THE WIFE YOU LEFT

Chapter4-Let him go?

The woman pushed her phone in my face. It had pictures of her and my husband, Zeus. They were kissing and acting like a couple.

I was so confused. This was all too much for me.

"Who am I?" she asked. "I am Zeus' girlfriend. I need one favor."

She grabbed my hands tightly and begged, "Please, let him go."

I felt like I’d been blindsided by a freight train; or perhaps it was a deeper wound? I wasn't certain. The only thing I understood was that standing there, in plain sight, was the evidence that my spouse had been unfaithful for our entire marriage.

“Lost your voice, have you? Nothing to say for yourself?” The woman standing before me demands an answer in a rage.

The irony was heartbreaking—she actually believed I was the thief who had taken what belonged to her, oblivious to the fact that it was actually the reverse.

I let out a bitter laugh, whispering to myself, “So Zeus managed to keep my very existence a mystery from the girls he was fooling around with?”

“What was that?”

I shook my head and spoke up, “I’ve absorbed everything you’ve said, but I need you to leave my sight immediately.”

My mind was already racing with a million problems and I’d obviously decided that I'd reached my limit for the day, so with that thought, I spun away from her to enter the building. However, Sarah lunged for my arm, keeping me in place. "Hold on, I'm far from finished!"

Right at that moment, my composure shattered. Every ounce of suppressed irritation and resentment I'd been holding back throughout the night finally boiled over.

"Enough!" I screamed, collapsing into a fit of sobbing. "Enough, just walk away!"

Wrenching my arm from her grip, I raced inside and threw the door closed with a bang. I sank to the floor, mourning in the depths of my own heartache and despair.

How could this be my reality? How? Covering my face with my palms, I attempted to suppress the crying, but the more I fought it, the harder the tears streamed down.

As I battled to stand up again, I determined that I was done. Done with Zeus, done with this home, done with it all.

Walking toward the space that once belonged , I retrieved my suitcase from its spot above the closet.

Yanking the doors ajar, I jammed my garments into the luggage in a panicked rush, my vision blurred by tears.

Never again. I promised myself this would be the final moment I’d permit anyone to crush me like this.

As I scrambled to gather my things, the front entrance creaked open. I didn't even turn around; I was positive it was Zeus.

"So, you’re actually hitting the road?" He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I finally risked a look back, only to find 'her' standing right there next to him. A bitter sound escaped my throat. He really had the nerve to invite her into our sanctuary?

Turning away in disgust, I pulled the suitcase toward the dresser and began tossing my accessories inside.

He reached out to grab my arm as if to restrain me, but the contact only fueled my irritation.

Will you unhand me?"

"I have no desire to lay a finger on you, but where exactly do you think you're going with those gems? I'm the person who paid for them!"

A chuckle escaped my lips. For the first time since this catastrophic night began, I genuinely laughed.

"You purchased these for me?" I challenged him, my voice dripping with disbelief. "Don't be ridiculous. You haven't so much as bought me a single rose, let alone these jewels." I wrenched myself free from his hold, refusing to pause my task.

Once my belongings were secured, I fumed as I cast the legal dissolution documents—which I'd been clutching all night—onto the desk. With a sharp, jagged motion, I scrawled my name across the bottom.

"Have you lost your mind?" His mistress asked, her features twisted with visible annoyance.

I had to summon every ounce of restraint within me to keep from striking her. She was the architect of this ruin, the one who had shattered this marriage that I had once believed was the pinnacle of a perfect life.

What authority did she have to feel offended?!

"Look..." His mistress continued regardless, her voice dripping with disdain. "It's not like the two of you were even in a legitimate marriage."

There it was. She was fully aware of Zeus' marital status. It made sense; she was the catalyst behind the paper-thin arrangement Zeus and I called a marriage.

Back when I was merely Zeus’ nurse, his mother tried to coerce him into a wedding with her. He had balked at the idea, choosing instead to enter into a legal contract with me to escape her demands.

Seeing him now with the very woman he had used me to avoid felt like a physical blow.

His mistress let out a mocking sound. "Don't tell me you were foolish enough to actually develop feelings for him?"

I had, and believe me, I mourned every second of that weakness. "Hardly. Why would I? Zeus isn't the kind of man who earns anyone's devotion. Isn't that exactly why you’re his perfect match?"

"Watch it!"

Pay close attention. Simply because Zeus and I are splitting up over your involvement doesn't signify that he truly cares for you. He was unfaithful to me even within the bounds of a sham arrangement—as you so pointedly noted—so just picture the loyalty he’ll show to you."

Zeus shoved me back a step. "Look, if you've finished shoving your life into suitcases, then get out. I'm not going to let you insult me under my own roof."

"Your roof?" I repeated, my eyes scanning the estate I had financed with my own grit and fortune. "Every inch of this property, this mansion, the one billion dollars, the entire fleet of vehicles..."

"Wait, what are you getting at?" He stammered, his bravado flickering.

"What? Is reality finally sinking in? Or are you just now recalling that you didn't provide a single cent to this marriage? Don't fret, you won't be completely destitute. You and your mistress can survive on a steady diet of your 'affection' every day and in all fairness, you aren't doing too poorly yourself. Your firm is currently profitable, so—"

Remember everything I mentioned earlier? That’s merely a glimpse of what’s coming in the settlement.

I leaned in, pressing my hand firmly against his shoulder as I breathed a chilling whisper into his ear. "So, darling, do yourself a favor: hire the most ruthless attorney you can find. Try your best to claw away the assets you never lifted a finger to earn. I’ll be expecting you."

I gave his mistress a mockingly polite nod. "I hope the two of you enjoy your domestic bliss, or whatever twisted version of it you plan to pursue."

Turning my attention back to my husband, I let a sugary, triumphant smile spread across my face. It was the look of someone who had won, because I finally realized that even if my world was crashing down, I was walking away with my head held high.

I slammed the legal documents against his chest, the impact punctuating my final words. Through clenched teeth, I hissed, "I'll see you in court."

Once the front door clicked shut, the fake strength I had been holding onto disappeared. My legs felt like jelly, and I collapsed right there on the floor. The house was so quiet, and the silence felt heavy.

A loud, messy sob broke out of me. It wasn't like the crying you see in movies; it was painful and loud. I felt like my heart was being ripped out. I stayed there on the cold floor, feeling a deep sense of shame. I wasn’t just crying because he had cheated; I was crying because I had been so foolish.

For a whole year, I really tried. Even though our marriage started as a business deal, I thought it had turned into something real. I thought he actually cared about me. I’m a smart woman.I run a huge company and deal with tough people every day yet I couldn't see that the man I lived with was lying to my face.

Every memory from the past year started to hurt. When he kissed me or sent me "I love you" texts, was he thinking about his mistress? Was he laughing at me behind my back while I was working hard to pay for our life?

I felt like I had betrayed myself. I used my own money and my own hard work to build a beautiful life for a man who was just using me. I paid for the cars, the house, and the food on the table, all while he was planning to be with someone else.

I sat up, gasping for air, my face soaked with tears. I looked at my hands and realized I had used them to give him everything. He treated our marriage like a game where he took everything and gave nothing back.

As I sat there, the sadness started to turn into a cold, quiet anger. I realized that our marriage wasn't a partnership at all. He had just been a guest in the life I built.

I wiped my face with my sleeve. The crying was finally stopping, but the pain was turning into something else: a promise to myself. He thought he could just take my money and my heart and walk away. He was wrong. I was done being the victim. The crying was over; now, it was time to fight.