Enough Pain, I’m Done with You

Chapter 3 Who Would Believe You?

"Now you want to talk about marital duties? If you need anything, go ask Aisha. She's all soft and sweet, while I'm just a village shrew compared to her!"

"Sign the papers, now!"

Hobert was caught off guard, but he still tried to explain himself. "I've told you, she's just a business partner, a regular employee at Stein Group. I've completely cut ties with her. If you don't trust her, you should at least trust me, right?"

Trusted him? In his dreams!

Seeing my silence, Hobert leaned in again, trying to hug me.

I took a step back and sank onto the couch.

He crouched down on the carpet, trying to soothe me as always. "Kellie, don't be like this, okay?"

I stared at him, his face full of sincerity, but my heart felt like it had been dunked in lemon juice—sour and bitter all at once.

In my past life, I'd been just like this—yielding again and again.

But in the end, I realized that all my patience only gave Aisha more freedom and smooth sailing.

Hobert would always stand by her.

We were both women, and I knew exactly what Aisha wanted.

But in Hobert's eyes, she was gentle and fragile, while I was nothing more than a troublemaker, and he'd sacrifice his pride for her.

Time might rewind, but it couldn't change how people thought.

I shrank back even further, avoiding his touch, and my voice felt hollow. "Hobert, it's over between us."

"Next Monday, I'll be waiting for you to finalize the divorce. If you don't show up, I'll hire a lawyer."

After I spoke, I stood up and headed for the door. Behind me, Hobert's emotions seemed to break loose. "Kellie, do you really think leaving is the right choice?"

"Why do you always make decisions on your own? Can't you ever think about me?"

I had never seen him this vulnerable before.

But as expected, Hobert didn't show up.

I immediately called my lawyer. There was no turning back now—the divorce was happening.

I didn't have much time left, and I didn't want to be tied to Hobert any longer, even after I was gone.

I finished up the resignation process at work, and as I left the office building, I ran into Hobert and Aisha standing by the entrance.

Hobert grabbed me angrily. "Kellie, I've told you, this is between the two of us. Why do you have to drag Aisha into this?"

"Aisha," sounded so intimate.

"What's the problem?"

"Didn't you slander her, ruin her reputation, and cause her to lose her job? Now she's being attacked online and can't even go home!"

"Hobert, you say I'm acting on my own, but aren't you the one being so self-righteous?"

"Didn't you personally arrange for her to join the company? Why does she need a background check?"

Hobert was momentarily speechless. Being the head of Stein Group wasn't as secure as he thought.

So, it took two people to throw dirt on someone, huh?

I was disgusted and frustrated. "Hobert, Aisha, don't go too far!"

"If I really did all that, why don't you call the police and arrest me?"

"You're not calling the police? Then get out of my way!"

Hobert tried to argue, but Aisha stopped him.

She played the pitiful card and said sweetly, "Kellie, Hobert and I are just business partners. Even if we were once close, you don't need to be so aggressive."

"Hobert, don't hurt Kellie's feelings because of me."

I couldn't be bothered to watch her pretend to be the good girl. I turned and headed for the garage. Hobert's cold voice followed me. "Kellie, don't you have any feelings left?"

I couldn't believe this—who exactly was the one who had no feelings?

I turned around, and Hobert gritted his teeth. "Fine, go ahead and divorce me! Just pretend I've been blind all these years!"

Aisha raised an eyebrow at me from behind him.

How ridiculous. If anyone was blind, it was me!

The next day, when Hobert showed up at the city hall, he had a cloud of anger hanging over him.

Aisha was with him, wearing a designer silk scarf—one that Hobert had once given to me.

I never liked the pattern, so I shoved it deep into the back of my closet. Looked like Aisha had moved in for good.

I hadn't eaten that morning and was already feeling unwell after standing in line for so long.

When I crouched down, holding my stomach, Aisha rushed over, acting overly concerned. "Kellie, what's wrong? Don't faint, okay?"

She pretended to support me, but her voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Regret it? Don't want the divorce anymore?"

"Are you putting on this act for Hobert? Do you really think he doesn't want this divorce?"

I endured the pain and didn't push her away. Her acting was so transparent—I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.

Hobert walked over, exuding his usual commanding presence, and the people around us fell silent.

He separated us, turned to Aisha, and gave her a warning look. "Aisha."

Aisha seemed slightly uncomfortable, and the crowd started giving them disdainful glances.

Hobert, the golden boy, didn't care, but Aisha couldn't take the heat.

When it came time to sign the papers, Hobert looked at me. I had already signed mine swiftly and without hesitation.

"Hobert, can you stop making me lose all respect for you?"

Hobert lowered his gaze and signed the papers.

When I received the divorce certificate, a weight lifted from my shoulders.

The hall was buzzing with people, and I overheard whispers everywhere.

"That woman is disgusting, barging into the city hall like a mistress!"

"The guy's no better!"

"They're a couple of shameless scum! They don't deserve to live!"

I smiled quietly, grateful for the gossip. I hadn't said a word, but it still felt oddly satisfying.

The divorce was final, my job was over, and now I could focus on preparing for whatever was left of my life.

As I started packing up my belongings, I realized my mother's journal was missing.

She had passed away when I was young, and the journal had all her notes about her pregnancy and my early childhood.

I must have hidden it too well when we moved, and in the rush, I must've forgotten it.

I called Hobert, but he impatiently told me that the divorce was done, and he didn't want to deal with it.

However, after hanging up, he sent me a message saying the door code hadn't changed.

Fine, while he was not home, I'd grab it. Maybe there was something else I'd missed as well.

The house had changed in little ways—some things were gone, and new things had appeared.

Looked like Aisha had really settled in.

I searched every room, but couldn't find it.

By the time I came out of the closet, it was already dark.

Knowing Hobert would be back soon, I decided to leave.

Just as I reached the entrance, the door suddenly slammed open.

Hobert was kissing Aisha, and the scene was so intimate and sensual it almost knocked the air out of my lungs.

I stepped aside, uninterested in their little show.

They completely ignored me, tangled up in each other, clothes in disarray.

In my past life, I knew about their affair, but seeing it with my own eyes now hurt more than I ever imagined.

I turned to leave, but Hobert's muffled voice called out. "Kellie..."

Aisha paused briefly, then climbed back onto Hobert's shoulder.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. "Are you both really that desperate?"

Aisha suddenly seemed to notice me, and fury flared up. She abandoned Hobert and stormed toward me.

"Divorced and still coming around to your ex-husband? Kellie, how low can you go?"

I wasn't about to back down. "I may be low, but I'm not as low as you!"