Deal With My Best Friend

He’s Hopeless, But I’m Done

Ellie's POV

Kylie looked between Calvin, his mom, and Mercedes, hoping for sympathy, but left empty-handed.

Mercedes hated me, but she knew damn well I was right. She tried to keep this situation a secret from her brother, thinking she could leech off me because, in her eyes, Calvin never set an expense limit for me.

All this, Mercedes thought, meant that every transaction was a notification being sent to Calvin’s phone with my name on it.

She had to be some new kind of stupid to think Calvin wouldn't question a purchase of baby clothes, formula, and baby furniture.

True, Calvin had set up a joint account for him and me, but what he failed to see was that I had never spent a dime of his money.

And all the money his dear little sister, Mercedes, and her husband spent over the last two years was my personal spending money, earned by me alone.

When Kylie realized Calvin wasn't going to choose her in front of his wife and mother publicly, she scrunched her nose in anger.

Calvin had no option but to stay put in front of his mom; she stomped her foot, clenched her fists, then stormed out, slamming the door and making Sarah flinch.

"My... the audacity of that girl!" Sarah added, looking at me wide-eyed with a hand over her chest.

Mercedes sat angrily, arms crossed, giving me a murderous stare.

"You surprised me today, Ellie. I never thought you could be the kind to be so petty," Calvin finally said, looking at me with reddened eyes.

I raised an eyebrow, lifting my chin. "Excuse me?"

"She is pregnant, Eliana. Kylie is already under a lot of stress. She’s been working non-stop, trying to get a contract for me with a famous clothing store. You have no idea how tough it is to be a new model and a student at the same time, all while still trying to land contracts for our company. And so what if she was talking out of turn? She was only giving her honest opinion. Did you really have to be so mean to her?"

I almost laughed. Was he really trying to defend his side-piece in front of his mother and me?

I could care less if he has fallen for her; I was not going to let that b***h ridicule me.

"Why should I care about her and her stupid opinions? Am I her caregiver to care about her pregnancy or her education? Do I owe her a life favor or something? If she's under a lot of stress while pregnant, then she shouldn't be out and about. And if she is helping you with contracts, then that’s a you problem, not mine. You are the one giving her that workload. Have her stay home, tell her to quit school, I don't care. She is not my problem," I said, keeping my voice calm but firm.

“You-” he said, fists clenched tightly, and his jaw clenched.

“You’re unbelievable, Eliana. I barely recognize you now. Do you really think that because you’re my wife and have all this freedom and luxury, you have the right to look down on others? Let’s see how you manage without my money from now on. Your money? Mercedes is right; you have never worked a day in your life. All the money you’ve spent, everything you have, has come out of me. I’m freezing your cards as of today. Let’s see how you manage,” he says, turning to leave.

Talk is cheap. I wanted to see the face he’d make when he realized freezing a card I had never made a single purchase on would really affect my life.

I’m heading out on a business trip for a few days. Don’t expect me to return for at least a week. And as for you two—" he says, glaring at his mother and sister—"If I find out either one of you gives her a single scent, I will make sure to freeze your cards as well. I will have your shares in Calvin’s group, along with all of your assets and accounts, frozen. Understood?"

I played the role, making him think he had a little power over me. It will be more fun to see him fall later. “You can’t do this to me, Calvin. I’ve been there for you thick or thin!” I said, letting my eyes water.

“Then apologize to Kylie first. And maybe I will consider giving one of your cards back,” he said, making my blood boil inside.

Was he serious? Me? Apologize to his damn mistress? That’s laughable.

“I am not apologizing to her… she had no business meddling in our family disputes. How can you treat me like that, Calvin? You forget I am your wife!”

“Enough. I said what I said. No more indulging you until you recognize this entitled attitude. Apologize to Kylie, or abandon the luxurious lifestyle you’ve grown used to. I’ve spoiled you excessively, Eliana. You’ve become cold and unreasonable. Kylie is kind, diligent, and modest. But you… Eliana, you’ve grown so proud and disrespectful. I barely recognize you now, Ellie… I am truly disappointed in you.”

I should have seen this coming. I’ve seen it many times in divorce courts while waiting for Shannon to finish trials, but I never thought I was going to experience it for myself.

I've seen it at dinners with his colleagues, the way they mock and criticize their wives, all while praising their stupid mistresses. I hated them for treating their wives like that, and I tried standing up for them, but… if I have learned one thing, it is that not every woman marries for love.

Many of the women married into Calvin’s circle were simply commodities. Not love… obligations, nothing more.

A way to keep the name going and the business thriving.

“I’m going to find her. For your sake, nothing better happen to her baby. Or you will regret this!” he says, making my anger rise. I am so done with this. I was done taking all this s**t, bottling it inside and doing nothing. I was done!

“I will not apologize to your mistress, Calvin. And if you walk out that door, Calvin, we are done.” I say, standing up and clenching my hands tightly, drawing crescents in my palms.

“What did you say?” he turns angrily, making his sister and mom widen their eyes in shock as they exchange worried looks.

“¡Ellie, no! You can’t-”

He lifts his hand, taking a step toward me with his face furious.

“Say that again?”

“You heard me. I want a divorce. I’m done pretending. Whether you walk out today or not, I am done.” I said, reaching for the envelope, hands shaking; I took out the file and slammed it on the coffee table in front of me.

Mercedes gasps, covering her mouth; Sarah’s eyes glued to the file, she lets out a tear.

“Ellie! What… what’s going on?” Sarah whispers out with a pained voice.

“This is not the time for your bullshit, Eliana. Kylie had already told me you’ve been bullying her, sending her rude messages, sending people at work to bully her. Now this? Forget it… You’re a f*****g lunatic. I never thought you’d be the jealous type. But I guess she was right. You’re pathetic,” he says, making me angrier.

“I’m leaving; take these few days of me being away to cool off. We’ll talk again once I'm back.”

“Calvin, I am not kidding. I want a divorce.” I say as he walks away, waving me off and closing the door behind himself.