Broken Hearts

Chapter 17

My body is worn out. My heart is screaming in pain. My depression is whispering sweet things to me. Just stay in bed, here the pain can be dampened by the blankets. Hide away from the world.

I moved and noticed that my head was lying on Justin's chest. He had stayed with me all night. He was comforting me when I needed it. He didn't say a word. This was not part of his employment. At this point, I felt like we were friends. He had brought me so much joy in a dark world.

Getting out of bed carefully, I went and took a shower. By the time I got out, Justin was up and had left the room. I could smell a powerful scent coming from the hall. They were at it, cooking the food.

I dressed beautifully. Internally, I wanted to hide away, but I had done that too long. That is why David had gotten away with all of this so long.

"Good morning." I gave a half-hearted smile.

"Good morning, Ashlyn." Justin gave me a smile.

"Mrs. Murray, I need your help."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Can you please reach out and find someone who can change the locks?"

She looked at me questioningly.

"Yes, ma'am. They will be done today."

"Thank you."

I jumped in and helped them make breakfast. We all made small talk. I told them about my plan. I would be seeing a divorce attourney. We would keep the house unlocked until David was officially served. I didn't want him to suspect anything.

With my income from my job, I can afford my house. My car is already paid off. I can keep Mrs. Murray on payroll, but I couldn't afford Justin's salary. We came to an agreement that if I allowed him to stay here, he would work it off with labor.

After breakfast was done, Justin and I left to go into town to speak with the attourney friend of Justin's. He gave her a call on our way in, and she was happy to help me.

Upon our arrival, Justin helped me out of the car, and we went into the building. It was beautiful. It was perfectly decorated with calming huges of blue and purple.

"I am here to see Suzanne." I told the receptionist.

" Please take a seat. She will be with you shortly."

We sat only a few minutes before Suzanne came out. Her salt and pepper hair was perfectly pulled back. She was quite put together. Not a hair out of place. Her right eye brow was sharp and had to be a weapon when she was expressing displeasure.

"I am sorry to be meeting you under these terms, but you are a beauty. I am glad Justin has found a friend in you."

She gave Justin a look, but I couldn't tell what it was about.

"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice."

"A friend of Justin's is a friend of mine. Please follow me."

I followed her into her office. I noticed Justin didn't follow. My face must have been speaking volumes.

"I am bound my confidentiality. That can, however, sopena Justin if they were to find out he was in the room."

"Makes sense."

I looked around the room. Her office was very welcoming.

"Now, down to business, I understand your husband has a whole other family. Due to this discovery, would you like to pursue divorce?"

"Yes."

"I can help. First, we need to come up with the division of assets. New York is an at fault state, which means he doesn't hold the cards because of his adultery. What are a few things you would like to request in the divorce?"

"I want to keep the house in Yonkers. I would also like to keep my car."

I thought hard. I never thought I would have to determine what I would or wouldn't be keeping. He was supposed to be my forever. However, on the way here, I realized he is no longer the David I fell in love with and married. That David would have never broke my heart the way this David has.

"Anything else?" She had scribbled a few notes down on her pad.

"Honestly, I don't know."

"What assets do you have? Let's start there."

We discussed the different bank accounts, the apartment in New York, the house in Younkers, his cars, and my car. We went over the stuff in the house.

Several hours passed while we discussed everything.

"Okay, I have to do some research, so i need you to sign this document. This will give me the authority to go through your assets to prepare a statement of assets.

I left feeling a weight slowly lifting off my shoulders. Justin gave me a big smile when I walked out.

"You look like you're feeling better."

I nodded in response.

"Okay, Ashlyn, give me a few days. Then, I will follow up with you on my findings. We can then discuss what you want to stay and what you want to go."

Justin took me home, and my nerves were fried. I had to argue with myself internally. If David showed up in the next few days, I was going to have a hell of a time trying to hide my fury. Hopefully, Suzanne will have good news for me soon.

Exiting Mt car, I noticed the door knobs looked the same.

"We're back, Mrs. Murray!" I yelled into the house.

She came walking around the corner. a huge smile on her face.

"Was your day productive?"

"Yes, it was." Justin took my purse and placed it on the small stand next to the door.

"Did the locks get changed?"

"Yes, ma'am. They were able to change out the cylinders, so David won't suspect a thing."

That had me smiling.

I went back up and started on some work that needed to be done. It was like walking through my house with a whole new set of eyes. As I passed rooms, I remembered the fights we had had in them. I also looked around and wondered if my time here in this house was limited.

Getting to work, I sat and focused on everything I could ok my next project.

Thinking about it, my story was now my own to write. I loved my work, but I wanted to be able to do my own thing. Opening my own marketing company would be amazing. David hated me working, so I never considered it. Now, the world was mine.

I struggled, but I was able to get my draft done. It wasn't perfect, but my mind was everywhere.

It was hard to concentrate on anything besides what my future would look like.

Suzanne warned me that this may take a while. Especially since David had so much money at his disposal.

Going back down, I decided a fire in the backyard would be a welcoming environment tonight.

Justin loved the idea. We all ate dinner by the fire. The sky was dark above us. Each star peaks out at us. The moon was out and greeting us.

Justin popped open a bottle of wine, and we enjoyed it while we all talked about anything and everything. I ingrained every moment to memory. Finding the light it in the dark. My new favorite memory.