I Loved You Once. Never Again

He froze for half a second. Then smiled.

“Urgent meeting,” he said softly. “I’ll be right back.”

He returned, kissed my forehead and left.

The door closed and something inside me died without a sound.

But the door closed too hard, so Lizzie stirred, half-awake, mumbling, “Ah… Dad snuck out to meet my second mommy again. Next time, I’ll follow him and play with Diego too.”

I froze. “What did you say, darling?”

She realized her mistake instantly and hugged me tight.

“I mean—Daddy went to work again, late at night,” she said quickly. “Leaving you alone. But it’s okay, Mom. I’m here. You won’t be lonely.”

I didn’t hug her back, only pulled the blanket higher and turned away.

Moments later, from outside, the roar of Sheldon’s car engine cut through the night.

He was speeding.

Sheldon never came back that night. Nor the next morning.

At breakfast, I sat alone at the table. My phone’s chimed.

[I’ve instructed Judy to prepare warming chicken broth for you. Make sure to drink it. Let her take Lizzie to school. You should rest more and avoid tiring yourself.]

Every detail was arranged. The perfect image of a caring husband.

But that care only felt like salt rubbed into an open wound. Since I knew better, this care was nothing but guilt.

Every time Sheldon cheated, he buried me in attention—as if flowers and gentle words could erase the scent of another woman from his skin.

Those late-night messages always arrived at strange hours. Perhaps sent right after he finished with her—while buttoning his shirt, straightening his collar, and pretending to still be my husband.

I had not had time to close the message as the new email came.

Inside, attached a DNA Test file from the hospital.

My vision blurred as the document opened on my screen, [Diego Middleton is 99% compatible with Sheldon Carter.]

My hand trembled as a voice note followed. “I’m pregnant too. You lose this time. I can give Sheldon two children now. And I’ll have more if he wants.”

Before I could breathe, another line appeared. “Oh, I almost forgot. Even your daughter seems to love me more than you. Reba, what do you have left?”

The phone slipped from my fingers and suddenly I heard Lizzie laughing, as if laughing at my suffering.

So I descended the staircase and stopped as I saw her sit before the TV, stuffing her mouth with sweets I was never allowed to touch.

Only a few days had passed, yet her cheeks were already puffed from sugar.

When Lizzie saw me, she panicked, hiding the cream-filled pastry behind her back. Guilt was written all over her small face.

But I didn’t scold her.

Instead, I knelt down until they were eye to eye, studying the child who carried half of Sheldon’s blood.

“If your father and I separate,” I asked quietly, “would you be okay with Stacey raising you instead?”

Lizzie didn’t even process the first part. Her eyes lit up.

“Really?” she asked excitedly. “If Stacey comes to live with me, I will be happier if she brings Diego around, so that I can play more with him!”

My heart didn’t sink. It went numb on that innocent’s answer.

Of course, the child took after her father.

Seeing me about to leave, Lizzie hurried over and grabbed my hand instinctively. “Mommy, when will you take me to school? I’ll be late.”

I pulled her hand away, voice flat. “Judy will take you. I’m tired.”

“I want you, Mommy.” Lizzie’s eyes widened, pleading. “Please.”

“No,” I said coldly. “I’m tired.”

“I won’t be taking you to your full week courses anymore. From now on, you are free to do everything you want.”

Lizzie froze.

Confusion and hurt flickered across her face.

I had never said coldly to her before. She bit her lip, forcing back tears.

Judy sensed the tension and quietly ushered Lizzie out of the house.

I didn’t stop them.

I couldn’t. Not today.

In the afternoon, I went straight to the city center.

“Once you sign, there’s no turning back,” the agent said. “Five days from now, Reba Carter will cease to exist.”

I nodded.

My hand didn’t shake as I signed my name.

Then I removed the infinity bracelet from my wrist—the one thing I had never taken off.

“If I’m going to die,” I murmured, “make it convincing.”

That bracelet meant everything.

After Lizzie's birth, I had fallen into a coma. As soon as I woke up, he put me on a bracelet with an infinity charm as a wish that I would live longer with him.

His devotion had moved me so deeply that I vowed never to remove the bracelet. Not even in death.

And now, I was keeping that promise in the cruelest way possible.

As I walked out, whispers drifted from the front desk.

“They say Mr. Sheldon treats his wife like she’s his whole world. Yet she just signed up for a fake death service.”

“So even the most beautiful marriages rot behind closed doors.”

“I used to root for their love story. Turns out it was all a lie.”

I didn’t stay to hear more.

Maybe Sheldon had loved me once—during those five years. But his love always burned too fast… and died even faster.

Needing a distraction, I went to the mall.

To my surprise, I saw Lizzie and Diego—who should have been in school—playing in the playground inside the mall.

Not far from the scene, there were Sheldon and Stacey arms in arms and smiling at the kids. They looked like a perfect family.

For a moment, the world blurred.

Just like Sheldon wanted, having lots of kids and playing with them, enjoying time together. Something I could never give him.

Perhaps because I'd been standing there too long, Stacey noticed me.

“Reba?” Stacey gasped, covering her mouth as she clicked over in high heels. “Why are you here?”