The Wrong Husband

8:48 PM, the night everything fell apart. Tam sat in the driver’s seat, her fingers still wrapped tightly around her phone. The screen had long gone dark, but everything was as clear as day in her mind. She had waited patiently for two hours for a simple dinner with the man who was supposed to be her husband. Her phone lit up again with a table cancellation charge notification; below it was the message that ruined her night. ‘Can’t make it. Catie just returned. I have to pick her up. We’ll celebrate another time.’ Another time? Tam let out a quiet, shaky breath, then suddenly her hand slammed on the steering wheel. “Seriously…?” She pressed her palm to her chest like it could push the pain away. Who would have thought that the dinner she spent months planning would be treated so casually, like a normal day? After a moment, she started the car and drove out of the restaurant’s garage. 45 minutes later she stepped into the house. “Where’s my husband?” Tam asked one of the male servants. “Good evening, madam. Your husband is in his study.” “OK… Take these.” Tam handed over the unopened box of gifts and bouquet of roses. “Trash them if you can’t use them.” “Uh, ma… what…?” Tam waved him off and walked steadily toward the study, ignoring the pitying and mocking eyes of the servants who were already aware of the situation. She didn’t give a damn what any of them thought that night. All she wanted was to confront Stone’s, at least once in their three years of cohabitation. In front of the study, she reached for the handle, but it was locked. She raised her hand to knock but when she heard sounds slipping through the door, she stopped and leaned in slowly, her ear drawing closer to the wood. She heard Stone’s husky voice in a moan. For the very first time since she married him, she heard him sound like that, then Catie’s low, sultry voice followed. “…Stone, stop. What if your wife…” “I don’t care,” his low, impatient voice cut her off. “I’ve missed you.” Catie laughed softly. “But we just met last Monday…” “That’s like ages ago. Besides, you are sexy and irresistible.” His groan seeped through the door. “I can’t control myself when I’m with you.” Like being thunderstruck, Tam stood in the hallway without a word, even when she heard the unmistakable sound of a fabric tearing impatiently, even when every sound that seeped through pressed deeper into her chest, she said nothing. Her hands trembled at her sides and her throat burned with everything she was fighting to keep down. Every woman in her position would have kicked the door down and torn apart the two cheating bastards; the thought crossed her mind too, but would that change what had happened or make Stone choose her? NO! How can that happen when he had just made things clear? Tam had endured his coldness for three years, hoping he would finally warm up to her, but now it was clear he only had one woman in his heart and she was back and already in his arms. Tam let out a low bitter laugh as she turned away from the door. There was no need to confront anyone; not because she was a coward but because something in her had finally awakened. She walked to her bedroom, sat at the edge of the bed and picked her phone to call Margaret. The line beeped twice, then dropped. No connection. She tried again but got the same response. “NO! no… not today. Not now, please…” she dialed the number again. Tears that had welled up long ago started trickling down her cheeks. Margaret was her only way out. Just one call and an agreement to readjust the prenup, and she would be free. Otherwise, she was stuck. ‘Was freedom always this expensive?’ Tam let out a frustrated scream as tears slid down her face uncontrollably. She pressed her hand over her mouth to suppress her sobs. This was something she learned at the orphanage where crying was considered a nuisance. At the thought of the orphanage, her mind went to Alexia, but she let the memory go immediately. ‘As if I’m worthy to think of her…’ Alexia had seen Stone for exactly what he was after Tam married him. She had even told Tam to leave him when his coldness became impossible to explain but Tam had chosen him and even fell out with Alexia. After minutes of careful contemplation, Tam dialed Alexia’s number. By the second ring, the line connected. “Tam?” Alexia sounded shocked but beneath that shock was a warm relief that Tam had not expected. She had expected distance or at the very least a pause that was long enough to say without words that she had not been forgiven. Her throat closed and her eyes burned. She couldn’t speak. “Tam? Are you there? Talk to me, are you okay? Where are you?” Alexia’s voice shifted quickly into concern. Tam opened her mouth but what came out were sobs not words. Alexia sensing the situation, stopped asking and patiently stayed on the line, calling Tam’s name softly. After two minutes, she couldn’t hold it anymore. “Are you still at that house? I’m coming to you right now.” Tam knew Alexia meant every word, so she took a long deep breath to steady herself. “Sorry… I couldn’t control myself.” “This isn’t time to apologize over trivial matters. Where are you, Tamara?” Alexia responded in an annoyed tone. “Calm down, Alexia. I’m fine… please, don’t come over,” If there was anything Tam needed to do the most at that moment; it would be to pacify the chaos queen on the other end. Alexia had always had her back and she knew it but seeing it again gave her a feeling she had missed. “I just… needed to talk.” “And crying is your new communication language?!” Alexia retorted but instantly regretted her words. “I’m sorry.” She apologized. “What happened?” Tam sighed slowly as she recounted the entire night to Alexia. “I knew it,” Alexia muttered. “I knew that asshole was no good.” Tam closed her eyes. “I know,” she said quietly. “I should have listened to you and left him a long time ago. Maybe this is just me learning the hard way.” “I will come pick you off that property tomorrow while we have my lawyer prepare the papers. You better not change your mind again.” Alexia said after a deep exhale. Tam let out a small bitter laugh. “I wish my freedom was that easy.” “What do you mean? Don’t tell me your mind is changing already.” “Hell no, Alexia.” “Did you forget the agreement I signed with Margaret when she gave me the money for my mother’s treatment and the debts?” “Oh, shit.” Alexia went quiet for a moment. “I completely forgot about that. But Tam, I told you that the agreement was extortion. Even though she did give you more than half a billion, having you pay back a full billion is a lot, coupled with the fact that you even married that low life cheating dimwit of hers.” Tam was speechless at the string of curses but for some reason it made her heart warm. “I feel terrible till this day that I could not help back then.” Alexia continued. “If it were now with my family’s business where it is, it would have been a lot easier.” “It’s all in the past, Alexia. Besides, it was my family’s debts and I wouldn’t have felt the slightest comfort putting it on you.” Tam said softly. “And about the clause, even though it is unfair, at least it saved the day back then. Without it I would have ended up married to that old bedridden man who never considered his condition when it came to women.” Alexia burst out laughing and even Tam couldn’t hold back her chuckle. “What do you plan to do?” Alexia asked after a moment. “I can help with half of the money. That would be a good start at least.” “What? No, Alexia…” “Don’t ‘what? No, Alexia’ me,” Alexia cut her off. “I should have done this long ago and since I didn’t, I will make sure it gets done this time even if it means coming there to bundle you out after having the blood of the Carters and their Hayes slut on my hands.” After the fallout and years of silence, Alexia was still the same. “Thank you, Alexia, and I’m sorry for how I acted last time.” Alexia’s chest tightened. “How about we meet tomorrow and go over everything during lunch?” she offered. “I’ve missed your cute baby face.” Tam smiled. “Alright. Pick a location and I will grace you with my presence.” Alexia laughed heartily before responding. “Since it’s settled, make sure you sleep after this. No more thinking or crying over stray dogs, alright?” “Mhm,” Tam hummed softly. “Goodnight, Lexi.” “Goodnight, Baby face,” Alexia teased and hung up. Tam’s lips were still curved slightly after she dropped the phone and pulled off her heels. Who would have thought that the connection she thought she didn’t need anymore because of Stone would turn out to be her anchor when she needed one most? At that same moment, inside the study, the two old flames were still lost in each other, completely unbothered by the sounds echoing through the room.