Before I could respond, the door chimed again.
A man walked in. And my heart stopped.
Jared.
Of all people. My ex-fiancé. The one who had vanished years ago without warning—leaving me with heartbreak, lost savings, and a newborn baby.
He glanced around, then spotted Olivia. “I called you an hour ago,” he said, clearly impatient.
Something inside me snapped into focus.
“Olivia,” I asked calmly, “is this your boyfriend?”
She nodded slowly, clearly uncomfortable. Jared turned toward me—and froze.
“You?!” he said, recognition dawning.
I met his stare evenly. “Hello, Jared. It’s been a while.”
He took a cautious step back, unsure now. Olivia looked between us, confused.
“You’re the ex he never talks about,” she murmured.
I nodded slightly. “Olivia, did Jared ever mention he has a six-year-old son?”
She blinked, clearly stunned. “What?”
Jared’s jaw clenched. “That’s not relevant.”
“I think it is,” I replied. “Especially if you’ve been the one supporting him. Has he ever asked you for money?”
Olivia’s lips parted, but she couldn’t find the words.
“You said you needed help,” she finally whispered, turning to Jared. “You said you had debts from a failed investment.”
“I do,” he insisted quickly. “Don’t listen to her—she’s just bitter.”
“I was,” I said quietly. “But not anymore.”
I saw the look in Olivia’s eyes—the shock, the sadness, and then, a flicker of recognition. I had seen that look before. I had worn it myself, once.
“Olivia,” I said gently, “you deserve better. You don’t have to carry all this alone.”
She held onto the formula tightly, her fingers trembling. Jared scoffed but said nothing.
I turned, opened the cash drawer, and pulled out several bills. I placed them gently on the counter and slid them toward Olivia.
“You’re officially fired,” I said, keeping my voice firm but steady.
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“But,” I added with a small smile, “this is your final paycheck. And a little extra. For you and your baby. Use it to move forward. Take care of yourself.”
Jared protested, but I calmly held up a hand. “Enough.”
Then, leaning in quietly, I added, “And just so you know, I’ve already filed the necessary paperwork to seek support for our child. You’ll be hearing from someone soon.”
He said nothing. He didn’t need to. For once, he knew the game was over.
Olivia looked at me, eyes full of emotion. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome,” I replied. “You’ve got this.”
As she left, holding on tightly to the bag and the hope she’d been missing, I quietly locked the door behind her. I slipped a note into her purse before she left, letting her know she wasn’t actually fired—that it was just a way to help her move on without further pressure.
I stood for a moment in the stillness of the store, breathing in deeply.
It wasn’t just about justice.
It was about freedom. For both of us.
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