Ending Six - Year Marriage

Reflecting on the six years I spent with Nadia, I remember how attentive and caring she was when we first started dating. She would always remind me not to stay up too late and would have breakfast ready for me. Every morning, she'd lay out my clothes for the next day, freshly ironed and waiting at the foot of the bed. Knowing how forgetful I can be, she'd place sticky notes around the house to remind me where important things were kept.

I depended on her for almost every detail of my life. Whenever I lost my driver's license, credit card, or an important contract, I would call her, worried she'd find me annoying. Yet, her voice on the other end was always calm and reassuring, "Where would you be without me? The contract is in the cabinet under the TV, and your ID is there too."

Everything Nadia did was like a ray of sunshine, slowly spreading into every corner of my world. I began to fear, as she once warned me, that she might leave someday. Driven by this fear, I invested everything I had into Nadia's acting career, even sacrificing my family's connections and wealth to clear her path to stardom.

We supported each other year after year until the fifth year when I stumbled upon Nadia's secret. By chance, I found her college diary, which was filled with one name - Zayn Griffin. As I read each page, I realized that Nadia's so-called dream was simply to prove herself to Zayn, who had gone abroad.

I had never known Nadia to be so openly passionate about anyone. The diary revealed a side of her I'd never seen, and I dreaded confronting her, fearing she'd confirm those were her true feelings. I buried the pain, convincing myself it was all in her past.

But when Zayn returned and joined the film industry, acting alongside her, rumors of their on-set closeness began to spread. And then there was the film, featuring Nadia in a bold and revealing scene. I knew then that the facade of our sham marriage could no longer hold.

In the end, I was wrong. Despite everything I'd done, I couldn't compete with a simple gesture from Zayn. Memories flashed through my mind like a carousel as I picked up the phone and called my lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. Right after I hung up, there was a knock at the door.

It was Marigold, Nadia's manager. Wearing a polite smile, she handed me a bag, "Mr. Ray, Nadia asked me to give this to you." After she left, I opened the bag to find a beautifully packaged butterfly brooch. A year ago, I had been captivated by this brooch at an auction but hesitated to buy it because of its hefty price tag of $400,000. I knew Nadia had many expenses maintaining her star image, so I never urged her to buy it.

However, just days later, I noticed a withdrawal of $800,000 from our bank account. That day, Nadia bought an expensive watch as a wrap gift for Zayn. Inside the bag was a note, written in her familiar elegant handwriting, with just five words: "Sixth-anniversary gift."

I put the brooch back in its box and tossed it onto the table, never looking at it again. Not long after, Nadia called, her voice as sweet as honey, "Did you get the gift? I had Marigold bring it over." I replied with a nonchalant "hmm."

Perhaps because I didn't respond with the enthusiasm she expected, a hint of appeasement crept into her voice, "Come on, I know I was harsh yesterday. Don't be mad, alright? Do you like the gift? I remember how you couldn't take your eyes off it last year." I stayed silent as she continued, "Quentin will be at our film promo later. Why don't you come too? I have a surprise for you during the speech."

I was ready to decline, my voice cold, but then hesitated at the thought of Quentin. Back when I invested in Nadia's career, Quentin had helped bridge connections. For such a renowned director to attend Nadia's promo was largely due to his rapport with me. It would be disrespectful not to go.