The Ex-Wife He Couldn't Forget

Leave him for Me

"Mendel!"

Samantha called out the moment she entered the bar.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it immediately attracted attention because she looked completely out of place among the elegantly dressed guests.

She had rushed out of the house the moment Desmond helped her locate Mendel's whereabouts. In her hurry, she hadn't bothered to change her clothes. She was still wearing her sleeping pajamas and house slippers. Her hair was tied carelessly with a sleep band, and her face was completely bare.

She looked nothing like the wealthy wife of the Hartstone family.

All eyes turned toward her.

Some people looked surprised.

Others simply laughed.

Samantha ignored them and searched the room until her eyes landed on Mendel.

The worry she had been carrying all night finally eased when she saw him.

He was fine.

Perfectly fine.

Several wine bottles and glasses were scattered across the round table in front of him, but Mendel didn't look drunk at all. He was sitting comfortably among his friends, looking far different from the image Amanda had painted over the phone.

For a moment, Samantha froze.

Then she walked toward him.

"Mendel."

The smile on her face was mixed with relief.

"Thank God you're okay."

The moment she reached the table, an awkward silence spread among the group.

One of the men looked at Samantha, then at Mendel.

"Wait a second."

He squinted as if trying to confirm something.

"Is she your wife?"

The table burst into laughter.

Mendel's expression immediately darkened.

He lowered his head and rubbed his forehead.

Of all the things he expected tonight, Samantha appearing here dressed like this wasn't one of them.

"I thought Amanda was joking whenever she talked about your wife."

Another man stared openly at Samantha.

"Honestly, I thought your wife would be much prettier."

A woman sitting beside Amanda nodded.

"Same here."

One of the men shook his head dramatically.

"Mendel, I really don't understand you."

"What?"

"You left Amanda and married her?"

The man pointed openly at Samantha.

"Have your eyes always been this bad?"

Laughter erupted around the table.

Amanda lowered her gaze modestly, but the smile she was trying to hide was impossible to miss.

Another man joined in.

"Forget beauty. Look at how she's dressed."

His eyes moved from Samantha's pajamas to her slippers.

"Did she run here straight from bed?"

"Looks like it."

Someone else laughed.

"I've seen wives chase after their husbands before, but this is the first time I've seen one show up dressed like she's taking out the trash."

More laughter followed.

"People would think you're abusing your wife if they saw her looking like that."

The nasty comments continued around the table, and although some of them appeared to be directed at Mendel, it was obvious that the real target was Samantha.

Every joke, every sarcastic remark, and every burst of laughter was aimed at her.

Amanda finally decided to speak.

"Everyone, stop saying things like that. We don't even know why she came here looking like this."

Her words sounded kind and considerate, but the smile on her face made Samantha feel otherwise. Amanda looked more satisfied than sympathetic. It was as though she was enjoying every second of Samantha's humiliation.

Kane immediately laughed.

"That's exactly why you're such a good person, Amanda."

Several others nodded in agreement.

"He's right. Most women wouldn't be able to stay calm after what happened."

"Especially when she was the one who ended up marrying Mendel."

"Yet you're still defending her."

Amanda lowered her gaze modestly before saying, "There's no point talking about the past anymore."

Her response only earned her more praise.

"You see? That's class."

"Not everyone can be like Amanda."

"No wonder Mendel was crazy about her."

The laughter resumed.

Samantha lowered her eyes and remained silent.

As much as she hated to admit it, she suddenly became aware of how she looked. She had rushed out of the house the moment she heard Amanda's words over the phone. She hadn't changed her clothes, fixed her hair, or even looked in a mirror before leaving.

Standing among people dressed in expensive clothes, she looked completely out of place.

For the first time since arriving, Samantha felt embarrassed.

She hadn't meant to cause a scene.

She had only been worried about her husband.

Unfortunately, nobody here cared about her reason for coming.

All they saw was a woman who looked ridiculous.

A sharp sound suddenly interrupted the conversation.

