When A Couple Had Drifted apart, It Could Never Be Whole Again

I glanced at Dennis who stood beside me. He nodded, with a knowing look. "Do you like this kind of thing? Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. I promise it will be even grander than this,"

I took a deep breath, then checked my phone, where the assistant had posted an Instagram Feed update.

"Thank you, my Sugar Daddy, for throwing thousands of dollars to give me a birthday surprise."

"We'll see about it then," I replied calmly. "By then, I might not even be around."

Dennis's heartbeat quickened. He could tell there was a hint of disappointment in my voice. He pulled me into his arms and said to me with a soft voice, "Don’t say that. I’ll give you the best surprise.”

That evening, at the gala, I walked beside him, linked arm in arm. He fetched me small cakes, shielded me from drinks and even held me close whenever someone got too close. Guests complimented me on my good fortune, though I noticed his assistant casting him a glance from across the room.

Dennis found me a safe spot to sit and arranged for a few people to keep me company.

"Jackie, I need to discuss some business. Be good and stay here,” he said.

I watched him walk over to the assistant, where he discreetly lifted her skirt in the corner.

I glanced back at my phone, which was open to her social media post.

“Wearing black stockings to the gala. Wonder if my sugar daddy likes it?”

My heart sank. Quietly, I left the event and returned home to pack my things.

When he realized I was gone, he rushed home to an empty house. I could see relief flooding his face when he saw me still there.

“Jackie, why didn’t you wait for me at the gala? Why are you going home alone?” he asked. “I thought you were mad at me and went into hiding.”

In the past, whenever I was upset with him, I would hide. As I saw the panic in his eyes when he found me, I felt his love.

“The gala was a bit boring,” I replied lightly.

He was full of apologies and pulled some snacks from his pocket. “I noticed you liked these, so I packed them up for you.”

When he looked around at the empty, I readily gave him an explanation, "The house was messy, so I did a little tidying.”

He ruffled my hair and joked, “I thought you were going to leave me.”

“I might,” I said.

Suddenly, he crumpled on my knees and cried his heart out. "Don’t say things like that. You know it scares me."

Later, when I was going to take a shower, Dennis knocked on the bathroom door. “Jackie, I need to go back to the gala for a bit. Something came up.”

I nodded, telling him it was fine.

He pushed open the door to see me sitting on the toilet while staring into space.

"What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.

I looked up and gave him a genuine smile. “Go on. There is someone out there waiting for you impatiently.”

He didn’t catch the hidden meaning in my words. He kissed me a few times before leaving. He didn’t come back that night.

I took my time to take a bath then threw all my belongings into the trash. Meanwhile, Dennis kept messaging me. He texted how sorry he was that he had been too busy lately and he promised he would spend quality time with me when he went home.

At the same time, his assistant posted a photo of them lying on a bed of flowers while holding hands on Twitter.

I put the divorce paper on the table. Tomorrow, the email will be sent on schedule.

Before I left, I composed and sent a final text message. "Goodbye, Dennis."

Almost immediately, my phone filled with his call and he sounded panicked, "Jackie, where are you?"

I removed my SIM card, effectively erasing him from my world.

As he rushed back home in a panic, I was already on a plane, flying across the ocean to start my new life.