back."

Troy's stomach twisted, but he forced himself to stay calm. He shook his head. His next words were shaky with desperation. "She knows about the prenup. My father made sure of the conditions."

Olivia's eyes flashed with disdain, and she leaned forward, her hands braced on his desk. "Oh, don't be an idiot. After twenty years of marriage, that prenup is not worth the paper it was printed on. However, you are in luck. She doesn't want anything, Troy. That's the whole point."

That gave him pause. "What?"

"She wants nothing but her laptop, her art supplies, and her car-which she's willing to pay off in instalments," Olivia bit out. "She's left everything behind, even her jewellery. Even her wedding rings."

Troy felt the blood drain from his face. He had taken to carrying the rings in his wallet. His chest tightened painfully. "That doesn't make sense."

Olivia let out a harsh laugh, devoid of humour. "No, what doesn't make sense is you thinking she'd stick around after the way you treated her. Troy, I have watched your family treat her likeshitewhile you looked away, pretending it was not happening. And your children need to be taught manners with the aid of a whip and chain. You have let Lila waltz into your life like Jenna was just some placeholder. "

His head snapped up. "Lila has nothing to do with this. She means nothing to me "