Mendel had placed his glass down on the table with enough force to make everyone fall silent.

His expression was already unpleasant before Samantha arrived, but now it looked even worse.

Without saying a word to anyone, he stood up and walked toward her.

The closer he got, the more Samantha realized how angry he was.

"Mendel..."

Before she could say anything else, he grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the table.

The people behind them immediately began whispering among themselves.

Mendel ignored them.

He continued walking until they reached a quieter part of the bar where their conversation couldn't easily be overheard.

Only then did he release her arm.

The moment he turned around, Samantha was met with a face full of irritation.

"Did you come here on purpose just to humiliate me?"

The accusation caught her completely off guard.

"What are you talking about?"

Mendel stared at her as though the answer should have been obvious.

"Look at yourself. You walked into a place like this wearing pajamas and slippers. Do you have any idea what people are saying right now?"

Samantha blinked in surprise.

She had expected him to ask why she came.

She had expected him to ask if something was wrong.

Instead, the first thing he cared about was being embarrassed.

"I didn't come here to humiliate you."

"Then why are you here?"

The question came out sharply.

Samantha looked at him and answered honestly.

"I came because I was worried about you."

Mendel let out a cold laugh.

"Worried about me?"

"Yes."

Samantha nodded.

"When I called your phone, Amanda answered."

The moment Amanda's name was mentioned, Mendel's expression changed.

Samantha continued before he could interrupt her.

"She told me you were drunk. She said she might take you to a hotel because you couldn't make it home tonight. I thought something had happened, so I came to pick you up."

Instead of understanding her concern, Mendel's face became even colder.

"Don't drag Amanda into this."

Samantha frowned.

"I'm not dragging her into anything. She was the one who answered your phone."

"That doesn't mean she said what you're claiming."

Samantha stared at him in disbelief.

"Why would I make something like that up?"

"Because you've never liked her."

The answer came so naturally that Samantha almost laughed.

Not because she found it funny.

Because she couldn't believe he actually thought that.

"Mendel, she really said those words."

"Amanda wouldn't do that."

"She did."

"No."

His voice became firm.

"Amanda is kind. She's considerate. She's not the type of person who would deliberately create misunderstandings."

Samantha felt her chest tighten.

Once again, Amanda was innocent.

Once again, Samantha was the liar.

No matter what happened, Mendel always chose to believe Amanda first.

"But that's exactly what happened."

"I've had enough of this."

Mendel cut her off before she could continue.

"Can't you do the right thing for once? Every time something happens, you find a way to make it worse."

Samantha looked at him in shock.

She had come here because she was worried.

She had spent hours waiting for him at home.

She had rushed across the city because she thought he was drunk and vulnerable.

Yet somehow she was still the one at fault.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

Then Mendel's eyes drifted downward.

His gaze landed on her stomach.

The atmosphere immediately changed.

Samantha instinctively placed her hand over her abdomen.

The argument about Amanda suddenly became insignificant compared to what she knew was coming next.

Mendel looked at her stomach before speaking.

"Have you made a decision?"

Samantha already knew what he was referring to.

Her expression hardened.

"Yes."

Mendel waited.

"I'm keeping the baby."

The answer made his face darken instantly.

"Samantha."

"I'm keeping the baby."

She repeated the words without hesitation.

"I don't want an abortion."

Mendel stared at her for several seconds before speaking again.

This time, his voice was colder than before.

"I wasn't asking for your consent."

Samantha felt a chill run through her.

"What?"

"I said I wasn't asking for your consent."

He took a step closer.

"That fetus needs to be aborted."

"How many times do I have to tell you that this is your child?"

Samantha looked straight into Mendel's eyes as she asked the question. She was exhausted from repeating the same explanation over and over again, yet her husband refused to believe a single word she said.

Mendel let out a mocking laugh.

"You really think I'm stupid?"

His eyes dropped to her stomach before returning to her face.

"Tell me, Samantha, how could you possibly be pregnant with my child when I never slept with you?"

Samantha clenched her fists.

