Shattered

Chapter 25

By: Hope

Author's Note: It's been what? Over a year or so since I've updated or posted to this story. I didn't think I would ever finish this. I hope everyone is doing well. I apologize for taking so long to post another chapter. It's taken way too long. I have 3 chapters of this story (I think) left before the end. IT WILL BE FINISHED. Thank you for sticking with me. I really hope the next few chapters don't suck. It's been awhile since I've written anything.

She sat on the wooden bench as she flipped the page in her book with the sound of only a waterfall in the background.

This was her happy place.

This was the only place in Boston she liked these days.

She came to the law library at Harvard often as a getaway. It was one of the benefits of living in Boston again. She needed some kind of peace. It helped the firm was located only a few minutes from here. She came here during her lunch. Occasionally, students would seat near her and spark a conversation about law.

Her red hair was up in a ponytail, something rare for Donna. She didn't go out in public much with her hair up. She was wearing her favorite Harvard maroon light sweater with it tucked in the front of her skinny jeans.

"I don't see many lawyers on campus wearing Converse" Professor Gerard commented, nodding to the pair of shoes on her feet as he took a seat next to Donna on the bench. He was in his usual khakis and button up shirt.

Donna smiled, as she placed her bookmark on her page and closed her book," You know I'm one of a kind, Professor"

Donna wasn't sure how it was possible but Gerard hadn't aged since the first day she stepped into Harvard almost eight years ago.

Maybe he was a vampire. She was still working on that theory.

"How are you, Professor?" She asked. He was always her favorite. It wasn't easy walking into Harvard the first day, with all eyes on her. She was strong but it wasn't easy hearing everyone talk about her constantly. The other students knew she didn't have money and that she wasn't from an affluent family who donated to the school. No one knew who she was but, Gerard was always there for her. After law school, he was her advisor. Now, he had become more of a friend.

" Are you okay?" Gerard asked, with concern in his voice. This was the sixth time she had been here this week. It was only Wednesday.

Donna shrugged and with honesty she spoke, " Life sucks sometimes"

"How very profound, Donna." Gerard joked, with a small smirk forming onhis lips." Aren't you getting married soon?"

"I didn't think you kept up on Harvard gossip" Donna grinned before saying," But, yeah, I'm getting married in 3 days"

"I'm not exactly knowledgeable on this subject as I'm twice divorced" Gerard said, " but, aren't you supposed to be happy about getting married?"

Donna sighed, taking a deep breath. " Yeah, probably"

Professor Gerard nodded and decided to change topics," How's the firm?"

Donna sighed heavily, taking another deep breath. " I've been on leave since last week. I don't know if it's the right fit for me"

"Can I give you some advice, Donna?" Gerard asked, he knew Cooper Grant well. Maybe too well. He was a nice man but Gerard knew how he treated women. He had a reputation.

Donna nodded. She could never turn down any advice from Professor Gerard.

"I see you're reading about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg" Gerard observed, glancing toward the book in her hand, " I don't think she fought as hard as she did for women's rights for a talented lawyer like yourself to be stuck at a law firm where you're not treated as equal or valued. Ruth would be pissed. In fact, you're a better lawyer than anyone working at that firm. I have to admit, I was surprised to find out that the man you were marrying wasn't Harvey Specter. I'm not supposed to say I have favorites but you and Harvey left a large impression on me. I don't think he would have passed my class without you and your infamous notecards. You two have real talent. Marshall, well no offense, but he's mediocre at best. I don't think the school board would appreciate me saying that considering how much they donate here. You and Harvey elevate each other. He wants you to be as successful or more than he is. It's rare to find that and when you do find it, you should fight like hell to keep it. Cooper will never want you to be more successful than his son. Unfortunately, with Marshall's asshat of a father, I don't see you moving up or gaining any opportunities" Gerard sighed before he finished with, " Unless, well, Cooper dies."

Donna laughed hard. As did Professor Gerard.

What the hell was she going to do? She was on leave from a career she thought she loved and she was getting married in 3 damn days. This was not the right time to be going thru a mid- life crisis.

Donna couldn't believe what Marshall had just said. Cooper and the partners wanted to sue her for breach of contract. Retract that. She could believe it. She should have expected it. Cooper was an asshole. Everyone at that firm was an asshole except for Tina, Cooper's sweet older secretary.

After finally gathering her thoughts, Donna spoke, " The firm can't sue me for breach of contract. Per the contract, I wasn't obligated to stay if a new, better opportunity presented itself. There also wasn't a non- compete clause"

"I know that" Marshall responded, " I read the contract. My father forgot you're a better lawyer than him"

Donna's brows furrowed in confusion. Was that a compliment? It was sarcasm right?

"You're not going to get sued" Marshall told her, " My father knows he would lose"

Donna gently touched her earring as a way to relieve stress as she spoke, " Marshall..."

Marshall sighed, heavily and cut Donna off as she spoke" Look, Donna. I was pissed off at you for weeks after our wedding day. I was really fucking angry. You embarrassed me but the worst part was you broke my heart"

"I'm so sorry" Donna said, as a few tears fell from her eyes.

