After the Divorce: Crushed on My Lawyer Ex-wife

#237 “The Sadness is Just So Overwhelming.”

Alexander and Evelyn were deep in discussion, poring over lush catalogs of floral arrangements and elegant fabric swatches. They were sitting in a small, eclectic café, their table cluttered with color samples and notepads filled with sketches and notes. The café buzzed softly around them, a background hum to their intense focus on creating a stunning setting for what Alexander envisioned as the perfect engagement proposal.

His phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, he saw Kyle’s name and excused himself from the table to take the call.

“Hey, what’s up?” Alexander answered, stepping into the quieter space near the back of the café,

“Dude, you might want to brace yourself. Sophia called me, totally spinning out about you and Evelyn. She thinks there’s something going on between you two,” Kyle’s voice was tinged with amusement but underscored by concern.

Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose, a sigh escaping him. “What did you tell her?”

“I covered for you. Told her Evelyn’s about to inherit her father’s bank and wanted Stone Enterprise to handle the finances, but she wanted to keep it low- key. Said it’s all hush-hush till it’s done.”

“Thanks, man. I owe you one,” Alexander murmured, the guilt gnawing at him. He hated keeping Sophia in the dark, even if it was for a surprise.

“Look, just make sure whatever you’re planning knocks her off her feet, alright? Make this mess worth it.”

Alexander agreed and hung up, his mood somber as he returned to the table. Evelyn looked up, her expression questioning.

“Everything okay?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

“Yeah, I just had to put out a fire. Let’s wrap this up.”

They hurried through the remaining decisions, and soon Alexander was speeding towards home, a bouquet of fresh peonies on the passenger seat- Sophia’s favorite. He rehearsed his apology, each word carefully chosen to ease the stress this secret had undoubtedly caused her.

As he reached their apartment, the lights were off, and the space was silent and empty. A pang of disappointment hit him as he spotted a note on the kitchen counter. Picking it up, he read Sophia’s hurried scrawl about needing to work late on a tough mafia case linked to her father’s death.

His resolve hardened; he would go to her, and make things right.

He drove to her office, the city lights blurring past as he rehearsed his apology again, hoping to convey just how much she meant to him, how this entire elaborate setup was a testament to his love.

Reaching her building, he paused, taking a deep breath before walking in. The reception area was deserted, the after-hours quiet echoing slightly as he made his way to the elevator. Flowers in hand, he hoped the surprise visit, coupled with his planned words, would smooth over the unintentional hurt.

His heart pounded as he reached her floor, the bouquet a bright contrast to his nervousness. As he approached her office, he could see her through the glass partition, her focus total as she pored over files and photos spread out across her desk. He knocked softly on the door, her surprised glance up at him pulling at his heartstrings.

“Sophia,” he began, stepping into her world of legal battles and deep-seated quests for justice, “I’m sorry for the secrets. There’s something I need to explain.”

“You don’t need to explain anything, Alex,” Sophia said gently, her voice soft yet weary. She managed a tired smile as she stood and walked over to him. Taking the flowers from his hands, she leaned in and kissed him, a simple touch that carried all the complexities of her emotions.

Despite the warmth of her kiss, Alexander felt a tension in her that hadn’t been there before. He set the flowers down on a nearby filing cabinet and took her hands in his.

“Talk to me, Soph. I can see there’s something on your mind. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself,” he urged, searching her eyes for any sign of what might be weighing her down.

Sophia sighed, a deep, soulful sound that spoke volumes. “It’s this case, Alex. Working on my father’s case…it’s just a lot. Every detail I uncover, every piece of evidence… It’s like reliving the pain all over again. I want justice, more than anything, but it’s dragging me down. The sadness is just so overwhelming.”

Alexander pulled her closer, enveloping her in a comforting embrace. “I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you, “he murmured into her hair. “But you’re not alone in this. I’m here, and I’ll be right by your side, every step of the way.”

Sophia leaned back, looking into his eyes. There was a vulnerability there that she rarely showed. “It means the world to me, Alex. Just… knowing you’re here.”

He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch gentle. “Let’s handle this together, okay? Any burden you carry, I want to help lighten it. You’re not in this alone, love. Not ever.”

Sophia nodded, the corners of her mouth lifting in a small, grateful smile. She squeezed his hands, drawing strength from his presence. “Thank you, Alex. It’s hard, but having you here -it makes it all a little more bearable.”