Every time he said those words, it felt like he was deliberately erasing what had happened.

"You forgot already?"

Mendel frowned.

"Forgot what?"

"The night you came home drunk three months ago."

Samantha stared at him without backing down.

"You walked into my room and forced yourself into my bed. You were drunk and refused to listen to anything I said."

Mendel's expression darkened immediately.

"Watch your mouth."

"I'm telling the truth."

"No, you're making up stories."

Samantha laughed bitterly.

"Making up stories?"

"Yes."

Mendel's voice was firm.

"I never entered your room. I never touched you. Whatever fantasy you've created in your head has nothing to do with me."

Samantha couldn't believe what she was hearing.

That night was still clear in her memory.

Mendel had returned home drunk.

He had insisted that she take care of him.

He had taken her innocence without giving her a choice.

Then, after everything was over, he had simply left.

He didn't stay.

He didn't talk to her.

He walked out of her room as though she were a stranger he had paid for a service.

Yet now he was acting as if none of it had happened.

Before Samantha could respond, Amanda's voice suddenly echoed from inside the VIP room.

"Mendel! The food you ordered is here!"

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Mendel looked toward the room before turning back to Samantha.

He looked impatient.

As if this conversation had already wasted too much of his time.

"Go home."

Samantha shook her head.

"No."

Mendel frowned.

"What do you mean no?"

"Come home with me."

She stepped closer and grabbed his wrist.

"You've already had enough to drink. Let's go home."

For a brief moment, Mendel looked at the hand holding his arm.

Then he slowly removed it.

The expression on his face became colder than before.

"You don't get to tell me what to do."

"Mendel—"

"I've tolerated enough from you."

His voice was low, but every word was sharp.

"You embarrassed me tonight, and I'm not in the mood to argue anymore."

Samantha's heart sank.

"Mendel, please listen to me."

"I am listening."

"No, you're not."

Mendel ignored her protest.

Instead, he looked directly at her stomach and delivered his ultimatum.

"Tomorrow we're going to the gynecologist."

Samantha's face immediately turned pale.

"What for?"

"You know exactly what for."

"No."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"No, Mendel."

His expression remained unchanged.

"You have two choices."

Samantha stared at him.

"Either you abort that child tomorrow..."

He paused deliberately.

"...or you divorce me."

For a moment, Samantha thought she had heard wrong.

The words sounded unreal.

She looked at the man she had loved for ten years and suddenly felt as though she was looking at a stranger.

"Mendel..."

"You heard me."

"This is your child."

"I said what I said."

"You can't ask me to do that."

"I can."

His voice carried no hesitation.

"Choose one. The abortion or the divorce."

Samantha felt her throat tighten.

She wanted to say something.

She wanted to make him understand.

But before she could speak, Mendel had already turned around.

Without another glance, he walked back toward the private room where Amanda was waiting.

Samantha remained where she was.

She watched his retreating figure until he disappeared behind the door.

At that moment, she finally understood something.

Mendel had already made his choice.

And it wasn't her.

A few moments later, a familiar voice sounded behind her.

"You see now?"

Samantha turned around.

Amanda was standing there with a smile on her face.

The fake kindness she had shown earlier was completely gone.

"You still don't understand your place, do you?"

Samantha stared at her silently.

Amanda crossed her arms and laughed.

"Mendel loves me."

The confidence in her voice was unbearable.

"When you called him earlier, he wasn't even with me. He had gone to the restroom."

Samantha's eyes narrowed.

Amanda smiled even wider.

"I answered the phone on purpose."

The confession made Samantha freeze.

"I saw your name on the screen, and I couldn't resist."

Amanda took a step forward.

"I wanted you to know exactly where you stood."

"You lied to me."

"Of course I did."

There wasn't a trace of guilt in Amanda's voice.

"I wanted you to come here."

Amanda's smile became colder.

"I wanted you to see for yourself who matters more."

Samantha remained silent.

Amanda continued mercilessly.

"All these years, you kept pretending you were Mendel's wife."

She laughed.

