Chasing Her Discarded Ex-husband

THE END OF "US"

ABEL BLACKWOOD'S POV

I open the trunk of my car and grab the bags of groceries and the red roses I had picked up for Vanessa before making my way towards the house. Getting close I notice that the front entrance is open. Which is odd because Vanessa said she'd be late today.

Or has she decided to surprise me by arriving home early for our anniversary. The thought sends warmth through me and I quicken my pace. This day is getting incredibly good to be true.

I hurry through the entryway and head straight for the kitchen first where I leave the groceries. Taking the bouquet of flowers, I head towards the living room where I am sure she will be.

I will share the good news about my job before going to prepare our anniversary dinner.

"Happy anniversary, love!” I call out as I step into the living room. Vanessa is lounged on one of the plush couches, dressed in her comfortable home attire, flipping through a business newspaper.

"I have something to tell you!" I say, walking toward her. She barely glances up at me.

I place the roses beside her.

"Is this for our anniversary?" I ask, spotting the expensive wine on the table. "You’re so f*****g amazing!"

"And you're not!” Vanessa snaps cutting through my enthusiasm like a knife. Have I done something to piss her off already?

"Okay, honey, sorry…” I murmur, finally noticing the seriousness in her expression.

Maybe once I share the news about my job, things will lighten up. I’m sure she’ll start to even love me again.

But before I can utter a word, the living room door swings open, and the last person I expect to see comes in wiping his hands on a drying towel.

It's my brother, Cyrus! Or to put it more appropriately, the man who’s been trying to steal my wife for as long as I can remember. He looks older, more polished than I recall, but it is him all the same. A smug grin spreads across his face when he sees me.

The joy I felt moments ago evaporates and I stand up bewildered. "What is he doing in our house?" I ask Vanessa.

"Our house?” she scoffs. “This is my house, and I am kicking your useless ass out.”

I stare at her, stunned. “Vanessa, what’s going on?”

She stands up from the couch and pours herself a glass of wine. “You heard me. Pack your little belongings and get the hell out of my property.” she says flatly

What? I’m speechless. “Why?”

“Because she’s better off with me,” Cyrus chimes in, a smug grin spreading across his face.

It’s the same old game. Since we were kids, he’s always tried to take what’s mine. I thought once we were no longer in the same house it would stop. But it's like his sole goal is to be wherever I am.

I clench my fists, wanting to punch the arrogant look right off his face. But I realize that fighting him will make me seem like an envious loser. He is here because Venessa let him be. There is little I can do about that.

“Please tell me you’re not seeing him, Vanessa?” I ask my wife, desperation creeping into my voice.

She ignores me and reaches into her purse on the couch, pulling out a stack of papers. She throws them on the table in front of me. I pick them up and scan the sheets, my heart sinking as I realize what they are.

A freaking divorce agreement?!

“Oh my God.”

“Don’t act so surprised, Abel,” she says coldly. “You have been nothing but a lazy maid throughout our marriage. I don't need you anymore.”

“What?” My voice cracks.

“I’m saying it’s over, Abel. Unless you want me print the words and give them to you.” she snaps.

My hands shake badly as I glare at the papers once again. Nothing could have prepared me for this, not even the fact that the past few weeks it has been obvious that she was not so much in love with me as before.

But how did we just get to the point that she is serving me divorce papers out of blue, without any explanation.

I have to take a sit on a couch to be able to get the next question out of my mouth.

"You . . . are divorcing me because you want to be with my brother?"

"He’s better man. Unlike you he has a real job. One that can help my brand," she answers coldly. "Face it. You are a disappointment. You have nothing to offer to me, Cyrus does," she adds.

"I too can be useful if you give me a chance. I got a talent that might be greatly useful to your brand," I plead, scared that this might be the end if I don't fight.

“You have got no talents, Abel. And I’ve made my decision,” she states. “Sign the damn papers and get the hell out of my house. Cyrus and I have a wonderful partnership to celebrate.”

