---- Chapter 9 Randall had always thrived under the adoration of fresh, innocent eyes-girls too young to see the cracks in his facade. However, I had been there through his darkest days. Looking at me was like looking into a mirror he didn't want to face. Even so, he couldn't bring himself to divorce me. To Randall, I and the child we lost were still his " real" family. Macy was just a distraction. He thought he'd hidden his feelings well, but he didn't know Macy's plans. Randall's logic was simple. As long as I didn't cry or rage, I would eventually forgive him. "Why should I? How can I forget, as if nothing happened?" I didn't want to argue with him about the future. ---- "Randall," I said, "You disgust me." It was pathetic. Love had once made us believe we were each other's whole world. We'd whispered sweet nothings and dreamed big. Now, all we had left were bitter words and venomous accusations. Perhaps this was how love ended. It always ended this way. Two months later, my health had improved, and I handed over control of the company to Evelyn Ronan, my trusted assistant. Evelyn was a woman I had mentored from the ground up. She was a hardworking, sincere girl with endless potential. She never called me "Mrs. Harris". She understood I was my own person, not just ---- someone's wife. After a year under my guidance, she had shed the naivety of a college graduate and grown into a poised and capable professional. There were moments when I saw glimpses of my younger self in her. "Where are you going?" Evelyn asked. "To see the world," I replied. "It's a big place, and I've never really explored it. "Take care of the company. If Randall tries anything, let me know immediately." Evelyn hugged me tightly. "I wish you a fresh start. Safe travels." Over the next two years, I wandered the world. I started in the Maldives, where the tranquil waters soothed my soul. From there, I ventured into the vast deserts of Dubai, basking in the serene isolation of the dunes.