He Gave Me the Things His Mistress Didn't Want

For so many years, I had never received birthday gifts from my husband, Donald Hernandez, but on the day, I finally received one, it just so happened I saw what his assistant had posted on her Instagram Feed. [A worn-out relic is a perfect match for a second-hand match. As for me, naturally, I deserve to have only the best one!

Her post was accompanied by a photo of an exquisite luxurious jade necklace.

Then I opened my birthday gift. Inside of it, I only found a worn-out diamond necklace.

As I glanced back and forth between the assistant's post and the secondhand necklace in my hand, it suddenly struck me that the thing that I cherish beyond measure was nothing more than a second-rate trash to someone else. On top of that, the man I had loved for more than ten years thought that all I deserved to get was a cheap used trinket.

Donald saw me as the ever-loyal, unchanging lapdog, who would always be at his beck and call.

However, he was more than welcome to find someone else to be his dog. I was done playing that part.

——

Later that night, the slightly tipsy Donald came home. He was supported by Olivia Perez, his assistant. When Olivia saw me, she ordered me like she was the hostess, "Hurry up and make some hangover soup for Mr. Hernandez! Otherwise, he will feel horrible later on."

I stayed in my place and did not do anything except look at them coldly.

Under my cold gaze, Donald felt uneasy so he shouted at me, "Why are you still standing there? I have been working so hard for this family's sake. I even have to drink and socialize and this is how you treat me when I get home? Even my assistant knows better. Do you want to stay married to me or not?"

In the past, I would have rushed to make the hangover soup, afraid even a slight delay would cause him discomfort. However, now? I did not care. I slammed the divorce papers right in his face.

"No! I don't want to do this anymore. You can divorce me. If your little assistant is so considerate, she can look after you for twenty-four seven."

Donald was stunned. After a while, he bent down to pick up the divorce papers from the floor. The two of them, who had been practically glued to each other since they entered, finally pulled apart.

"What’s with this nonsense again? Can't you stop being so paranoid? It was just a working event. I was just socializing. What kind of man would put up with this?" He rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration as he said that.

"What kind of man wants to come home after working so hard outside all day only to be nagged by his old wife with a face smeared with kitchen grease?" he sneered.

Olivia, pretended to be concerned, then said, "How can you act like this? Mr. Hernandez just gave you a birthday gift yesterday but you're causing a scene today."

She held her chest out, flaunting the jade necklace around her neck, as if she was scared I would miss the opportunity to see it. She then mocked me, "Don’t take your blessings for granted. You might say that you don't want a man like Mr. Hernandez, but do you have any idea how many women would line up for a man like Mr. Hernandez?"

Faced with her provocation, I suddenly found it all meaningless.

"Well, why don't you keep him then?" I shot back. "So the two of you don't have to sneak around under the disguise of working together. It's nauseating."

I must have struck a nerve because both of their expressions flickered.

Donald glared at me, there was pure disdain in his eyes. "I'm an honest man, don't you slander me for the things I don't do. Do you think everyone like you who doing nothing but making the assumption that I'm having an affair? Well, I have nothing to hide. Olivia just closed a huge deal for the company and I bought her a necklace as a thank-you gift. What’s wrong with that?"

He continued, "At least she cares about your feelings enough to give you her favorite necklace. Yet, what do you do? Just complain and make a scene. I don't have time for your nonsense, I'm busy running a business here."

His disdainful gaze swept over me. "All you do is compare yourself to others. Look at you! You look worn out and old. How dare you compare yourself to someone like her?"

A chill swept over me. It was as if he had forgotten everything, I had done for him.

In the early days of his company, I was the one pulling late-night strings, making connections and landing deals. I even lost a child while we both worked tirelessly to get the business off the ground. At the time, he held me as tears streamed down his face, saying, "Isabela, I’m sorry. I’ll work hard so you can enjoy life and have everything you deserve, making you the person everyone is envious of the most. We’ll have another child and you’ll be the happiest, most wonderful mother. I’ll be the best father."

Then, he worked even harder. He often went home after dark, tired to the bone.

Seeing him like that, I felt sorry for him and then decided to retreat into the background by managing the household and taking care of everything in his life for him.

I always had hangover soup ready, making sure he had the perfect clothes and preparing the best gifts for his business dinners. I did everything for our family. My world revolved around Hernandez.

He used to proudly tell others that I was his perfect wife. Now, everything I had done had become the very reasons he despised me. He called me an outdated, worthless woman.

Without sparing me another glance, he left with Olivia.

"I've worked hard all day. I’m too exhausted to waste my time arguing with you when I get home. Think about what you really want."

The divorce papers lay abandoned on the floor and I was left alone in the empty villa. I crumpled to the ground, unable to stop the silent tears from pouring down my face.

I could never become the happiest mother and Donald would never be the good father he once promised to be.