My Ex-Husband's Biggest Secret

“If someone asked me how I feel right now, I’d say I feel incredibly stupid. Because I’ve finally realized that my mother was right all along. Marrying him was a decision I would regret for the rest of my life.” “Why? Were you never happy when you were with him?” I looked at the moderator, one corner of my lips lifting into a faint smile. “Happy? That was nothing more than a beautiful illusion I created in my own mind. The truth is, he gave me every kind of pain he possibly could. All of it. He kept pouring salt into wounds that were still raw and bleeding. It was as though he was determined to destroy my life completely." The woman sitting across from me nodded several times. She adjusted the microphone that had tilted slightly before looking at me with pity. I hated that look. “So, you don’t regret divorcing your husband? Even though your husband is the sole heir to Alexander Corp? Especially now that he’s facing public outrage over an affair and a divorce petition filed by you?” I stared straight into the camera, my gaze firm and unwavering. “I will never regret this decision. Never. And I’m sorry, but this may be my final answer on your show. I have to go.” “Oh, right. You still have an urgent matter to attend to afterward, don’t you? I’m sorry, I lost track of time. You may leave now. I hope your final court hearing today goes smoothly and without any complications.” Just as the moderator had wished, the hearing went smoothly. Today, I was officially divorced. And I had won custody of my child. All I wanted was to go home as quickly as possible. I had no desire to see the face of the man I had once worshipped with all my heart. What amazed me was how much I hated him now. More than anything. Even though he was still the same man. For a few seconds, our eyes met. His gaze toward me had not changed. Those gentle, sorrowful eyes. The same tenderness that had once made me surrender every single time. My heart seemed to ache at the sight. I didn’t know what he meant by looking at me like that. And I hated myself when, without realizing it, my eyes began to sting. I quickly turned my head away. A tear slipped down my cheek, shamelessly betraying me. I wiped it away at once. He wasn’t worth my tears. “Ellie!” I heard her voice just as I was about to step through the courtroom doors. My footsteps stopped. I stood frozen. Instinctively, I turned around. And suddenly, she was already standing in front of me, wearing that wide smile of his. Her hand was extended toward me. I had no intention of taking it. “Despite everything that has happened, I still hope you won’t ignore me just because we’ve been friends for more than ten years,” she said. I was stunned by how shameless she could be. Bianca. My enemy disguised as a friend. “Trash!” Of all the words I could have chosen, that was the only one I felt she deserved. Bianca frowned. “I didn’t want things to turn out this way either, Ellie. I didn’t plan to sneak around with your husband. I just love him. We can’t exactly control who we fall in love with, can we? I didn’t do anything wrong, Sa. He chose me over you. That’s not my fault either.” I fell silent for several seconds, letting her words sink in. “Yes. I know.” I looked straight into her eyes. “And that’s exactly why you’re trash.” I glanced ahead. The man was walking toward us. I turned around, ready to leave, but before I did, I looked at Bianca one last time. “Bianca, God is never asleep. He sees everything. So be careful, my dear friend.” My voice dripped with sarcasm. I immediately walked away, quickening my pace before that man could reach Hannah and me. *** “Mom, please eat your porridge. How are you supposed to get better if you don’t eat?” My mother had fallen ill after hearing that I had filed for divorce against my husband. After leaving my marital home, I returned to my mother’s house with my child and took care of her while she was sick. “Mom got sick because of you, didn’t she, Ellie? Are you stupid or what?! You lost, Ellie!” “Mom... enough.” “I raised you properly. I sent you to good schools. I didn’t do all of that so you could lose to some low-class woman.” I sighed before answering in a quiet voice. “And you didn’t educate me just so I could spend my life being hurt, did you, Mom?" Mom fell silent. "My happiness with him is gone. Even if I had chosen not to divorce him, staying with him now would only continue to hurt your daughter. I’m the one who’s more frustrated by everything that happened. Divorce is never easy for anyone. I’m tired too, Mom. I just want all of this to end. If your daughter had truly lost, your daughter would have ended her life the moment she discovered that her husband was cheating on her with her own best friend.” Mom’s eyes widened. She immediately pulled me into her arms. I sobbed against her chest. “Don’t say things like that, sweetheart. There is nothing lacking in my daughter. You are perfect just the way you are. From now on, I will support whatever decision you make.” “Then Mom will eat first, okay?” “Ellie, before worrying about me, ask yourself something first. How many days has it been since you last ate?” Her question made me think. I didn’t know. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten. I’d only swallowed a few vitamins whenever my body felt weak. I had no appetite. I didn’t even feel hungry. Mom fed me the porridge that had originally been meant for her. I forced myself to swallow. But the bland porridge somehow tasted bitter the moment it touched my tongue. “Your face is so pale. You have dark circles under your eyes. Are you having trouble sleeping too?” I nodded. I couldn’t sleep without taking medication. Mom let out a long sigh. “Tomorrow, you’re coming with me.” I simply nodded, too tired to argue. Everything felt difficult. And I hated admitting it. I hated admitting that sometimes, in the quiet of the night, I still cried because I remembered Ethan. My lips could say that I hated him with every fiber of my being. My mind could reason that I had every right to hate him. But my heart... My foolish heart still missed him. I hated admitting that I was weak. The truth was, I was only trying my hardest to be strong.