The Weight of Freedom
Jasmine Carter had expected to feel relief.
She had left Luke.
She had finally chosen herself.
But as she lay on Rita's couch at two in the morning, staring at the ceiling, all she felt was…
Empty.
---
Restless Nights
Jasmine turned onto her side, willing sleep to come.
But no matter how much she tried, she couldn't silence her thoughts.
She had spent years loving Luke Caldwell.
She had given him everything.
Her heart.
Her trust.
Even her kidney.
And now?
She had nothing to show for it.
Jasmine groaned and sat up, rubbing her face.
A moment later, Rita's voice drifted from her bedroom.
"If you sigh one more time, I'm kicking you out."
Jasmine huffed. "I can't sleep."
Rita appeared in the hallway, hair messy, arms crossed. "You can't sleep because your brain is busy doing stupid things."
Jasmine frowned. "Like what?"
"Like thinking about a certain idiot you just left."
Jasmine tensed.
Rita sighed, sitting beside her. "Jas. You're not in love with Luke anymore."
Jasmine's stomach twisted. "Then why does it hurt?"
Rita gave her a knowing look. "Because you don't love him. You love who you thought he was."
Jasmine swallowed hard.
She wanted to argue.
To defend herself.
But she couldn't.
Because deep down, she knew Rita was right.
---
Belle's Victory
The next morning, Jasmine forced herself to get up.
She wasn't going to mope.
She got dressed, determined to do something normal.
But just as she was about to leave, her phone buzzed.
A message.
From Belle.
Jasmine's heart pounded as she read the words.
"Hope you're doing well! Luke and I are making some changes to the house. It really feels like home now. Take care. ☺️"
Jasmine's fingers tightened around her phone.
Belle was gloating.
Rubbing it in.
Jasmine took a slow, calming breath.
She had promised herself she wouldn't give Belle the satisfaction of a reaction.
So she blocked the number.
And moved on with her day.
---
Luke's Frustration
Meanwhile, Luke Caldwell sat in his office, staring at his phone.
Jasmine hadn't called.
She hadn't texted.
She hadn't even tried to fight for him.
It was like she had disappeared.
And for some reason…
That bothered him more than it should have.
His assistant knocked on the door. "Sir? Your next meeting—"
"Cancel it."
The assistant blinked. "But—"
Luke cut him off. "I said cancel it."
He leaned back in his chair, jaw tight.
Why did it feel like he had just lost something important?
---
A New Routine
Jasmine spent the rest of the day job-hunting.
She refused to sit around and be miserable.
By the evening, she felt… lighter.
Not healed.
But less broken.
She stepped out onto Rita's balcony, letting the night air cool her skin.
For the first time in a long time…
She wasn't waiting for Luke to come home.
She wasn't wondering where he was.
She was just existing.
And maybe… just maybe…
That was enough.
Learning to Breathe Again
Jasmine Carter wasn't used to waking up without dread in her chest.
For months, mornings had meant facing Luke's coldness.
Hearing Belle's voice in her home.
Reminding herself that she had to stay.
But today, as she opened her eyes in Rita's apartment, something felt… different.
She wasn't happy.
She wasn't healed.
But for the first time in a long time—
She didn't feel trapped.
---
A Small Victory
Rita was already in the kitchen, sipping coffee when Jasmine walked in.
Her sister raised a brow. "Huh. You look… alive."
Jasmine grabbed a mug. "I feel alive."
Rita smirked. "Damn. Took you long enough."
Jasmine rolled her eyes, but there was no bite to it.
She had expected to wake up miserable.
But instead?
She felt light.
Like she had shed a weight she hadn't even realized she was carrying.
She took a sip of coffee, savoring the warmth.
Maybe this was what freedom felt like.
---
Luke's Restlessness
Meanwhile, Luke Caldwell sat at his office desk, unable to focus.
Jasmine hadn't called.
She hadn't begged.
She hadn't even tried to see him.
Instead, she had just… disappeared.
And for some reason, that bothered him more than it should have.
He had thought she would fight for him.
That she would hold on, just like she always did.
But she hadn't.
She had left.
And now, for the first time…
He wondered if he had underestimated just how much he needed her.
---
Rebuilding, One Step at a Time
Jasmine spent the next few days relearning how to be alone.
She applied for jobs.
She went grocery shopping without worrying about what Luke liked.
She watched terrible movies with Rita and laughed for the first time in months.
It wasn't perfect.
Some nights, she still missed him.
Some mornings, she still reached for him in bed before remembering he wasn't there.
But slowly, bit by bit…
She was healing.
---
Belle's Manipulation
One evening, as Jasmine and Rita sat on the couch watching TV, Jasmine's phone buzzed.
A message.
From Luke.
Her heart jumped before she could stop it.
She stared at the screen.
"We need to talk."
Rita glanced over. "Who is it?"
Jasmine sighed. "Luke."
Rita's expression darkened. "You're not seriously thinking of replying, are you?"
Jasmine hesitated.
She wanted to say no.
She wanted to prove to herself that she was over it.
But a part of her…
Still wanted answers.
So against her better judgment, she typed a response.
"About what?"
Luke replied almost instantly.
"Meet me at our usual spot tomorrow. Just us."
Jasmine's stomach twisted.
She knew it was a bad idea.
But she also knew she needed closure.
And maybe…
This was the only way to get it.