Husband is Lovelorn: I am Not the One He Wants to Break Up with

8

"Psst."

I scanned the café to make sure we were in the clear.

There was no one listening.

"Jack Harper's stepping out!"

Maddie, my bestie, coolly put down her iced coffee, "Seen any proof?"

"It's legit this time!" I was dead serious.

I added, "I trust my gut—woman's intuition!"

Before I could even finish, she cut in, "Enough already."

"You've been harping on about Jack cheating like thirty-eight times this month."

9

"If it's the real deal, why not just ditch him?"

"Thought you said cheating's a dealbreaker?"

I bit my lip, kind of stuck, "But he's got that charm, you know?"

"And he drops a cool million on me every month..."

"Can't throw away good money over pride, right?"

10

Maddie glanced at me, then quickly looked away.

"It wasn't always like this with you two."

"You used to be all over each other, everyone thought you were the perfect match."

From prom to our wedding, it's been a solid decade.

From a crummy studio to our swanky villa now.

Back in our rough days, we didn't even have a place to call home.

Young Jack, all fresh-faced and eager, full of youthful zest, promised, "Ella, it's gonna be just you and me, till the end."

"Once I'm rolling in it, you'll never have to struggle again."

"All my dough? It's yours to blow!"

...

I had to snap myself out of the memory lane.

I was lost in my thoughts when I stared at the coffee.

Once, just because I mentioned liking it, he'd scour the city to fetch it for me.

Even on the coldest days, whatever he brought back was always piping hot.

I took a sip, same old taste.

Same old sweet taste.

Sweet enough to make your teeth ache.