Her bluntness leaves me speechless.

Cyrus smirks, leaning casually against the wall. "You had your chance, little brother. You wasted it."

He is right, Venessa made her decision and I know nothing will change no matter how much I plead. She doesn't know his true character, and won't believe me if I try to explain.

"You have thirty minutes to pack and leave before I ask the security to drag you out," she threatens.

"I would be running out if I were you," Cyrus mocks, his joy evident in his massive smirk.

I grudgingly turn and slowly make my way up the stairs and into our bedroom still trying to wrap my head around what just happened. He had texted her this morning, meaning all this was all premeditated.

I reach our bedroom and sink onto the bed. I couldn’t have imagined this, never in my wildest f*****g dreams would I have thought that I’d feel this type of pain.

"f**k love!" I mutter under my breath. All I ever did was love her, and this is how I’m repaid, getting kicked out like a worthless dog.

All I want right now is to go back down there and tell the two how evil they are. But instead I force myself up and gather my few belongings into a single duffel bag. I remove the expensive watch she gifted me on my 29th birthday and place it on her dresser, along with the car keys. I take one last look around the room before striding out into the wide hallway. Halfway down the stairs, I hear Cyrus' honeyed voice.

"I promise I'll do more than just warm your bed and cook, unlike that loser." I don't wait to hear Vanessa's reply. I know it will only break my heart more.

I descend the rest of the stairs to find the two of them seated close together on the large couch, sipping the expensive wine. One of her gate's security guards is also in the room. Seems she wasn't even planning on giving me the thirty minutes she promised.

"Is that all you own?" Cyrus asks with a mocking laugh glancing down at my single bag.

"Escort him out." Venessa orders the security guard, tearing her gaze away from me.

I don't resist as the older man motions for me to move, he follows closely behind until I am out of the main entrance. It has started to drizzle. Of course, I couldn't be homeless on any other day.

The only thing I am thankful for right now is that I at least have a job to look forward too.

VANESSA STERLING'S POV

"So, you said I’ll never get to meet your mysterious stay-at-home husband? I've been dying to see what he looks like!"

My close friend Aubrey says as the young male waiter refills our wine glasses.

I wait for the waiter to move out of earshot before I respond. "You won’t. I divorced him yesterday.”

Aubrey’s eyes widen. “Wait, what? I always wondered why someone as beautiful and successful as you would marry a... well, a loser."

Aubrey, my parents and a few more close friends were the only ones who knew about my relationship with Abel, and I am so glad she never met him. He was a mistake I’d rather not talk about.

I shrug and quickly change the subject. "So, what’s with the sudden invite?" We usually stick to meeting on weekends, but she texted me in the middle of a crazy week.

Her face lights up, and she leans closer, grinning from ear to ear. “You won’t believe it! My agency is about to blow up! I hired this stunning male model, he is absolutely stunning! I'm telling you, all the top fashion brands will be fighting to book him!"

Aubrey runs Fashion Finesse, the modeling agency her billionaire father started. Just yesterday, they were auditioning new models.

"Beauty doesn't automatically make someone a good model, Aubrey. It takes more than just a pretty face to sell clothes." I tell. " Your model also needs to have presence, charisma, the ability to sell the clothes to the camera, not just a pretty face."

I've had my fair share of a handsome men, Abel was as beautiful as he was worthless.

"Well, I'm sure this one has all that," Aubrey insist. " I could barely take my eyes off him during the audition."

I smirk. “Sounds like someone’s got a crush.”

Aubrey blushes slightly but then laughs, shaking her head.

"Maybe a little. I mean, he's undeniably gorgeous, but he needs to be successful too if he wants to catch my eye."

I laugh, admiring her high standards. Aubrey is definitely not the type to settle for just looks.

I would consider taking the handsome male model she's talking about but my brand is doing well, and Cyrus's new beautiful designs are mostly for women.