Victor Told Amber: "I Don’t Wanna Propose Until Anthony Signs the Divorce Papers"
Until Anthony Signs the Divorce Papers
Amber stood by the large bay window, her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of herbal tea. The vibrant city of Madrid stretched out before her, glowing under the warm Spanish sunset. She tried to focus on the breathtaking view, but her thoughts were tangled in the same knot that had been suffocating her for weeks.
Victor walked in, his suit jacket draped over his arm, his crisp white shirt still looking perfect despite a long day of business meetings. He stopped when he saw her, a soft smile touching his lips. "You look deep in thought," he said, stepping closer.
Amber glanced over her shoulder and forced a small smile. "Just thinking about… everything."
Victor placed his jacket on the back of a chair and moved closer, gently brushing a stray curl from her face. "You don’t have to think too much," he whispered, his fingers lingering on her cheek. "You’re here now. That’s what matters."
Amber tried to relax into his touch, but it felt forced. She knew what he wanted to talk about—the proposal. He had hinted at it so many times, but there was one massive obstacle neither of them could ignore.
As if reading her mind, Victor took a deep breath and stepped back, looking more serious than usual. "Amber," he began, choosing his words carefully, "I need to be honest with you."
She turned to face him, bracing herself. "Go on."
"I want to be with you. I want to build a life together," Victor said, his eyes sincere and steady. "But I can’t move forward until you’re truly free. I don’t want to propose to a woman who’s still legally married."
Amber swallowed hard, a knot forming in her throat. "You’re talking about Anthony."
"Yes," Victor admitted. "I need him to sign the divorce papers. I need you to be completely mine. No loose ends. No baggage."
Amber felt the sting of his words but knew he was right. Her heart had been in a thousand pieces since she left the States, and while Victor had been a balm to her wounds, she couldn’t deny the truth—Anthony still haunted her thoughts.
Victor took her hands, his touch warm and comforting. "Amber, I’m not saying this to pressure you. I just want you to understand where I’m coming from. I love you. I want to give you everything. But I can’t step into a commitment knowing part of you is still tied to him."
Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. "I thought leaving would be enough," she whispered. "I thought running to Spain would make it all go away."
Victor pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "You can’t run from your heart, Amber. You have to face it. And you have to let him go."
Amber buried her face in his shoulder, letting herself feel the weight of it all. She couldn’t pretend anymore. She had to get closure with Anthony, once and for all.
Back in the States
Anthony slouched on the worn leather couch, a half-empty bottle of whiskey on the coffee table in front of him. Coca walked in, eyebrows raised at the mess. "Damn, man. You look like death warmed over."
Anthony grunted. "Feel worse."
Coca grabbed the bottle and sniffed it, grimacing. "You gon’ drink yourself to death over this woman?"
Anthony rubbed his eyes, his head pounding. "She don’t want me no more, Coca. She in Spain with that dude… Victor."
"Yeah, and whose fault is that?" Coca snapped. "Man, pull yourself together. You wanna know the crazy part? She still ain’t filed those damn papers."
Anthony glanced up, eyes bloodshot and tired. "What you mean?"
Coca pulled a thick envelope from his jacket and tossed it onto the table. "Amber mailed this to Shayla’s place. Shayla gave it to me. Divorce papers. You still gotta sign."
Anthony stared at the packet like it was a bomb. He swallowed hard, his throat dry.
Coca leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "What’s it gonna be, man? You really gon’ let her go that easy?"
Anthony hesitated. He couldn’t lie to himself—signing those papers would mean it was really over. No more excuses. No more hope.
But maybe that’s what she needed. Maybe that’s what he needed too.
A Few Days Later
Amber was on the rooftop of the hotel, her phone buzzing in her hand. She hesitated before looking at the screen. It was a text from Coca.
"He signed them. Papers are on their way to you. I told him to let you go for good."
Her hands trembled as she read the words. A bittersweet relief washed over her, but her heart still ached. Victor appeared behind her, sliding his arms around her waist.
"Hey," he murmured, kissing her cheek. "You okay?"
She managed a nod. "Yeah… I think I will be."
Victor turned her to face him, pulling a small box from his pocket. "Then there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you."
Amber’s breath hitched as he got down on one knee, opening the box to reveal a glittering diamond ring.
"Amber," he said softly, "will you marry me?"
Her eyes filled with tears, and for the first time in a long while, she felt hope. Real, unburdened hope.
"Yes," she whispered, nodding through the tears. "Yes, I will."
Victor slipped the ring on her finger, pulling her into a passionate kiss, while Amber couldn’t help but think—maybe it was finally time to let go of the past and move forward.
Comments
Post a Comment