Aubrie stared at me in shock. "Gabriel, divorce isn't something you joke about. If Catherine did something wrong, tell me. We'll talk some sense into her. Asking for a divorce out of the blue is hurtful. You can't toss that word around."
I frowned and set down my cutlery. "It's nothing dramatic. I just don't love her anymore, and I don't want to waste time. Don't bother trying to talk me out of it. I'm done with this marriage. I can't stand even a minute more of this."
Catherine's throat tightened. Her eyes were red as she looked at me. "Honey, what did I do wrong? Tell me. I don't believe you don't love me. Just tell me, and I'll change. If you don't want me spending your money, I swear… I swear I won't touch a single cent of yours again."
The moment Aubrie heard it was about money, her expression soured.
Daxton hurried over and pulled me aside. He said, "Aubrie, Jordan, don't get upset. There are some things he can't say in front of you. Let me talk to him."
Once we entered his bedroom, he locked the door and looked at me with concern. "Alright, Gabriel, what's going on? Tell me whatever's hard to say. I know you're not the type to act out like this. Something must be wrong."
My relationship with Daxton was typical. It was nothing more than the usual, perfectly normal dynamic between brothers-in-law.
I knew he had lost his wife early in life, never remarried, and had been living with Aubrie and Jordan ever since. So whenever I traveled, worked out, or needed company, I would invite him along to unwind.
I was debating whether to tell him the truth, but then I accidentally noticed something on the chair next to the balcony. A small device that looked like a cup.
Inside it was a used condom, still smeared with cloudy residue.
Daxton followed my gaze, and his face instantly flushed. He rushed to hide the thing in the nightstand.
In his panic, he knocked over the contents of the drawer. A nearly full box of brand-new condoms rolled to my feet.
He snatched it up quickly. "Please don't misunderstand. You know… Mildred passed early. All these years, I still can't forget her. I don't plan on finding someone new, but physically… a man still has needs.
"I just worry about hygiene and getting sick, so I bought some better-quality ones. Please don't tell Aubrie and Jordan. I don't want them thinking I'm being improper."
I glanced at his embarrassed expression, and the words I meant to say caught in my throat.
"I get it. Go on."
He patted my shoulder. "No, you haven't told me anything yet. Why bring up a divorce? What can't be fixed?"
I gave him a brief look. "There's nothing to fix. I just can't do this anymore."
Outside the door, we could hear Aubrie sobbing. "How did our family end up with someone this selfish? He wants a divorce over the cost of some supplements."
She tearfully said, "We've treated you well all these years. You said you wanted to focus on your career, and we didn't complain once about having no grandchildren after five years of marriage.
"You're gone on business trips for half a month at a time, and everything in the house and everything involving both families has always fallen on Catherine's shoulders. She's handled it all for years, and not once has she complained.
"Every month, she gives you her whole paycheck and bonus. And instead of caring about her health, you want to divorce her over some supplements? What kind of heartless husband are you?"
Beside her, Catherine couldn't hold back her tears. She bit her lip and suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me. "I'm sorry, honey. Is it because the heart supplements were expensive? Are you worried my health will get worse and burden you later, so you want a divorce?
"Please don't. I'll take care of myself, I'll work hard. I won't drag you down. Please, I'm begging you. Don't divorce me."
Tears streamed down her face as she held my hand tightly, bowing her head in a desperate plea.
Daxton looked shocked. "Gabriel, you're divorcing her because of that? She's your wife. You don't care about her health, and now you even see her as a burden?"
