After the Divorce

The law firm stood quiet, the paperwork complete. Yvette stared down at the stack of divorce papers, her heart heavy, as if the weight of her past was suffocating her.

Owen stood a few feet away, his back turned to her, hands in his pockets. The once familiar figure now seemed distant, alien, as if the man she had loved had vanished, leaving behind only this cold, expressionless stranger.

He turned slightly, his gaze fixed ahead, and spoke without looking at her.

"You can be with your Prince Charming again," Owen said, his voice calm and devoid of emotion. "The one you've always dreamed of."

Yvette's breath hitched. "What about you?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Owen didn't respond immediately. He continued to walk forward, his steps slow and deliberate, as if he was already lost in a world she couldn't reach.

Finally, he glanced back slightly, his expression unreadable. "I'll go down the path I've chosen," he said quietly.

Yvette froze, the weight of his words sinking in. "What path?" she whispered, desperation lacing her voice.

But Owen didn't answer. He simply turned away, leaving her standing there, the divorce papers clutched tightly in her hands.

Yvette watched him disappear into the distance, the man she once knew slipping further away with each step. Her heart ached, the desire to call out to him strong, but she didn't.

Tears fell silently as she stood there, feeling the emptiness that now defined her life.

"I won't give up on you," Yvette whispered to herself, her voice shaking. "I'll find you… no matter where you are."

She clenched the divorce papers tighter, her resolve hardening. If he had chosen a path away from her, she would follow. She would uncover the truth, whatever it was, even if it meant confronting the stranger he had become.

With that, Yvette turned and walked back toward her life, her determination burning brighter than ever.

Owen's Return to the Himalayas

The Himalayan mountains loomed high and mighty, untouched by the chaos of the world below. Snow-covered peaks stretched as far as the eye could see, their cold beauty both daunting and serene.

Owen stood in the center of a clearing, his posture unyielding as the biting wind cut through the thin air. His expression remained calm, detached from the pain and emotions he had left behind. The scars on his soul were visible, but his resolve was stronger than ever.

He drew a deep breath, letting the icy air fill his lungs. The memories of Yvette, of his past life, faded into the distance as he focused on the task ahead. The storm that had almost consumed him was nothing more than a distant reminder of his resolve to transcend beyond his human limits.

For weeks, Owen had been submerged in intense meditation and brutal physical training. His body was leaner, stronger, more refined. He had learned to harness the very essence of nature, of the winds and the mountains, to fuel his strength.

The monks who had once guided him watched from a distance, observing his transformation. One of them approached, his voice calm yet filled with respect.

"Your spirit has grown," the monk said, bowing slightly. "But this path is not an easy one."

Owen nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I have made my decision. There is no turning back."

The monk studied him, his expression thoughtful. "You are ready for the trials ahead, but remember—strength alone is not enough. You must find balance. Only then will you truly find peace."

Owen didn't respond. His eyes remained fixed on the horizon, where the mountains stretched endlessly. The monk watched him for a moment before leaving, knowing Owen would walk his own path, no matter what obstacles lay ahead.

Yvette – After Owen's Departure

Yvette sat in her lavish penthouse, surrounded by the wealth and luxury that had always been hers. The walls were adorned with expensive art, the furniture elegant and pristine. But something was missing—something she couldn't quite place.

She sipped on her whiskey, the glass trembling slightly in her hand. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Owen was gone, disappeared into the mountains, leaving her behind. The man she had once known, the one who had fought to be by her side, had vanished without a trace.

Her pride, her ego, had been bruised. How could someone like Owen, someone who had once begged for her, just walk away so easily? The reality that he had chosen a path beyond her, beyond their life, gnawed at her. She couldn't comprehend how he could so casually abandon her and everything they had.

Her anger had turned into resentment, and that resentment had now morphed into an emptiness that no amount of wealth could fill. Yvette, who once thrived on control and dominance, now felt lost.

"I built this empire. Everything here is mine," she muttered to herself, staring out at the glittering city below. "Why does it feel like nothing is truly mine anymore?"

Her reflection stared back at her—cold, distant, almost unfamiliar. The strength she had always prided herself on felt fragile, faltering.

The phone rang, jolting her from her thoughts. It was a reminder of a life she couldn't ignore. She answered without much thought.

"Yvette," a familiar voice said on the other end. It was one of her closest advisors. "We've received reports about Owen. They say he's back in the Himalayas, training again."

Yvette's grip on the glass tightened. "Training? For what?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

"Reports suggest he's preparing himself for something… a battle, perhaps. They say he's changed, that he's not the same man anymore."

Yvette's breath hitched. "Changed?" she echoed. "What does that even mean?"

"He's no longer the man who begged for you, Yvette. He's someone else now—stronger, colder, more distant."

Yvette's heart clenched, the thought of him so far removed from who she had once known making her stomach twist in anger and confusion. "Stronger?" she whispered. "He wasn't strong enough for me before. What makes him think he can be now?"

The advisor hesitated. "Yvette… there's something else."

"What is it?" she demanded, the walls around her starting to crumble.

"He's changed in more ways than one. It's as if he doesn't care about anything anymore—about anyone."

Yvette's grip on the glass tightened until her knuckles turned white. "How can he just… walk away? How can he leave me like this, without even looking back?"

Her reflection seemed to mock her. The woman who once held the world in her hands was now the one being held captive by the echoes of a man who no longer existed.

"You won't find him," the advisor continued. "He's chosen his path. He's lost to us now."

Yvette's breath hitched as she slammed the glass onto the table. The shattering of the crystal echoed through the room.

"You think you can escape me, Owen?" she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "I'll find you. I have to."

She wouldn't admit it to herself, but deep down, she knew that this wasn't just about finding Owen. It was about reclaiming what she had lost—her sense of control, her pride, and the man who had once defied her but now seemed like a distant memory.

Yvette stood, her resolve hardening. She would track him down, no matter where he went. She wasn't ready to let go of him just yet.