He smiled, and there was something warm and genuine in his expression.
They called each other a week later, met at a café, talked, and walked through a snow‑covered park where kids were sledding and couples held hands under streetlamps.
Michael was an attentive listener and an interesting conversationalist.
Kiana briefly told him about her divorce.
He nodded understandingly.
“I’m divorced too,” he admitted. “Three years ago. It was hard at first, but then I realized it was for the best. Life got better. It was easier to breathe.”
Kiana smiled.
So she wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
They continued to meet once a week.
No more often.
Unhurriedly, without pressure, without commitment.
Just enjoying spending time together.
In January, an unexpected encounter happened at work.
Kiana was standing at the coffee machine in the hallway when a group of people stepped out of the elevator.
Ms. Sterling was among them.
Kiana froze.
Her former mother‑in‑law noticed her too, stopped, and turned pale.
They stared at each other for a few seconds.
Then Ms. Sterling abruptly turned away and hurried toward the exit, clutching her purse.
Kiana watched her go and smirked.
Apparently, the mother‑in‑law had come to see an acquaintance in another office or to take care of some business and certainly hadn’t planned on running into her former daughter‑in‑law.
Kiana poured her coffee and returned to her office.
She felt calm inside, with no desire to argue or make accusations.
All of that was in the past, and she didn’t want to go back there.
That same evening, Darius called.
Kiana stared at the name on the screen for a long time.
Then, finally, she answered.
“Yes, Darius?”
“Hello, Kiki. Hi, it’s me.”
“I hear you. What do you need?”
A pause.
He clearly hadn’t expected such a cold tone.
“I wanted to talk. Can we… talk?”
“Go ahead.”
