Happy Birthday, He Cheated

That afternoon, once I sobered up, I hit up a lawyer and got the divorce papers ready.

Good thing we had no kids. Just assets. Cutting him off would be clean.

When I got home, Derrick called—said he was heading out on a business trip.

That night, I got an anonymous message.

A flood of pics.

Derrick and Sabrina.

Hot tub at a lakeside cabin. Skiing together like some cheesy couple's ad.

Didn't take a genius—she sent them.

Still, I felt nothing.

We'd done all that before. Over ten years, we hit Rivera, Paryss, even chased the northern lights in Eirland.

Every trip, Derrick said the same thing—he wanted me by his side to see the world.

Now he was doing the same with someone else.

Truth is, we'd been together forever. Teenagers to now. A whole decade.

Maybe he just got bored of me. Guess that makes sense.

I told myself that. Tried to make it hurt less.

But it still ached.

Of course it did.

He was the only guy I ever loved.

***

Derrick finally showed up on day three.

Brought a gift.

Classic move—a fancy diamond necklace.

Anytime he missed dinner or ghosted for work, he'd pop in with something shiny. Called it a peace offering.

Said it made up for being MIA. That he had to earn me back.

I used to smile, act touched.

Now? I couldn't even fake it. Just muttered, "I like it."

He didn't notice.

Or maybe he was just too wiped from playing house with Sabrina.

"You like it, that's all that matters. I'm gonna shower," he said.

He disappeared into the bathroom.

By the time he came out, I was already in bed, facing the wall.

Silent.

He wrapped his arms around me.

Same bed, totally different worlds.

***

Then came my birthday.

Derrick threw his usual party—surprises, cake, the works. Picture-perfect.

Our friends laughed, clapped, gave their usual congrats.

But just as I was about to cut the cake, I caught one of Derrick's friends talking to him in Garmenian.

"You cut off the side piece yet? You were with her nonstop. Surprised you didn't drop dead. Your wife cool with that?"

Derrick let out a lazy puff of smoke. "I haven't touched Audrey in months. Sabrina's insane in bed—I'm not done playing with her yet. Sucks she got pregnant. Audrey doesn't want kids, so I gave Sabrina some cash. She'll give birth overseas."

My fists clenched. Tears slipped down without a sound.

Derrick glanced over. "What's wrong?"

I smiled. "The cake you made is amazing. I'm really touched."

In that moment, I hated that I understood Garmenian.