After My Husband’s Mistress Became His Public Wife

Three days later, I received a call from Layne Adams' lawyer, requesting I sign the divorce papers. The proposed division of assets was fifty-fifty, with the exception of our current house and his company.

I had purchased the house with my own money, so it was off the table for division. The startup capital of $300,000 for his company came from my parents. He planned to repay this amount with interest, thus excluding me from any claim on the business. He believed this arrangement was fair.

"I'm not signing unless he walks away with nothing. Then I'll sign immediately."

"Ms. Harrison, you should know the law doesn’t favor leaving with nothing. As a woman myself, I empathize with your position. Mr. Adams feels guilty now and is willing to give you half. Once his guilt subsides and he regains his senses, you might get less. Plus, the quicker you're divorced, the quicker you can start afresh. Why prolong the matter?"

I laughed softly, "He didn’t need a divorce to move on. Why can’t I do the same? If he walks away empty-handed, then I'll agree to the divorce."

The lawyer stood, her smile frosty, "Ms. Harrison, you're just stalling. Your demands won't hold up in court. If this is your decision, then see you in court."

I returned to work. My boss, Kamryn Arnold, already knew about my situation and graciously offered me a month off. But I didn’t need it. One must hold on to either marriage or career. Since the marriage was over, I chose to focus on work.

Every day, I went to and from the office as usual. You couldn’t tell from my appearance that my marriage was falling apart. My colleagues assumed I was choosing to endure silently and coexist with the mistress peacefully. Affairs like these were all too common, and given my husband's wealth, divorcing him could benefit the cheating couple.

Even a senior colleague, Hadlee Lynch, tried offering marriage advice.

"Beatrice, any savvy woman knows how to play nice with her husband. Especially when he's wealthy, with many women after him. You have to compromise a bit, occasionally look the other way, and before you know it, life will have passed you by."

"That other woman has him wrapped around her finger because she knows how to act vulnerable, right? You should ask Layne for a child too. Your child would be the legitimate heir, and the other would be the outsider!"

I couldn’t wrap my head around this marital philosophy. Discovering an affair and then rushing to have a child to secure my place as the wife? Even my parents advised me similarly. They reminded me that Layne isn’t the same broke guy he once was. Now, he's the CEO of a company that's on the verge of going public. Divorcing him now would be letting someone else benefit.

I found it odd that everyone had advice for me. It's not that I don’t want to divorce; it's because Layne insists on a divorce to give the other woman a formal title.

Then my dad said, "That’s why you need to compromise a bit. You two have been through thick and thin together. If you yield, he's bound to soften. Men like him want admiration and to protect the vulnerable."

I went home for a meal, but all I heard was this kind of talk. If he wants to protect someone, why not help the needy? Plenty of people could use some safeguarding.

I was about to leave when Layne appeared.

"Dad! Mom!" Seeing me, Layne looked surprised, "Oh, Beatrice is here too."

"Well, what a coincidence! We didn't know Beatrice would be home for dinner today! You both chat and talk things over! Beatrice has much to say to you!"

My parents quickly left, giving us space.

Layne adjusted his suit as he sat on the sofa, saying, "We're about to head to court. There's not much left to discuss. The sooner you sign the divorce papers, the sooner we can both move on. It’s better for both of us."

"I know you don’t want to leave me, but I've fallen in love with someone else. There's no turning back, Beatrice; given the years we've spent together, let's part amicably."

I replied, "You're overthinking it. I didn’t know my parents invited you today. Layne, my dad gave you $300,000 from our savings to launch your business. Without that money, you wouldn’t be here today. And now you want to repay that small amount to divorce me? Dream on."

Layne looked almost angry, "Beatrice! When did you become so fixated on money? Yes, the $300,000 came from your father, but it was my talent that built the company! If you’d invested that money elsewhere, you might’ve gotten nothing in return! I'm paying you back with interest. Isn’t that enough?"

"You want me to walk away with nothing? You've read too many novels! Is that even feasible? You're just wasting your time and energy dragging this out! I don’t love you anymore, why hold on? Does it even make sense?"

Seeing Layne so agitated took me back to when he first received the $300,000 and joyfully embraced me, making promises. "Beatrice, believe me. Once I make this company a success, I'll repay you a hundredfold! I'll always remember the kindness you and your father showed me. I'll love you forever, I'll treat you well! Darling, I love you, I love you!"

Back then, with the money, he truly loved me. Now, successful in business and with someone else on the scene, his love for me has vanished.

When my parents realized Layne was dead set on divorcing me, they stopped trying to talk me out of it. They just urged me to get the divorce done quickly and move on with my life, not to waste time on hopeless pursuits.

I said, "I want him to leave with nothing."

They thought I was out of my mind because that was nearly impossible.