A Legacy of His Lover's Lie

But now, six years later, he was claiming that his history with Sloane was my fault.

What a monumental joke. With a single sentence, he had nullified years of my sacrifice and devotion.

"What am I to you, Wyatt? A walking ATM you toss aside when you’re done?" I screamed, my voice cracking.

My eyes burned with fury. My lips trembled, but I couldn't form a complete sentence.

I couldn't understand how he could do this to me. We had been married for six years. Did he even have a heart?

"Do you have to make this so ugly, Aveline?" he said, his expression laced with disgust. "Forget it. I don't care what you think, I'm having a child with Sloane."

I was about to argue when his phone rang. The ringtone was unique. A custom one. I knew instantly it was Sloane.

Her voice came through the phone, faint and weak. "Wyatt, it's happening again, my whole body hurts. I want to see you... can you come over?"

Sloane's voice sounded so fragile. I watched the concern and a tenderness I had never received flash in his eyes.

I instinctively grabbed his arm. "I don't agree, Wyatt. You're my husband—"

He shook my hand off, his face etched with impatience. "Stop making a scene, Aveline. Sloane is sick; she needs me right now. I know you're jealous, but can you not be like this? Now is not the time."

"Can't you stop making everything about you for one second? Sloane doesn't have much time."

His brows were tightly furrowed, as if I was the one being unreasonable. In that moment, I felt my heart splinter into a thousand pieces.

"Wyatt," I called out weakly. "It's me or Sloane. You have to choose."

"Do you have to be like this, Aveline? Sloane is sick, and you're going to pick a fight with a patient? Fine, you want an answer? I choose Sloane! There, are you happy now?"

"Since you've made your choice, let's get a divorce, Wyatt," I said, my jaw aching from how hard I was clenching it. "If you're so hung up on Sloane, there's no reason for me to stay. Let's just stop torturing each other."

I couldn't understand why, if he couldn't forget Sloane, he wouldn't just let me go. Did he really think I'd let him walk all over me like some doormat for the rest of our lives?

I had turned a blind eye to too many things in the past. But I wasn't going to tolerate him anymore.

It wasn't like he was the only man in the world. I could start over anytime I wanted.

Hearing this, Wyatt's eyes widened in disbelief. He grabbed my arm and demanded, "What's gotten into you, Aveline? What do you mean by that? You want a divorce?"

I let out a cold laugh. "Isn't it obvious? Or do you want me to sit here and watch you cheat on me right in front of my face?"

His expression froze for a second, then he sneered, "Don't bother with these pathetic threats, Aveline. They won't work. And mark my words, when this divorce goes through, I won't take you back, no matter how much you beg."

"I won't. I'll have the divorce papers ready as soon as possible. All you have to do is sign."

In that moment, an inexplicable calm settled over me. Perhaps his actions had finally forced me to see the truth.

I realized he didn't love me, and no matter what I did, it wouldn't change a thing. Now that Sloane was back, he no longer needed me.

Noticing my seriousness, his face darkened with anger, and he glared at me. "Are you serious, Aveline? Fine. Let's get a divorce. Whoever backs down is a coward!" With that, he grabbed his coat and stormed out the door.