Married to a Cheater, Reborn After Divorce

When I'm paying the pension for my jobless wife, Lilith Ingram, I accidentally find out that she's had a job this whole time.

She's paid a salary of two thousand dollars, which is wired into her personal bank account. Every month, the money will be transferred elsewhere, leaving her without a single cent.

I've never seen the money before. Back when our daughter, Maisy Ingram, was severely ill, we were 200 dollars short to pay for her hospital bills. I was so poor that I had to sell my blood and beg everyone around me just to get them to lend me money.

But during that time, Lilith never thought of sharing the burden with me. She merely comforted me with empty words before transferring two thousand dollars to her first love, Hayden Grant, the next day.

Our marriage of 30 years is reduced to nothing but a laughingstock.

I place the divorce agreement that I've printed out in front of Lilith. It's a silent confrontation between us.

"Must you really resort to this method?" Lilith snaps impatiently. "It's just two thousand dollars! You have an annual salary of 200 thousand dollars! Why care so much about chum change?"

Even Maisy takes her side by calling me a petty, stingy geezer.

"Everyone has an unattainable first love when they're still young! You should be grateful that Hayden has been holding back his urges without crossing the line for so many years!"

I feel as though I got struck by lightning at that moment. It's then that I belatedly realize I'm the only outsider in this family.

"Getting a divorce is fine by me. Hayden's getting on with the years. I just want to take care of him and send him off when his time eventually arrives."

Maisy adapts a righteous tone. "As compensation for me, I get the house, the car, and the savings. You're leaving this marriage without a single cent under your name."

Facing my questions, my wife, Lilith Ingram, shifted from guilty fluster at the start to a reckless abandon, then finally just admitted it flat out.

"I can't forget Hayden. I love him so much it's driving me crazy. He didn't force me to send him money. I did it willingly. If you're mad, just come at me. Don't make things hard for him."

My heart broke.

The love I fought so hard to protect turned out to be a one-man show.

My daughter, Maisy Ingram, jumped in. "Calm down, Dad. You're already so old. Why even talk about divorce? There's no such thing as a marriage that lasts forever these days. People stray.

"Besides, Mom's innocent. She and Hayden grew up together. They were childhood sweethearts. If there was anything going on, do you really think you could've married Mom?"

She spoke with such righteous conviction, her face masked in genuine bewilderment.

It was as if she truly didn't understand why I was so angry.

But did she really not get it?

Back when just feeding ourselves was a struggle, I was supporting four mouths and paying the mortgage, stretching every penny thin.

At my lowest, I even tried to get Lilith to work.

She blew up, crying and yelling, and even went to the rooftop with Maisy in her arms.

"You useless piece of trash! If you can't even make money, I might as well just die! I didn't marry you to suffer. If I'd known you were this useless, I'd have run away with Hayden long ago!"

Lilith threatened to kill herself, so I gave in.

I worked three jobs a day and risked my life in dangerous mines. I even lost two fingers just to barely keep food on the table.

But today I found out I didn't have to struggle so hard.

Lilith had a job. She was a famous comic artist, making over two thousand dollars a month for 30 years.

I loved her, but she treated me like a thief.

When I saw the bank statements, I was crushed and felt dead inside.

She felt bad for Hayden Grant but ignored my suffering.

"What's the point of bringing up the past? Yes, I secretly sent money to Hayden, but only because I didn't want you to get jealous and cause trouble. I did it for the family's peace. Besides, that was my salary. I can give it to whoever I want. You don't have the right to question me."

Lilith looked down on me, her voice cold as ice. "What are you complaining about? Weren't you the one begging me to marry you back then?"