After The Betrayal, His Uncle Claimed Me

ELISE I knew something was wrong when my phone buzzed but I just didn’t want to admit it. Three years of marriage teaches you things about a person, the way they breath, when they are lying, and when they are ignoring you. I had learned all about Damien, I just stopped bothering along the line. Today was our anniversary, and he wasn’t home. I had spent the entire afternoon getting ready not because he asked me to but because I still wanted to try even though he stopped trying years ago. I wore the ivory dress I got six months ago specifically for this. Lit the twelve candles from a little shop at Reece street that Damien said smelled like mother’s house. I prepared his favorite meal, Braised short ribs with potatoes using the secret recipe his mother has given me when we met. I set the table properly and put on the song we had danced to on our wedding day. Then I sat down and waited. I didn’t want to call him because I knew if I did, he’d answer on the fourth ring with that easy going voice of his and give me an explanation so good that I’d end up apologizing for doubting him. Seven pm. Eight. Nine but he was nowhere to be seen. The candles went off and the song played five times on repeat. A tired sigh escaped my lips as my eyes found the clock. It was exactly eleven forty seven with no calls or text from him. A sigh escaped my lips as I rose to my feet. “He’s probably stuck in a meeting,” I told myself. I blew off the last candle standing and began to clear the table when my phone buzzed. I thought it was Damien, sending his usual apology of being booked up but it wasn’t him. My face scrunched up in annoyance as I stared at the unknown number. No name, no greeting. Just a video file and two photographs. With an eye roll, I made to drop the phone when suddenly, two more pictures were sent. My stomach dipped in anxiety, I could almost tell something was wrong. Every reasonable part of me said not to open it but I ignored. The video was eleven seconds long. It contained a well lit room, white sheets and the loud moans of a woman whose voice I was trying to decipher. But what stunned me most was the side profile of the man whom I have spent majority of the day waiting for, the man whom I had not received a single call or text from all day despite it being our anniversary. Damien Ashford——my beloved husband. My heart raced frantically in my chest but I held firmly onto the phone, my eyes refusing to look away. The face of the woman came into view and she winked with a satisfied smile on her lips. Then her voice, barely above a whisper. "Do you like her better than me?" A low laugh erupted from him. “Not even close.” I knew her face. Vanessa Laurent, I had met her twice at Ashford company events. She had shaken my hand both times and smiled like she meant it and had always given me information on Damien whenever I needed it. Despite my racing heart, my fingers moved toward the pictures. They were at dinner, his hand in between her legs with her head on his shoulder. But what caused bile to rise up my throat was the timestamp on it. One year ago. My legs gave way and i fell to the ground, burying my head in my lap as I struggled to control my raging emotions, fighting back the tears that threatened to drop. Soon, my phone buzzed again and with my heart thudding frantically in my chest in fear, I picked up the phone and checked. This time it was from him. A voice note. I pressed play. "Sorry about tonight, El. Running late at the gala. Don't wait up. Make sure to check the news in a couple of hours. Wink. Happy anniversary — love you." Anger coursed through me and I grabbed the table cloth, dragging it down along with everything else on it. Wanting to drown the rage I was feeling, I made my way to the bedroom, picked up my keys and ended up at a bar. Without wasting a second, I immediately ordered for a whiskey and chugged two glasses down my throat, my face twisting as the liquid burned my throat. Then suddenly, my phone lit up again. A new notification. Damien’s face came up on the screen, he was standing on a podium, his smile so wide it nearly reached his ears. In honor of my wife, whom I love dearly, who inspires everything i do, I open this foundation “Forever Elise” for public use. The comments buzzed with love, everyone wishing to experience this type of love someday. My gaze hardened and a loud scoff left my lips. I remember he had told me about opening a foundation in my name a couple of months back and had said I’d find out more about it on our anniversary. Who would have thought my three years with Damien was nothing but a charade. I chugged down another glass of drink before picking up my phone. I immediately called Ivy who picked up on the second ring. “Elise,” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. “It’s past midnight.” “Draft a divorce document for me immediately.” I heard her sit up. “What are you talking about El? Divorce for you and Damien?” Silence ensued. “I’m coming over immediately.” “No, don’t. I’m not home.” “Then explain to me what’s happening El. You clearly love him and he loves you dearly and he has shown that in so many ways. He literally would never hurt you, I mean I have seen how scared he is of hurting you. What’s happening?” My head rolled backward and a loud dark chuckle escaped my lips. “Oh Ivy, he loves me and he’s sticking his p***s into various women.” “El, you can’t be too sure of that. Why not talk this out with…” “Enough Ivy. I don’t want to hear it. Process the divorce like I asked. I’ll be expecting it by sunrise.”