After Divorce

Chapter 35 Get Clarity

As Ingrid geared up to retaliate, Bruce stepped forward to intervene.

“Why are you stopping me when she just hit me!” Ingrid shouted at Bruce. “She’s just an assistant daring to attack me!”

Bruce showed no reaction, simply shoving Ingrid back and positioning Julie behind him.

“You deserved it after your behavior here. If those slaps don’t knock some sense into you, perhaps I should help the lesson sink in too,” Bruce threatened coldly.

Seeing Bruce genuinely angry for once, Ingrid bit her tongue and left with one last glare at Julie. 

“Did Sylvia send you?” Bruce asked Julie.

“Yeah, she figured Ingrid would come trash talk her so asked me to run interference. Turns out I arrived just in time before things got worse!” Julie replied, still furious about Ingrid’s audacity.

She also felt a pang of sadness realizing Bruce still saw her only platonically like a sister. Why couldn’t their relationship progress closer? Putting herself out there with unrequited emotions would be too awkward.

“Your timing was perfect, thanks for the help. I’m sure we’ve seen the last of Ingrid for awhile at least. You and Sylvia better get to work now,” Bruce dismissed.

Julie opened her mouth to finally confess her true feelings, but Bruce had already brushed her off. Crestfallen, she simply nodded and took her leave, glancing back to see Bruce nonchalantly continuing his tasks as if utterly unaffected by what just transpired.

After she had gone, Bruce put down his pen and pressed his fingers to his temple wondering how situations had deteriorated to this point.

Later after work, Sylvia worried over meeting her estranged friend Kelly again. “Are you sure she wants to see me? I thought she wanted nothing more to do with me ever.”

Losing touch after Kelly declared their friendship over if Sylvia foolishly married Cyril had stung deeply. Now that she had woken up, Sylvia desperately hoped it wasn’t too late.

“Instead of fretting uselessly now, why didn’t you just listen back when Kelly and all of us warned how toxic Cyril was?” Julie pointed out.

Sylvia winced, acknowledging she had been too love–blind at the time to consider consequences. How deeply she regretted that now after the fallout.

Chapter 35 Get Clarity

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“The past doesn’t matter. I just hope Kelly will truly talk to me again,” Sylvia worried.

“Well I wouldn’t have arranged this if Kelly hadn’t reached out herself. She wants to check if you’ve gained sanity back. If so, you remain friends. If not, you’re through for good.”

Sylvia exhaled in relief. Back then she never cared about preserving friendships. My how perception changed.

They soon arrived at their old haunt, the Tonight club. Kelly was already inside nursing a drink in an oversized white suit giving her an androgynous look accentuated by her short blonde hair. With her boylish style and dominant energy, it was easy to mistake Kelly for a handsome young man at first glance.

So you showing up means you’ve wised up? Then take a seat. Otherwise don’t bother entering again if I have to explain twice,” Kelly stated, putting out her cigarette.

Sylvia quickly nodded. “I absolutely have gotten clarity. No more wasting time on losers!”

Grinning widely, Sylvia rushed over to tightly embrace Kelly, who slowly smiled back signaling acceptance of Sylvia’s returned sensibilities.