Fractured Trust, Reawakened Affection

After eight years of marriage, my husband, who’d been living off me, cheated on me. I kept quiet and secretly poured out the lubricant from the bedroom drawer, replacing it with super glue.

Didn’t we promise not to be separated for the rest of our lives?

Let me help you both!

——

After eight years of marriage, my husband cheated on me. After work, he’d always be glued to his phone, giggling and sneaking out late at night. It was clear that he was having an affair. Maybe he was trying to make up for it with some little gifts.

Roses before dinner, a gold ring on the bedside, the latest handbag...

He felt guilty, so he treated me better.

My husband earned money but didn’t come home; no mother-in-law or kids at home. I even think this kind of life isn’t too bad. I kept telling myself, “Isn’t cheating just something men do?”

I figured I could grit my teeth and endure it, but I didn’t expect that Ethan Malone and his affair would become even more brazen.

***

My best friend and I just got back from a facial and shopping.

As soon as I went upstairs, I heard a series of flirty sounds coming from the bedroom that were unsuitable for approval. “Oh My,” I talked to myself, “What could that be?”

I was so surprised that I dropped the bag and all the fruit and veg rolled everywhere!

Ethan had brought someone home...

I stood there for a moment, looking at the tightly closed bedroom door and suddenly remembered the day before our wedding when we discussed decorating our new home together. Ethan had haf-hugged me, his chin rubbing against my face and his stubble scratched my skin.

I pointed at the bedroom, smiling sweetly and said, "We'll need to soundproof the bedroom."

He just gave a little shrug and said, "Oh well. What if it's not soundproof? It's just the two of us at home, so there's no need to be shy!"

I couldn't help but laugh and give him a playful scolding, "I’m afraid you’ll bring someone else home in the future. I don’t want to hear it."

He looked serious, raising three fingers above his head.

"My dear wife, if I betray you, I will cut off my own manhood!"

He amused me and I couldn't help but laugh along with him, curling up on the floor and joining in on the fun. The sweet words and playful teasing from back then now felt like sharp knives stabbing straight into my chest. My heart ached with every beat.

That woman’s voice was flirtatious as she said, "Ethan, you’ve got to make it official between us..."

Then I heard a familiar voice follow, "I’ve already bought accident insurance for Evelyn. Once she’s gone, all of the Whitmore Family’s assets will be ours!"

"Oh, don’t you believe it? Frederick Whitmore only has one child and she’s just a daughter. If not her husband, who else would get the inheritance?"

The woman laughed seductively, "Oh, Ethan, you’re the best."

I was frozen in disbelief.

I thought Ethan's betrayal was just a case of the seven-year itch, nothing serious, but I never expected him to be so calculating, wanting to put me in a dead-end! At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to burst into the bedroom, catch the two of them red-handed, tear everything apart in a rage and feel so relieved!

But I knew I shouldn't do that. I gently pressed my palm down, trying to calm myself down. Acting impulsively would only hurt me in the end. They deserved to be punished, but I had to be smart about it. I bent down, picking up the scattered vegetables and fruit. The tomatoes had burst, leaving a messy splatter. I wiped up the mess with tissues from my pocket as if cleaning up the shattered pieces of my marriage and tossed everything into the trash.

I turned around and left, gently closing the door behind me for the two of them. Then I took out my phone and dialed the number of my family lawyer.

"Hello, Mr. William? I need to file for divorce immediately."