Love and Betrayal in Ten Years of Marriage

On his tenth anniversary, a husband receives a puppy from his wife, Eleanor Powell, prompting him to return the gift and file for divorce. When her younger lover, Daniel Zuckerberg, tearfully tries to intervene, Eleanor defends her boyfriend while mocking her husband's age and intimacy. Realizing his worth and the power of his maturity, he refuses to play her games. By the time Eleanor finally tries to contact him, he has already boarded a plane, leaving his toxic marriage behind forever.

Chapters

Chapter 2

Eleanor was busy scrolling through her phone, not even noticing what happened to me. She casually brought up a topic, chatting aimlessly.

"If you find a good one, get a kid's size for Henry. And maybe a blue shirt, little boys look cute in blue."

It suddenly hit me that Daniel was wearing a blue shirt the day he cried at my doorstep.

"I don't know what size clothes he wears."

I could hardly remember the last time I saw Henry, my son.

Back then, Eleanor had convinced me to quit my job to take care of the newborn Henry.

But her family was worried my 'poor' vibe would rub off on Henry, so as soon as he was a month old, they took him away.

I only got to see Henry at family dinners during the holidays.

He was my own son, yet I never even got to hold him.

Eleanor's tone carried a hint of annoyance.

"Forget it. I'll have Daniel pick out something. His taste is way better than yours. It'd be great if Henry turns out like him."

Of course, I didn't have Daniel's kind of taste.

Daniel was Eleanor's neighbor, young, handsome, and from a wealthy family.

He'd just finished university in the US and joined Eleanor's company to kill time.

The Powells didn't welcome me, but they welcomed Daniel with open arms.

Even in their family photos, it was Daniel holding Henry instead of me, standing by Eleanor.

I rubbed my swollen knee. "You're right, so let's just get this divorce over with quickly so I don't mess up your family time."

"Are you enough?"

Eleanor was furious, slamming her phone down on the coffee table.

"I've been good enough to you, don't push your luck. Remember, without me, you're nothing!"

She finally said what was really on her mind.

For ten years, in Eleanor's eyes, I was the one who had climbed up, leeching off her.

But suddenly, I felt a lot lighter.

We no longer had to live like we were acting out a script.

"You've been good to me..." I said calmly, "When my mom passed away, I called you, but you didn't pick up. You were probably at a concert with Daniel."

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