After My Husband's Affair, I Chose Divorce

The next morning, I came back home looking for Phoenix. He had been gone for a whole day and night, packing his bags and appearing utterly drained. Guilt shadowed his eyes as he spoke in a raspy voice:

"Adaline, I'm sorry."

"Juliette lost her sight because of me, and her brother was my comrade. Before he died, he entrusted her to me, and I can't break that promise..."

"There are caregivers at her place and security outside," I interjected. "With so many people around, why does it have to be you?"

"Over the years, you've left me countless times to be with her, and I've pretended not to notice. But Phoenix, I'm not naive."

Phoenix stayed silent, unable to find words. After a moment, he spoke again, his words cutting through me once more.

"Adaline, this is a debt I owe... Only by making it up to her can I find peace."

"Please, this time, don't tell anyone, okay? If this gets out, it could really hurt her. I'm afraid she won't be able to handle that kind of shock..."

For the first time, he looked at me with pleading eyes, but it was all for someone else. In that instant, it felt like I'd been stabbed, the pain making it hard to catch my breath.

People's first reactions are truthful. Seeing me, he didn't ask if I was okay or about the safety of our unborn children. Instead, his first words were all about Juliette.

I dug my nails into my palm to hold back the tears. I closed my eyes, my voice barely above a whisper: "Alright."

He visibly relaxed, then cautiously added, "Juliette knows I'm going to be a father, and she's feeling insecure... I want to take care of her for a while. Once things settle a bit next month, I'll move back."

"Then I'll try to find some time to be home with you for a few days, does that sound good?"

To care for Juliette, he could easily take a month off. But to spend a few days with me, he had to "find time." Clearly, there's a stark contrast in how he truly treats someone.

His tone carried the certainty that I would agree. But as I looked into his eyes, filled with concern for another woman, I suddenly felt very tired.

The two little ones inside seemed to sense my emotional turmoil and moved gently. I instinctively laid a hand on my belly, where the symbols of our once deeply cherished love were growing. Yet now, it seemed he no longer cared.

Feeling the faint life moving under my hand, I spoke calmly: "Phoenix, you've said you loved me many times."

"On our third anniversary, under the fireworks, you kissed me and said you'd love me more than yourself."

"At the medal ceremony, when you proposed, you promised in front of everyone to love me forever."

"Last year on my birthday, you made a cake after spending two months learning how, and you said you loved only me..."

"Over these eight years, you've remembered all my likes and dislikes. Your profile pictures were always of us... I truly believed we'd love each other until the end."

I looked up to meet his gaze, and tears finally spilled over: "But today, I can't feel your love anymore."

Hearing me recount our journey, Phoenix's eyes reddened too. But after a moment of conflicted emotion, he only choked out:

"But Adaline, after her parents and brother passed, I'm all Juliette has..."

Those words extinguished the last bit of hope I held onto. I looked at him and suddenly smiled through my tears.

"Then go and settle your debt."

Though he probably expected me to agree, he was still taken aback. But ultimately, he just gave me a deep look, said nothing, and turned to leave the house.