Divorce from Betrayal

I returned home feeling like a ghost, too drained to change my shoes or turn on the lights. I sat in the living room, staring vacantly as the sunset faded away through the large window, allowing darkness to swallow the entire house.

Gabriel walked in, humming a tune.

He flicked on the living room lights and jumped back in surprise when he saw me sitting there motionless on the couch, dropping the fancy gift bag he was holding. The sudden brightness made me squint as he rushed over to me, concern etched on his face as he touched my forehead.

"Galilea, are you alright? Are you feeling sick?"

I turned my head slightly to dodge his touch, instinctively pulling away from him. His hand hovered awkwardly in the air, a hint of cold indifference creeping into his expression. Without a word from me, Gabriel picked up the bag from the floor, offering it to me like it was a trophy.

"I'm sorry I've been so useless. The company is going through a critical phase, and I've been neglecting you."

"I noticed you lingered a bit when you saw the ad for this bag in the fashion magazine the other day. I got it for you."

"My darling, please don't be upset, alright?"

I looked down at his hand holding the bag.

Just a couple of hours ago, in the restroom at the theater, that hand had been caressing another woman's skin, lost in desire. He'd called her his "little enchantress."

And now, that same hand held a bag bought out of guilt. He called me "darling."

A wave of nausea hit me, and I pushed Gabriel aside, rushing to the bathroom to vomit until I felt dizzy.

Gabriel quickly brought me tissues and water. "Darling, are you... are you pregnant?"

I lifted my eyelids to look at him blankly and shook my head.

He abruptly leaned in, wrapping me in his arms without warning.

"Galilea, let's have a baby, okay?"

A faint scent of perfume drifted from Gabriel's hair and shirt, overwhelming my senses. I pushed him away.

"You smell."

Gabriel misunderstood, laughing knowingly as he gently tapped my nose. "Got it. I'll take a shower. Wait for me."

He stood up, sent a few messages on his phone, and casually left it on the table before heading to the bathroom.

I stared at his phone, feeling an irresistible urge, and got up to enter the password.

His phone was open to a chat with a woman named "Valery Bell."

Gabriel: [Don’t you want to see it? I’ll shower first, and then I'll send it to you.]

Valery: [So thrilling, I’m excited again.]

[Later, we’ll swap. I’ll look at hers, and you’ll look at mine.]

A chill ran through me, my hands trembling uncontrollably as the phone slipped from my grasp onto the floor.

I tried to bend down and pick it up, but my legs were too weak to support me. So, I stayed on the floor, hugging my knees, letting tears fall, soaking into the carpet until only tiny circles remained.

Mom, in the end, I chose the wrong person.

It was my blind love that gave Gabriel the courage to act so recklessly.

He knew I trusted him, that I wouldn't question him.

That's why he was so brazen—he didn’t even bother to change his phone password.

I bit my lower lip, suppressing my sobs until the taste of blood filled my mouth.

The intense pain finally jolted me back to reality.