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Shirley’s whole world crashed down when she saw her husband, Brody, with another woman at work. Her heart broke, and things only got worse when he threatened to leave her with nothing. Homeless and devastated, Shirley thought her life was over.
But sometimes, just when everything seems lost, the right person shows up…
It all started one normal afternoon. Shirley walked into Brody’s office, carrying a cake she had made to surprise him. But the surprise was on her.
She froze when she saw Brody leaning close to his young secretary, Lila, his hands slipping under her skirt, laughing like they were alone.
The spoons Shirley held fell from her shaking hands, clattering onto the floor. Still, Brody and Lila didn’t even notice her.
“Brody, what is going on here?!” Shirley’s voice rang out, slicing through the fake laughter.
Brody turned, pretending to be confused. “What’s your problem, Shirley? We’re just talking about work.“
“Work? Is this how you talk about work? By touching her like that in front of everyone?” Shirley shouted, her voice trembling with rage and hurt.
“Don’t make a scene, Shirley,” Brody hissed, clearly annoyed she was ruining his fun.
Shirley wouldn’t back down. “We need to talk. Now. In private.“
But Brody only smirked. “You don’t get to order me around anymore. I’m filing for divorce today. I’ll take the house too.“
Shirley gasped. “You can’t take my house! It was my parents’ house! You have no right!“
Brody leaned in, his face full of cruel amusement. “Don’t forget, sweetheart, you’re married to a lawyer. Watch me. I’m moving Lila in, and we’ll celebrate on every surface of your precious little house.“
Before Shirley could even react, Brody ripped his wedding ring off and jammed it deep into the cake she had brought.
“Maybe you can pawn this for a doghouse,” he sneered, then grabbed Lila’s hand and strutted away, laughing.
Shirley stood there, humiliated and shattered, as co-workers around the office whispered behind her back.
That night, Shirley sat in a dingy hotel room, surrounded by peeling wallpaper and the smell of despair. She cried until she had no tears left, asking herself painful questions.
“Was it my fault? Did I let myself go? Is that why he cheated?” she thought, clutching a pillow and punching it out of frustration.
Suddenly, a knock at the door startled her. Wiping her face quickly, she stumbled over to open it. She expected hotel staff—but instead, a stranger stood there, looking awkward.
“I…I heard crying,” he said, scratching his head. “Are you okay?“
“You heard wrong. Unless you can magically help me keep my house from my cheating husband, go away!” Shirley snapped, her voice full of bitterness.
The man raised his eyebrows, surprised by her fire. He looked her up and down and shrugged.
“Well, now I see why he’s divorcing you,” he said bluntly, before turning and walking away.
Shirley’s face burned with rage. How dare he!
Fueled by anger, she stormed after him and shoved her foot in his doorway before he could close it.
“What did you just say to me?!” she demanded.
He held up his hands. “Hey, I just meant the noise.“
“I know exactly what you meant!” Shirley growled. “I might not be a supermodel, but that doesn’t mean you get to judge me!“
The man sighed and nodded. “You’re right. You didn’t deserve that. I’m sorry.“
Before she could yell more, he simply closed the door in her face, shutting down the conversation.
“Wait! I wasn’t done yelling at you!” she shouted, kicking the door in frustration—only to hurt her foot even more.
The next morning, Shirley limped into work, her heart heavy. As she sat down, she muttered, “Just what I need…a new boss when I already feel like a disaster.“
Suddenly, a voice behind her made her freeze.
“Well, your new boss is here. You must be Shirley, my kind and helpful secretary.“
Her heart dropped.
She turned and saw—the same rude man from the hotel!
“I’m… I’m sorry about last night,” Shirley stammered, mortified.
But he wasn’t in the mood for apologies.
“Your behavior was unprofessional. I expect better from my employees.” His tone was cold. “I need the Richardson vs. Richardson case file. Now.“
Burning with embarrassment, Shirley scrambled to find the file. But in her haste, she knocked over a whole stack of papers, scattering them everywhere.
“What’s taking so long? I asked for a file, not a tornado!” he barked, walking over.
“I-I have it here,” she said, handing it to him with shaking hands.
He gave the messy office a long, judging look. “Looks like neatness isn’t your strong point either.“
Tears pricked her eyes as he turned away, leaving her to clean up the mess alone.
