[It was me who called him. So, how does it feel? Does it sting? I acted just a little coquettish, and he came rushing to my side while you... despite all your efforts, couldn’t keep him.]
[For the past year, every night he hasn’t been home, he’s been with me.]
[He told me to have this child. After all these years together, you couldn’t give him one, and he’s been wanting a divorce for a long time.]
I didn’t know if her words were true, but they still sent a cold shiver through my chest.
I saved every screenshot of her messages, though I already knew the painful truth.
The man I’d loved for eight years was nothing more than a skilled actor.
I could no longer distinguish his true self from the lies.
After everything, I picked up the phone and called my childhood friend.
"Faye, about the store you mentioned before... is it still possible for me to join?"
"Of course! We’re short-handed at the moment, and having you on board would be like adding wings to a tiger! But didn’t you say you weren’t interested before? What changed?"
She had invited me a year ago.
Back then, Saul and I had been trying to conceive while his career was just starting to climb.
I only wanted to stay behind the scenes, supporting him quietly, but it seemed like I had been playing the fool.
"Well... I was foolish before. Now, I’ve finally woken up," I said.
Faye Barlowe caught the meaning in my voice.
"Did you and Saul have a fight? What did he do?"
I didn’t try to hide anything. "I’m going to divorce him."
"Do you remember what we said back then, Faye?"
She stayed silent for a long moment, then replied softly.
"I remember. If you’re unhappy, I’ll take you away."
"But what about the child?"
I wiped away a tear and managed a sad smile.
"My child will never want a father like him. I won’t allow it."
"Saul can’t trap me, not anymore."
As I looked around at what was left, all I could take were the jewelry pieces he’d bought me over the years.
From humble beginnings to the glittering treasures of later years, each one could be traded for enough money to start fresh.
The day I left, everything seemed ordinary.
Saul and I shared breakfast, just like so many mornings before.
He looked at me, his smile warm and familiar. I returned it with one of my own.
Before I could leave, he reached out, pinching my cheek gently.
"Why are you so cute today, hmm?"
"I just keep liking you more and more," I teased, my smile growing as I brushed his hand away.
But as I studied his face, a chill settled deep in me.
This face, though older and more mature, was the same as the one I had known.
In his eyes and brows, I could still see the young Saul, the one from eight years ago.
The nineteen-year-old Saul would pull me close on rainy days, his arms a shield against the storm.
He would slip my cold hand inside his sleeve on winter nights, keeping me warm.
That nineteen-year-old Saul had loved me, and I had never doubted it.
The twenty-three-year-old Saul used to bring me late-night snacks after long days at work, his thoughtfulness never wavering despite his packed schedule.
He would take care of everything, ensuring I never had to lift a finger, even when his own time was scarce.
That twenty-three-year-old Saul had married me, and without hesitation, I had said yes.
But now, as I stood there, I couldn’t help but wonder—how had we ended up here?
Love had been real, but betrayal? That was all too real, too.
Saul seemed to sense my confusion, his hand reaching out to gently rub my head, offering me a fleeting moment of comfort.
He pressed a soft kiss to my lips, his voice filled with that same care I had always known.
"Wife, the company’s a bit busy today, but I’ll try my best to make it back for dinner. Wait for me, okay?"
I nodded, offering a smile that felt almost foreign.
But once he was gone, I didn’t feel like waiting anymore. I began packing my things.
Before I left, the maid asked what to prepare for dinner.
I shook my head, my voice soft but firm, telling her not to bother.