"But look at what happened tonight."

"He chose me."

Amanda leaned closer.

"In Mendel's eyes, you're nothing but a burden."

The words landed one after another.

"You're an obstacle."

"A mistake."

"A woman he can't wait to get rid of."

Amanda looked Samantha up and down before sneering.

"Honestly, you're cheaper than a prostitute. At least men willingly pay prostitutes for their company."

Samantha's hands slowly tightened at her sides.

Amanda didn't notice.

Or perhaps she didn't care.

"If I were you, I'd stop torturing myself."

She smirked.

"Sign the divorce papers and disappear from his life."

Amanda laughed when she saw the expression on Samantha's face.

"I didn't lie to you."

Her voice was filled with arrogance.

Samantha looked at her coldly.

"You told me Mendel was drunk."

"He was drinking."

"You said you were taking him to a hotel."

Amanda shrugged.

"I said maybe."

Samantha clenched her fists.

Amanda clearly wasn't feeling guilty.

Instead, she looked proud of herself.

"How was I supposed to know Mendel would suddenly ask me to stay and drink with him?" Amanda said with a smile. "If you want to blame someone, blame your husband. Not me."

Samantha stared at her silently.

Amanda's smile widened.

The silence only encouraged her.

"Oh, right. There's one more thing I think you deserve to know."

Samantha frowned.

Amanda took a step closer.

"You've been wondering why Mendel suddenly became suspicious of you, haven't you?"

Samantha's heart sank.

"What do you mean?"

Amanda crossed her arms.

"I knew you were pregnant."

The smile on her face became even more smug.

"I found out before Mendel did."

Samantha's eyes narrowed.

Amanda continued without hesitation.

"I was the one who told him you were cheating on him with Desmond."

For a moment, Samantha thought she had misheard.

"What?"

"You heard me."

Amanda didn't even try to deny it.

"I told Mendel that you and Desmond were having an affair."

Samantha stared at her in disbelief.

"You..."

"And those photographs?"

Amanda laughed.

"I was the one who gave them to him."

Samantha felt her anger rising.

The arguments.

The accusations.

The humiliation.

Everything started because of Amanda.

Yet this woman was standing here proudly admitting it.

"Why?"

The question escaped Samantha's lips.

Amanda looked genuinely surprised.

"Why?"

She laughed.

"Do I really need to explain it?"

"You deliberately ruined my marriage."

"Your marriage?"

Amanda sneered.

"Mendel never loved you."

The words were cruel.

Amanda knew exactly where to strike.

"You stole a position that should have been mine."

"I didn't steal anything."

"Really?"

Amanda's eyes became cold.

"If I hadn't gone abroad, do you think you would have had a chance?"

Samantha remained silent.

Amanda stepped closer.

"You should be grateful that I tolerated you for this long."

"You're insane."

"No."

Amanda shook her head confidently.

"I'm simply taking back what belongs to me."

Samantha looked at her as though she were seeing her for the first time.

This was the real Amanda.

Not the elegant woman everyone admired.

Not the gentle woman Mendel always defended.

This woman was calculating.

Manipulative.

And proud of it.

Amanda leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"If you want to live peacefully, take my advice."

Samantha said nothing.

"Leave Mendel."

Amanda's smile returned.

"Divorce him and disappear from his life."

"And if I don't?"

Amanda's expression darkened.

For the first time, the friendliness completely vanished from her face.

"If you don't..."

She paused deliberately.

"...then you'll find out how far I'm willing to go."

Samantha looked directly into her eyes.

Amanda didn't look away.

In fact, she seemed confident.

Too confident.

"I managed to make Mendel hate you this much already," Amanda said softly. "What makes you think I can't make him hate you even more?"

The threat hung heavily between them.

Amanda smiled one last time before turning around.

"Oh, and Samantha?"

Samantha didn't answer.

Amanda glanced over her shoulder.

"You should make your decision quickly."

Her smile became colder.

"Because next time, I might not be this nice."

With that, Amanda walked away.