And then Brody and Lila strolled in, laughing and holding hands. Brody shot Shirley a smug look that made her stomach turn.
That was it. Shirley had had enough of being disrespected.
She marched straight into Mr. Williams’s office.
“I QUIT!” she declared, slamming a letter down on his desk.
Nathan Williams—because now she knew his full name—barely blinked.
“No, you don’t. Get back to work, Shirley.“
“I’m serious! Sign my resignation!” she insisted, her voice rising.
“Nope.” He crumpled the letter and tossed it into the trash.
Shirley’s hands shook with anger. She sat down and began writing another letter, her vision blurry with tears.
“Why do men like you think they can just control my life?!” she cried out.
Nathan’s voice softened. “I’m not trying to control you, Shirley. I won’t let you go because…” He moved closer, pulling out a clean handkerchief and gently wiping her tears, “…because I like you.“
Shirley stared at him, stunned.
“You don’t even know me, Mr. Williams.“
“Call me Nathan,” he said, giving her a small smile. “And maybe I don’t know everything about you yet. But I see your strength. Your fire. I admire that.“
Brody’s cruel words haunted Shirley’s mind: No one else will ever love you.
Terrified of being hurt again, she fled from Nathan’s office.
The next day, Nathan surprised her. He came to her desk with two coffees in hand, offering one to her.
“Good morning, Shirley,” he said warmly.
But her small moment of peace was shattered when Brody and Lila entered, kissing right in the middle of the office. Shirley felt like the air had been knocked out of her.
“Excuse me,” she mumbled, rushing to the bathroom to hide her tears.
Nathan, confused, asked another secretary what was going on.
“Brody’s her husband,” she whispered. “He’s flaunting his affair right in front of her.“
Nathan’s jaw clenched with anger. How could someone be so cruel?
Later, Shirley brought some documents to Nathan’s office. As she turned to leave, he stopped her.
“Stay a minute? I could use your help with the Richardson arguments.“
Slowly, Shirley nodded. As they worked, the ice between them melted.
They even found things in common.
“You like jazz?” Shirley asked, surprised.
Nathan laughed. “Yeah. There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Shirley. Jazz is just the beginning.“
Little by little, Shirley’s heart softened toward him.
One evening, Nathan showed up at her hotel door, asking for help with a speech.
“I need you, Shirley,” he said, eyes sincere.
As they worked, their hands brushed. Shirley’s heart raced. Nathan noticed a bit of chocolate on her lip and gently wiped it away.
“You’re here for the speech, right?” she said nervously.
Nathan shook his head. “No, Shirley. I’m here because I can’t stop thinking about you.“
Their faces leaned closer…
Just as they were about to kiss—there was a loud knock.
It was Brody. Drunk.
“Please, Shirley. I need you. I miss you so much, baby,” Brody slurred, reaching for her.
“Don’t. Touch. Me,” Shirley said, backing away.
Nathan stepped into the doorway protectively. “Is there a problem here?“
Brody’s eyes narrowed. “What’s he doing here? This is MY wife!“
“Not anymore. Leave,” Nathan said firmly.
Brody laughed drunkenly. “She still calls me every day, begging me to come back! She’s nothing without me!“
“That’s a LIE!” Shirley shouted, her voice shaking with rage.
But Nathan had already pulled away, hurt by Brody’s words. Shirley pushed Brody away and ran after Nathan, who was getting into his car in the snowy parking lot.
“Nathan, please,” she begged, knocking on his window.
Nathan sighed. “I should have known this was too good to be true.“
“How dare you believe that drunk over me?” Shirley cried. “If you won’t fight for me, I won’t fight for you!“
Nathan hesitated, then stepped out into the falling snow.
“I wish I had met you seven years ago, Shirley,” he whispered. “I would have protected you from all of this.“
He cupped her face with his hands, his touch warm against her cold skin.
“I want to make you happy,” he said.
“You already do,” Shirley whispered back.
Their kiss was sweet, fiery, and full of promises for a future she never thought she’d have.
“And don’t worry,” Nathan added. “I’m suing Brody too. He won’t get away with hurting you.“
For the first time in a long time, Shirley felt hope blooming in her heart.
And she knew she had found her real love.
