Divorce: A Gateway to a New Future

Elara Thornfield stopped cold but didn't turn to face me. Her voice was steady, "Why this divorce talk all of a sudden? Haven't I cared enough? Or is there someone else?"

I cracked a smile, "You come home dead on your feet every night. I always thought it was the grind wearing you down."

"But today, it dawned on me: you're not just tired from work. You're drained from playing footsie under the table with him, dealing with the humping."

"Really, thanks for the hard slog!"

Elara stood frozen, her back to me, leaving me guessing her expression.

She paused, then threw over her shoulder, "Do you know all about it?"

Her nonchalance struck a nerve. I shot back, "If I hadn't caught on, you'd have kept this under wraps, huh?"

"Wouldn't that be simpler?" she retorted, which really skewed my perspective.

"Don't you see the daily grind of running a company and managing our home is already maxing me out?"

Elara finally turned around, her eyes piercing, "Shouldn't I have some outlet for all this stress?"

Her justification knocked the wind out of me.

How could she, a married woman, be so shameless like this?

I stood up and roared, "So, cheating's your way to unwind? Own up to what you are!"

"Mind your words!"

Elara fired back, pivoting to face me fully. "He and I? We're the real deal. He understands me, knows how to light up my days, brings the romance you've never managed. You've never given me half the attention he does!"

Her righteousness was astounding.

The elegant woman before me made her affair sound like a justified choice—like somehow, it was all on me.

She had every reason to cheat on me.

And she even made her cheating my fault!

Her brazenness left me at a loss for words.

Maybe splitting our assets was exactly what she was angling for.

Initially, I impulsively leaned towards divorce, but now, I'm not playing into her hands.

"If that's how it is, when do you want the divorce?"

Disdain flashed in Elara's eyes.

Her sneer cut deep, "I'm up to my eyeballs in work. Got a whole company to steer and my sweetheart to tend to. I don't have time to spare. You set the date, we'll make it official. It's for the best."

Watching her brazenness, my heart ached.

Maybe she's been repelled by me for some time.

Indeed!

She's a high-powered CEO now, living in the limelight.

And me? Just a guy swamped with issues, barely hanging on.

She's been itching to ditch me for good!

I faced her squarely, my resolve unwavering, "Divorce sounds about right, but the company stays mine."

"Huh?"

Elara scoffed, "Adrian Blake, you must be joking."

"You're just a husk of your former self."

"Think you still have what it takes to run the company?"

Her disdain and arrogance were palpable, but I kept silent.

Another word would just demean myself further!

Back to the here and now.

I watched Elara, tipsy and babbling.

My heart, once in turmoil, began to settle.

I made the final decision.

This woman doesn't merit my sympathy!

She can have the divorce, but not a penny of the assets!