I'm Done Playing the Substitute

I cut Jonah off coldly, my voice steady but laced with bitterness. "Jonah, do you truly love me? We only dated for half a year before getting married, but now it's clear we're not meant for each other."

He froze, his hand mid-air as if reaching to take mine, his usual confident smile faltering. I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the weight of my own words. "Just let me go, Jonah."

The air between us grew tense. For a moment, Jonah stared at me, his face unreadable. Then, as if a switch had flipped, his gentle expression hardened. A flicker of anger darkened his hazel eyes and his voice turned sharp. "Sasha, have I been too good to you? Do you know how many women in all of Brookside envy you? Everything I've done—every gift, every gesture—it's all for you. And today of all days, you just have to stir up trouble, don't you?"

His tone cut through me like a blade and I had to bite down on my trembling lip to stop myself from crying. Jonah abruptly rose from his seat, his towering figure casting a shadow over me. Without another glance in my direction, he stormed toward the door. "Fine! Stay home by yourself!"

The door slammed shut behind him with a deafening thud, the vibrations reverberating through the room like the final note of a cruel symphony. It felt as if the sound had landed directly on my chest, shattering something fragile and irreplaceable. The tears I'd been holding back spilled over, hot and uncontrollable, streaking down my face.

I collapsed onto the couch, covering my face with trembling hands. The man I had loved for sixty years, the man I once believed was my entire world, had always been two different people. When he called me "Sasha," there was indifference. When he called me "Rosa," it was all a lie.

The realization crushed me. No matter what Jonah's feelings had truly been, I knew one thing for certain: in my past life, I had loved him with everything I had. To divorce him now, even knowing what I knew, felt like tearing away a part of myself. But Jonah, no matter how much it hurts, this time, I am truly done with you.

***

The days passed in an eerie silence. Jonah didn't come home at all and the printed divorce papers sat untouched on the coffee table, an ominous reminder of the choice I had made.

Perhaps even fate, tired of my suffering, had granted me this second chance. I couldn't waste it.

With renewed determination, I grabbed the divorce papers, the cool weight of the documents grounding me. Outside, the sky had darkened, the faint hum of the city lights illuminating the streets like scattered stars.

By the time I reached the towering Robert Group building, night had fully descended. The only light in the entire structure came from Jonah's office, a glowing beacon that pierced through the inky darkness.

As I approached the office door, muffled sounds reached my ears. My steps faltered and my heart clenched as I strained to listen.

Through the slightly ajar door, I caught a glimpse of Jonah and a woman entangled in a moment of passion. They were perched on his massive mahogany desk, the same desk where he had once signed the deeds to place every asset under my name. The vulgarity of the scene clashed with the pristine professionalism of the room, the woman's soft moans and Jonah's hushed voice echoing in the air like a cruel melody.

The woman giggled breathlessly, her voice teasing. "Jonah, you haven't been home these past few days. Won't your wife start asking questions?"

Jonah's answer came in an impatient growl. "Why are you bringing her up now? Such bad luck! I don't know what's gotten into her, wanting a divorce out of nowhere."

The woman laughed, running her fingers along his chest. "You should've expected it. After all, even if she's just a stand-in, you should put in a little more effort."

Jonah snorted derisively. "Looks like I've been too good to her all along. Now she's daring to act so ungrateful."

My world shattered all over again. The sounds of their laughter blurred into static as my heart sank lower and lower. I had believed that, no matter the circumstances, Jonah's affection for me in the past life had been genuine. But now, it was clear my kindness had always been a joke—a weakness he exploited.

Clutching the divorce papers tightly, I pushed the door open without hesitation. The sharp creak of the door cut through their laughter like a knife.

Jonah's head snapped toward me, his face paling as he registered my presence. For a split second, panic flickered in his eyes, but he quickly masked it, hastily adjusting his disheveled clothes.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice wavering slightly.

Ignoring his question, I strode into the room, brushing aside the scattered clothing on the desk with deliberate force. I slammed the divorce papers onto the wooden surface between them, the sound reverberating in the heavy silence.

"You've been too busy to come home these past few days," I said coldly, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Since we've already talked about divorce, there's no point in dragging this out. Let's get it done as soon as possible."

I shifted my gaze to the woman, who was calmly adjusting her dress. "And this way, she can take my place."

Compared to Jonah's visible panic, the woman remained composed. She stepped forward, smoothing her dress with practiced ease and extended her hand toward me.