Congratulations on Losing Me

"It's your birthday tomorrow. I'll throw you a party," Gwyneth added, almost as an afterthought.

Then she continued, "Oh, right. Mom told me she is coming back to the country to help take care of the child. With her here, I'll feel much more at ease."

Of course she would. She could relax and travel abroad with Bryan and stay away for months without worrying about anything here.

She did not know why her parents, who had quietly enjoyed their retirement overseas, suddenly decided to return. She also did not know that her parents already knew about everything she had done to me, things so vile that even animals would not do them.

I let out a cold laugh but did not object. I was the one who had asked her mother to come back. I understood one thing clearly. The man I had become had no chance of escaping Gwyneth's grasp on his own.

When she saw no reaction from me, she crouched in front of me. Her gaze softened as she looked at me. "Nick, I do love you. Once Bryan's situation is settled, I'll come back to you."

Those words meant nothing to me now, even if she believed them at this moment. Bryan needed to say only a single word, and she would erase every promise she had ever made to me.

I would never believe her again.

In three more days, she would finally be free of me. Then she could focus entirely on being the mother of Bryan's child.

…

That night, Gwyneth did not come home. Bryan said Sam had caught a cold, and she immediately found an excuse to stay with them.

We had dated for four years and stayed married for three. I had always believed Gwyneth loved me. Then Bryan returned. Then I saw the care she showed another man's child.

Everything seemed to change overnight. The wife who once claimed to love me devoted herself completely to another man.

I remained trapped in this dark cage. Each day wore away the love I once felt for her. Disappointment piled up until nothing remained.

It was time for me to leave.

…

The next day, before the birthday party, Gwyneth called and said she would come back to pick me up.

When I stepped outside, however, only the bodyguards' car waited at the gate.

"Nick, something came up on my side," she said over the phone. "You go ahead. I'll be there soon."

I did not expect anything from her. Without hope, there was nothing left to disappoint me.

The deep winter wind cut across my face like a blade. I felt no pain, just as I felt nothing for Gwyneth.

Disappointment led to despair, and despair left nothing behind that could hurt me.

The car stopped in front of a private club. I frowned but stepped out anyway.

A bodyguard led me into a private room. Several people sat inside. I did not recognize any of them.

They looked at me with strange expressions. Mockery and contempt filled their eyes. They treated me like trash and even moved their chairs farther away.

"He cheated on Gwen and still has the nerve to let her throw him a birthday party."

"Gwen is really pitiful. She's even raising the bastard he brought home."

"I don't know what she ever saw in him. He can't even compare to Bryan."

They did not lower their voices. They wanted me to hear every word.

This was Gwyneth's masterpiece. She could not bear the thought of Bryan's son growing up without a mother. Yet she never once considered the damage Bryan had done to me and my child.

What we suffered was a hundred times worse. I could endure it. But I could not bear the thought of my child being cursed and pointed at like this.

I stood and decided to leave. This birthday party clearly did not welcome me.

The moment I opened the door, I saw Gwyneth and Bryan standing outside.

One avoided my gaze with guilt. The other smiled as if he had just won.