Abandoned by All I Took It All Back novel Chapter 19

That weekend, the four friends arranged to have dinner together.

Janina arrived at the restaurant first. She requested a small private room, ordered their food, and sat waiting quietly for the others.

Five minutes later, Maggie arrived.

Tall and poised, she strode into the room in a crisp white shirt, a short skirt, and stiletto heels, carrying a Chanel bag.

Janina wasn't in good shape. She hadn't been sleeping or eating well, and in less than a month, she had lost nearly ten pounds.

When Melody and Wendy arrived, they were alarmed by how she looked. Janina was quiet, focusing entirely on eating.

She had told them what had happened with Julius the day before.

Melody and Wendy exchanged a look. Melody took Janina's left hand in hers.

"Nina, don't waste your health on a scumbag. It's not worth it. While you're miserable, he's out comforting some other woman. Don't torture yourself over him. Talk to us, don't keep it all bottled up."

Wendy wrapped an arm around Janina's shoulders. "Nina, if you want to cry, just cry. We'll always have your back."

Hearing their comforting words, the tears Janina had been holding back finally broke free. At last, in front of her friends, she could drop all her pretenses of strength. She buried her face in Wendy's shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably.

During those cold, lonely nights, she would often stand by her bedroom window, staring at the trees and plants outside.

She often wondered, if she hadn't given up her dreams all those years ago, if she hadn't married Julius so young, would she be happier now?

Would she have become like Maggie, Wendy, or Melody, focused on her career, living a full and independent life, rather than the miserable wreck she was now, pining over a man?

"I can't believe Yvonne is so skilled, getting a man to willingly support her for over a decade. But thankfully, you found out early. You've only been married for two years. Nina, you're still young. Imagine if you'd found out years from now, when he and Yvonne already had older kids. You would have died from the shock. It's a blessing in disguise. The sooner you escape this misery, the sooner you can be yourself again!"

Melody took a small sip of her wine. "If you ask me, it's better not to get married at all. There isn't a single good man on this earth. On our film set, all the married guys lose their minds over any pretty girl. They're always buying them flowers or lattes. It's so obsequious. If I were their wife, I'd blow a gasket from the stress."

Wendy nodded in agreement. "I think the four of us should just start a household together. No in-laws, no worrying about mistresses. We'd spend our own money, go shopping whenever we want, hit a bar whenever we feel like it. It would be so liberating."

Melody's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! It's not like we need men anyway, right?"

"Alright, ladies," Maggie cut in. "We're here to help Nina figure this out. Save your fantasies for later."

Maggie turned to Janina. "If he won't sign the divorce papers, then sue him."