"I know" Marshall stated, " I didn't understand at first...I had seven months to really think back and reflect on everything, I get it. I get it, Donna. My dad was an asshole to you. You didn't deserve that. I should be the one sorry. I never once had your back. I always tried to find a compromise or tried to defend my dad to you. I regret that. I wish I could go back and be a better man for you. My dad always treated women that way even my mom. You know that. It doesn't make it okay but.. It was normal for me. I knew it wasn't right... Donna, he stepped down from the firm. A few previous employees threatened to sue him for discrimination and sexual harassment. He retired. My mom left him"

Donna's mouth opened in surprise. She couldn't believe this entire conversation. She didn't expect Marshall to be apologizing to her. At the time, she was upset and hurt that he never defended her. She was so unhappy at that firm. It took away her passion for law which made her resentful of Marshall.

She felt bad for Marshall about his parents but... she didn't have ounce of sympathy for Cooper Grant. He deserved whatever was coming for him.

" My brother and I are running the firm" Marshall informed Donna, with a proud smile on his face, " We already hired three female lawyers... Look, I didn't come here to yell or make you feel like shit. I just knew we needed to have this conversation. I needed closure. I don't hate you, Donna Paulsen. The ending wasn't what I wanted but the beginning and in between... I wouldn't change it for the world"

Donna slowly wiped the tears that were continuously falling down from her eyes, "I just... want you to be happy, Marshall"

Marshall choked back his own tears, as he stood up. He didn't realize this would be so hard.

" I'm working on that" Marshall explained," I want you to be happy too, Donna"

Donna also stood up, across from Marshall as she spoke, "I'm working on it too"

Marshall and Donna took the few steps over to the office door.

"So, how long have you been dreaming about punching Harvey?" Donna asked, in a joking manner.

"Since Harvard" Marshall smirked, "I didn't come here with intentions to punch him, honestly. I had to get it out of my system. I've been holding it in for a few months but, I know he hasn't a bad guy. I was serious, Donna. I want you to be happy even if that means you end up with Harvey. I'll see you around, I guess"

Marshall started walking away.

"Marshall" Donna yelled, from the archway of her office, making him turn around, "You're a really fucking good lawyer. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise"

Marshall nodded, with a slow smile. His hand were in his suit pocket as he turned back and headed to the elevator.

Donna took a deep breath. She walked into her office and closed the door. Her head was against the door as she slowly slid down to where she was sitting on the carpeted floor. She threw her heels off and allowed herself to cry harder than she had ever cried before. She needed to get it out.

She was getting married tomorrow. She sat in her childhood bedroom, on the bed as she looked over at her wedding dress hanging on the back of her door.

Her red hair was up in a bun. She was wearing leggings and a Yankees t-shirt. Her mom and sisters were downstairs. They wanted to drink champagne and watch Julia Roberts movies but Donna wanted to be alone.

Donna looked down at her phone as it began vibrating. Marshall's name popped up with a picture of them from when they went to Italy on vacation last summer. She hadn't really talked to Marshall much since she left for New York yesterday. Things had been strained to say the least. She didn't want to answer it but, she knew she had to.

After taking a deep breath, Donna hit the green "answer" button on her IPhone, " Hello?"

"Donna! What the fuck?" Marshall said, stressed and exasperated, "I've called you like 4 times. What is going on? My dad told me you emailed him your resignation last night and your entire office was completely cleaned out. Why didn't you talk to me before you did this? Why didn't you wait until after the wedding? My dad is pissed."

Donna could care less about Cooper being pissed. She loved Marshall. She really did but he didn't get it. He was always in the middle, trying to please both sides. Donna understood it was his family but she wanted him to stand up for her. The Donna at Harvard would be so disappointed at who she was now. Yes, Marshall was a good guy but he had been coddled his whole life by his parents. She usually loathed people like that. She was attracted to the people that had to work harder. People like Harvey Specter.

Donna could hear Marshall still yelling in the phone. She had stopped listening and zoned out before finally hitting "End Call". She held in the button to turn off the phone and threw it across the room.

Donna was in a funk. This was more than a funk but she didn't know what the hell to call it.

She walked across the room to close her bedroom closet to avoid staring at the wedding dress until something distracted her. She grabbed the box at the bottom of her closet and pulled it out. She sat on the floor with her legs crossed as she took the top off the box to look at what was inside.

She smiled as pulled out a few coasters she had stolen from bars where Gordon Specter played gigs at. She found a stack of her infamous notecards her and Harvey used to study with. There was a picture frame flipped over in the box. Her brows furrowed. She couldn't remember what this was. She grabbed the frame and flipped it over to see a picture of Harvey and Donna. They were sitting around a fire and Harvey had his arm wrapped around Donna. Gordon had taken this photo of them one of the many times Donna came along on the Specter Thanksgiving tradition of camping.

Donna smiled immediately seeing the phone as she continued to look through the box, reminiscing. It wasn't normal she was thinking about Harvey the night before she married another man right? This wasn't normal.

She didn't know that Harvey was thinking about her too and that he was downstairs talking to her mother.

This was his third scotch. He kept trying to avoid looking at the clock but he couldn't help himself. He felt himself tapping his foot as a way to release his anxiety. The longer he was sitting at the bar, the more anxious he got. He thought she would be here by now. He checked his Rolex again for the fourteenth time. It was slowly getting darker and darker outside.

Harvey downed his drink, sitting it a little too aggressively onto the bar.

"Where's Donna?" Owen, their favorite bartender who was in law school himself, asked.

"I don't know" Harvey answered with a melancholy tone. He really thought she would be here. He didn't know what it meant that she didn't show up.

"You want another drink?" Owen asked, knowing Harvey wasn't in a great mood, "On the house for our favorite lawyer"

Harvey stood up and grabbed his suit jacket, throwing it over his shoulder, "No, I should go"