The Day He Forgot Her

PART 2 — THE WIFE WHO NEVER CAME BACK

Six months had passed since I left Chicago.

Toronto was cold, but for the first time in years, I could breathe without waiting for someone to remember I existed.

I rented a small apartment near the office and started rebuilding my life. Grace’s ashes rested in a beautiful white urn beside my bedroom window. Every morning, I placed fresh flowers beside it.

I still spoke to her.

I told her about my new job, the snow outside, and the little girls I sometimes saw playing in the park.

But I never told her that her father had called me every single day.

At first, Alexander left angry messages.

Then came apologies.

Finally, his messages became desperate.

Emily, please answer me.

I know I failed her. I know I’ll never forgive myself.

Please let me see you. I just need to know you’re okay.

I never replied.

Meanwhile, back in Chicago, Alexander had become a different man.

He stopped attending social events and canceled several business trips. His employees whispered that their boss sometimes spent hours sitting in his daughter’s empty bedroom.

He had kept Grace’s drawings.

One afternoon, his assistant, Daniel, entered his office carrying a small package.

“Mr. Hayes, this arrived from the preschool.”

Alexander looked up.

“What is it?”

“Something Grace left behind.”

Inside was a colorful drawing of three people holding hands beneath a yellow sun.

Grace had written their names in uneven letters.

MOMMY. DADDY. GRACE.

On the back, her teacher had written:

Grace told us she wanted to give this to her daddy because he had promised to pick her up that day.

Alexander’s hands began to shake.

He pressed the paper against his chest.

“Get out,” he whispered.

Daniel hesitated.

“Sir…”

“GET OUT!”

When the door closed, Alexander finally broke down.

For the first time, he understood that Grace hadn’t needed expensive toys or a luxurious house.

She had only wanted her father to show up.

And he hadn’t.

That evening, Olivia visited his mansion.

She wore an elegant red dress and carried a bottle of expensive wine.

“Alexander, you haven’t returned my calls.”

“I’ve been busy.”

She sat beside him.

“It’s been six months. You can’t keep punishing yourself forever.”

He didn’t respond.

Olivia glanced at the drawing on his desk.

“You should put those things away. They’re only making you miserable.”

Alexander slowly lifted his eyes.

“Don’t touch that.”

She frowned.

“I’m just trying to help you move on.”

He stood.

“Move on?”

“Alexander, accidents happen. You can’t spend the rest of your life blaming yourself.”

His expression turned frighteningly cold.

“Get out of my house.”

She stared at him.

“Are you serious?”

“I should have realized a long time ago that you were never worth losing my family over.”

Olivia’s face reddened.

“You chose me!”

“No. I chose to be selfish. There’s a difference.”

He walked toward the door and opened it.

“Don’t come back.”

For the first time, Olivia had nothing to say.

But Alexander’s biggest shock came the following morning.

His assistant placed a document on his desk.

“Sir, Mrs. Hayes’s divorce papers have been officially filed. Her lawyer has also requested that all communication go through their office.”

Alexander stared at the papers.

“Mrs. Hayes?”

Daniel lowered his eyes.

“Emily is no longer your wife, sir.”

Alexander sank into his chair.

He had lost his daughter.

Now he had lost the woman who had once made their house feel like a home.

And there was nothing left for him to negotiate.