"This new treatment carries certain risks—I might not make it. So I need you to help me tell a little lie to my parents."
"Tell them I died from cancer. If the treatment actually works, I'll come back and give them the surprise of their lives."
I frowned at this.
"You really think they'll buy that?"
"Trust me, my parents are easy to fool. If they insist on seeing my body, just tell them I didn't want them to grieve over a corpse—that I asked you to have me cremated at the funeral home, and you scattered my ashes in the ocean per my final wishes."
"You've really thought this through."
"Tomorrow, let's go finalize the divorce. Then I'll head overseas for treatment."
"You're just going abroad for medical care, not marching off to war. Is divorce really necessary?"
"My junior from college said there's a new policy over there—single men get a discount on the experimental treatment."
"Babe, I'm just trying to save us money. Can't you understand that? Besides, it's only a fake divorce, not a real one. Once I'm better, I'll come back and we'll get remarried."
"If it's for your own good, I won't argue."
"Thanks, babe. You're the best. I love you so much."
Seeing me agree, Corey finally broke into a smile. He cupped my face in his hands and planted a quick kiss on my lips.
The next morning, we went to the county clerk's office and signed the divorce papers.
He said he needed to meet up with his college junior to discuss the overseas treatment arrangements.
Then he left.
Less than thirty minutes later, that same junior of his posted a new video.
"Thanks for all your suggestions, everyone! My dreamy senior successfully faked being sick and escaped his wife's clutches. We've booked our tickets and we're off to Hawaii for vacation!"
"I've been waiting for this day for SO long. Once we get to Hawaii, I'll be posting regular updates about me and my perfect senior."
"Stay tuned to witness our happiness!"
The video included several photos.
No faces were shown, but their fingers were intertwined.
I could clearly see the watch on the man's wrist—the same watch I had personally picked out and given to Corey for his birthday.
If yesterday I only suspected, now I was certain.
The "dreamy senior" she kept gushing about was my husband, Corey Henson.
In that moment, it felt like a boulder had been dropped onto my chest.
I could barely breathe.
We'd been married for years. Happy years. Loving years.
Never once had I imagined that one day he would betray me—with some college junior, no less.
Corey didn't come home that night.
He texted to say he was finalizing the treatment plans with his junior. They'd be boarding their flight first thing in the morning.
I asked if he wanted me to see him off at the airport.
He said there was no need.
After that, my messages sank into silence. No replies.
I set down my phone and drew a long breath.
By now, he was probably tangled up with her somewhere.
If I kept bothering him, I'd just look pathetic.
I lay awake the entire night.
The next day, Corey and his junior appeared at the airport.
Arm in arm. Laughing. Whispering.
Sharing a single cookie between them.
Unable to walk two steps without nuzzling each other.
The way they clung together—they looked more like a married couple than we ever had.
The cruelest part? They walked right past me.
Corey didn't even notice I was there.
I kept my expression blank as I filmed every moment.
Only after they boarded and the plane pulled away from the gate did I finally head home.
Meanwhile, the junior had already posted another update.
The photo showed two hands clasped together as they boarded.
"Attention everyone—me and my dreamy senior are officially taking off!"
