The Ex-Wife He Couldn't Forget

"Who is the father of the child in your womb?" Mendel's voice exploded across the room as he threw several sheets of paper at Samantha's face. The papers scattered across the floor, and one of them landed near her feet. Samantha looked down and immediately recognized the hospital test results. For a brief moment, she was pleasantly surprised. She had been planning to tell him about the pregnancy herself. She had even imagined how he might react when he learned that she was carrying his child. After three years of marriage, she finally had something that could bring them closer together. Unfortunately, before she could say anything, Mendel shattered that thought. "So Amanda was right all along." His voice was filled with anger. "She kept telling me that you were seeing another man behind my back, but I refused to believe her. I thought she was deliberately trying to ruin our marriage because she didn't like you. I defended you every single time, Samantha. Do you know how stupid I feel right now?" Samantha's smile disappeared. She looked at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?" "What am I talking about?" Mendel laughed mockingly. "You're still pretending that you don't know?" "I honestly don't know what you're talking about." Mendel's face became even darker. "The child you're carrying isn't mine." Samantha froze. For a second, she thought she had heard him wrong. "What?" "The child in your stomach is not mine." His words were firm and unquestionable. Samantha could hardly believe it. "How can you say that?" "Because I know exactly what kind of relationship we have." Mendel stepped closer and stared directly into her eyes. "We've been married for three years, Samantha, but tell me honestly, how many times have we actually been together as husband and wife?" Samantha's lips parted. The answer was painfully obvious. Their marriage had never been normal. Mendel had never loved her. Although they had been married for three years, he had spent most of that time avoiding her. He rarely came home, rarely spoke to her, and rarely treated her like a wife. "There was one time," Samantha said quietly. Mendel frowned. "One time?" "The night you came home drunk." She looked at him and continued, "You had too much to drink that night. You stayed at home, and we..." Before she could finish, Mendel interrupted her. "That's impossible." "It isn't." "It is." His tone was filled with certainty. "A single night doesn't explain this." Samantha stared at him in disbelief. "What exactly are you trying to say?" "I'm saying that you've been lying to me." Before she could respond, Mendel pulled out a stack of photographs and threw them onto the table. The pictures spread out before her. Samantha picked them up one by one. The first picture showed her leaving the gynecology department. The second showed Desmond standing beside her. The third showed them walking together toward the parking lot. In another picture, Desmond was helping her carry a bag. Viewed separately, none of the photos seemed unusual. Viewed together, they told a completely different story. Anyone who saw them would think they were a couple preparing for the arrival of their child. "Where did you get these pictures?" Samantha asked. Mendel ignored the question. "It doesn't matter where I got them. What matters is that I finally know what kind of woman you are." Mendel's voice was filled with disgust as he looked at Samantha. The warmth that had never existed between them was completely gone now. His eyes were cold, and the way he looked at her made it seem as though she was someone beneath him. Samantha held the photographs tightly and shook her head. "You've got it all wrong, Mendel. Desmond and I grew up together. You know that better than anyone. We've been friends since we were children, and our families have always been close. He only took me to the gynecologist because I almost collapsed at work and there was nobody else available at that moment." Mendel didn't even let her finish. "I don't care what excuse you come up with." "It's not an excuse. It's the truth." "The truth?" Mendel laughed coldly. "Do you really expect me to believe that?" Samantha stared at him, unable to understand how things had gotten to this point. A few minutes ago, she had been happy because she thought he had discovered her pregnancy. She had imagined that he might finally show some concern for her. Instead, he was looking at her as if she had committed an unforgivable crime. "Mendel, Desmond is like family to me." "Enough." His voice rose sharply. "I've heard enough." He loosened his tie and took a deep breath before speaking again. "You know what I find funny? For years, Amanda kept warning me about you. She told me over and over that you weren't as innocent as you pretended to be, but every single time, I defended you. I told her she was being unreasonable. I told her she was judging you unfairly. Looking back now, I realize I was the idiot." Samantha's chest tightened. "Amanda has never liked me. You know that." "And now I know why." "No, you don't." Mendel ignored her and continued speaking. "From the beginning, I suspected that you married me for the Hartstone family's money." Samantha looked at him in disbelief. "For your money?" "Grandmother has been pushing us to have a child for years. She promised that once we gave her a great-grandchild, she would transfer part of her assets and shares to us. Everyone in the family knows it. I never thought you would stoop this low just to get what she promised." For a moment, Samantha simply stared at him. Then she laughed. It wasn't because she found anything amusing. It was because the accusation was so ridiculous that she didn't know how else to react. "You think I stayed with you for money?" "What other reason could there be?" Samantha slowly lowered the photographs. "If it was money I wanted, I wouldn't have married you in the first place." Mendel's expression darkened. "What is that supposed to mean?" "It means exactly what I said." Samantha looked directly into his eyes. "You know my background better than anyone. After my parents died, the White family took me in. They raised me, educated me, and treated me like one of their own. Desmond's parents never let me feel like an outsider. I grew up with every luxury I could ever want. The White family's wealth is far greater than the Hartstone family's. Why would I marry you for money when I already had more than enough?" Mendel fell silent for a second. But only for a second. His pride wouldn't allow him to admit she had a point. "Then explain the pregnancy." "I already did." "No, you didn't." "I told you the child is yours." "And I told you I don't believe you." His answer came without hesitation. Samantha felt exhausted. Not because of the accusation itself, but because she suddenly realized