When Forever Crumbles: Love's Harsh Reality

xt day. Jackson didn't

ed that

ve to stay with Leo. I wo

romise. I wasn'

s a leather-bound folder. Inside was a single documen

dry, humor

into the phone, my voice devoi

ade two calls. The f

id, my voice steady. "No, not a separation. A

umber from Los Angeles. This time, a ma

him eve

er told me she was at the door, and for a moment, I cons

sank to her knees, a gesture of performa

," she began, he

voice cold. "Just say

I know our presence has made you unhappy. But please, don' t blame Leo. He' s just a chil

d a fantasy for her and Jackso

elationship with Jackson," she

of it all wa

voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don' t worry, Karly. You

ay, leaving her kneeli

at night, clearly panicked t

you?" he demanded, hi

would discover his night with her. The

for agreeing to the d

shing over his face. "It' s not a divorce, Ell

g to manage me, to keep his per

better. He wants to go pick out flowers for the... cerem

ce, he was actively planning a wedding. My

had drawn up. I booked a one-way ticket to Los Angeles.

was a small affair, held in the hosp

face. She held Jackson' s arm, already playing the part of the billi

just as they were ab

s voice calm and profes

utifully wrappe

n his face. He probably thought it was some

pene

vet, were the divorce papers. My sign

" Jackson said,

"Mrs. Watkins-soon to be Ms. Bernard-instructed

frantically flipped through the

en he

es was another documen

detailed my