there was no point continuing this conversation. No matter what she said, Mendel had already decided she was guilty. The photographs were merely an excuse. The pregnancy was merely an excuse. Everything was an excuse. For ten years, Samantha had loved him. For three years, she had been his wife. During those three years, she had done everything she could to make their marriage work. She had convinced herself that if she was patient enough, kind enough, an d understanding enough, Mendel would eventually open his heart to her. Now she understood how foolish she had been. Some people never change. Some hearts never move. Then another thought crossed her mind. Three months ago, Mendel's first love had returned from abroad. Ever since then, he had become even more distant than before. At first, Samantha tried not to think about it. She told herself she was overthinking things. But standing here now, listening to his accusations, she couldn't ignore the possibility anymore. Maybe this was never about Desmond. Maybe Mendel had simply been looking for a reason to end their marriage. A reason that would allow him to leave without feeling guilty. Samantha glanced at the clock on the living room wall again. The hands had already passed midnight, yet Mendel was nowhere to be seen. It was unusual. No matter how busy he was, Mendel always informed her if he had to stay late at work. Even when he forgot, his assistant would usually send a message on his behalf. Samantha had grown accustomed to waiting for him, but she had never been left completely in the dark like this. She lowered her eyes to her phone and looked at the message she had sent nearly an hour ago. You're not home yet? There was still no reply. Samantha sighed and put the phone down before picking it up again a few seconds later. Ever since their argument yesterday, Mendel had barely spoken to her. He had left the house early this morning without eating breakfast, and he hadn't answered any of her messages throughout the day. The memory of his cold expression before he left made her even more uneasy. "Madam, it's already very late," one of the maids said as she approached her. "You should go upstairs and get some rest. Mr. Maxwell is probably still busy with work. If he comes home, I'll let you know immediately." Samantha shook her head. "No, I'll wait a little longer." The maid looked as though she wanted to persuade her again, but eventually gave up and walked away. The living room fell silent. Samantha stared at her phone for several moments before opening Mendel's contact information. She told herself that he was probably in a meeting, that his phone might be on silent mode, or that he simply hadn't noticed her message. Still, none of those excuses eased the uneasiness in her chest. After hesitating for a few seconds, she pressed the call button. The ringtone sounded once. Twice. Then the call connected. Relief immediately washed over her. "Mendel, where are you? Do you know what time it is? I've been waiting for you all night." The words left her mouth quickly, but the response she received was not Mendel's voice. A woman laughed softly on the other end of the line. Samantha's expression froze. "Mendel can't answer right now." The smile on Samantha's face disappeared instantly. "Who is this?" "You don't recognize my voice?" The woman's tone carried a hint of amusement. At the same time, loud music could be heard in the background, along with the noise of people talking and laughing. Samantha's grip on the phone tightened. She knew exactly who it was. It was the woman who had returned from abroad three months ago. The woman Mendel had never forgotten. "Mendel is drunk," the woman continued casually. "He's lying beside me right now, so I answered the call for him." Samantha felt her throat tighten. "Put him on the phone." "I'm afraid that's impossible." "Why?" "Because he's asleep." Samantha closed her eyes briefly. "Then tell me where you are. I'll come and pick him up." There was a short pause before the woman laughed again. "You want to pick him up?" "He's my husband." The woman chuckled. "That's interesting." "What is?" "The way you still call him your husband as if that title means anything." Samantha ignored the remark. "Give me the address." "I don't remember it." "Then ask someone around you." "I'm too drunk to bother." Samantha immediately understood that the woman was lying. The address wasn't the problem. The woman simply didn't want her to know where they were. "Please tell him to come home," Samantha said, forcing herself to remain calm. "If he can't drive, he can take a taxi. I'll pay for it. Just ask him to come home." The woman remained silent for a moment. When she finally spoke again, her voice had become noticeably colder. "You know he loves me, don't you?" Samantha's heart skipped a beat. The woman continued before she could answer. "You've always known that. Even before you married him, you knew who he wanted." Samantha tightened her grip on the phone until her knuckles turned white. "Put him on the phone." "Why?" "Because I want to hear his answer." The woman laughed. "Samantha, you're really stubborn." "I said put him on the phone." Another silence followed. Then Samantha heard movement from the other end. A familiar voice sounded faintly in the background. Although she couldn't hear the words clearly, she recognized the voice immediately. It was Mendel. "Mendel!" Samantha sat upright. "Mendel, can you hear me?" The woman spoke again before he could respond. "He's not interested in talking right now." "Let me speak to him." "Why should I?" "Because he's my husband." The woman laughed so hard that Samantha could hear the mockery in every breath. "A husband who left his wife at home and spent the night with another woman?" Samantha felt her face lose color. The woman lowered her voice and said, "Let me tell you something, Samantha. If Mendel truly cared about your feelings, do you think he would be here with me right now?" Samantha opened her mouth, but no words came out. The woman continued mercilessly. "If he really loved you, he would have gone home hours ago. The fact that he's still here should tell you everything you need to know." Every word struck harder than the last. Samantha desperately wanted to argue. She wanted to tell the woman that Mendel was simply drunk, that he wasn't thinking clearly, and that things weren't what they seemed. But even she couldn't fully convince herself. After all, Mendel had ignored every message she sent. He had ignored every call. And right now, he was with another woman. "Please," Samantha said quietly. "Just ask him to come home." The woman sighed. For a brief moment, Samantha thought she might finally agree. Instead, the woman said, "You should stop waiting for a man whose heart has never belonged to you." The call ended immediately afterward.