My Husband's Affair Went Viral

Chapter 3

The Man Who Saw MyNirmala's POV

"What wife? I thought you said you were already divorced."

The words hung in the air so thick like smoke after a terrible fire. For a second, I simply stared at Jacob. Not just because I was shocked but because I wanted to see if he would lie again, in my face.

Jacob's face turned deathly pale.

"Switfizz, just stop talking."

"No!" she snapped, jerking her arm away from him. "You told me your marriage ended years ago! You said you were only staying in the house because of business!"

She turned to me, her expression shifting between embarrassment and disbelief.

"You... you're really his wife?"

I smiled bitterly.

"Five years and counting."

Her lips parted.

"You lied to me..."

Jacob reached for her. "Listen, I can explain..."

She shoved him hard.

"Don't touch me!"

For the first time since I met her, the confident influencer looked genuinely shaken.

"I knew you wore a ring when we first met," she whispered. "You told me it was only for your online image."

Jacob ran both hands through his hair.

"I was going to tell you everything."

"When?" she laughed bitterly. "After making me the other woman for two years?"

There was a heavy silence, the truth settled over the parking lot like a storm cloud. I folded my arms across my chest.

"So neither of us knew the whole story."

Jacob looked at me desperately, "Nir, please. I made a mistake."

"A mistake?" I laughed. "People forget anniversaries by mistake. They buy the wrong flowers by mistake."

I took one slow step toward him.

"But you don't spend two whole years in another woman's bed by mistake."

His shoulders slumped.

"I love you."

The words almost made me laugh, it was as if he was mocking me for not understanding that word.

"You loved me while lying beside her? You loved me when you were busy fucking her? You loved me when you touch her like a lover ? Don't make me laugh"

He couldn't answer just bowed his head, Switfizz suddenly looked at me.

"I'm... sorry."

I met her eyes and I saw tears threatening to spill. She wasn't apologizing because she had been caught with another woman's husband but because she had finally realized she'd been deceived too.

"I won't forgive you," I said quietly. "But I won't waste my life hating you either."

I looked back at Jacob, "You..."

My voice trembled despite my efforts.

"...are the only person responsible for destroying our marriage." I stepped around both of them.

"Expect the divorce papers."

"NIR!" I didn't look back.

That night, I cried until there were no tears left and after I was done, I called my lawyer.

"I want the papers ready immediately."

"Are you certain, Mrs. Nirmala?"

"I've never been more certain of anything."

When I ended the call, I stared at my wedding ring.

Five years of marriage has been reduced to a just a circle of gold. Slowly... I slipped it off my fingle and dropped it, it landed on the bedside table with a tiny metallic sound but It sounded louder than my breaking heart.

By evening, Jessica dragged me out to a rooftop lounge overlooking the city.

"You've cried enough," she declared.

"Tonight, be happy, drink till you forget your sorrows, don't worry, I will take you home if you get drunk."

The city lights glittered beneath us while music drifted softly through the air as if trying to console my aching heart but I just simply wanted one evening where I wasn't drowning in memories.

Halfway through my first drink, Jessica nudged my shoulder.

"Nir."

"Hm?"

"Twelve o'clock."

I looked up, across the lounge, a man stood leaning casually against the glass railing, he is very tall, with broad shoulders, black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms.

His tie hung loose around his neck as though he'd just escaped a board meeting. He wasn't pretending not to stare at all, he continued staring with confidence.

When our eyes met, neither of us looked away, my pulse stumbled. He lifted his whiskey glass toward me. Almost unconsciously, I lifted mine. He smiled and then he stood up, Jessica gasped dramatically.

"Oh my God... he's coming."

Every woman he passed glanced his way, yet his eyes never left mine. He stopped beside our table.

"Greetings Ladies."

His deep voice carried effortlessly over the music, Jessica immediately grinned.

"Take her. She desperately needs saving."

I elbowed her, he chuckled.

"I wasn't planning to kidnap anyone."

His gaze settled on me again, "But I'd like permission to steal a few minutes."

I found myself smiling for the first time in days.

"You assume I'd say yes."

"I was hoping."

There was something dangerous about the way he looked at me, he wasn't looking at me lustfully but with deep interest, like I'm the only person he is focusing on, like though everyone else in the room had disappeared.

"I'm Eris."

"Nirmala."

He repeated my name slowly.

"Nirmala."

The way he said it made it sound strangely intimate.

"A beautiful name."

"You've practiced that line."

"I don't need practice when I'm just telling the truth."

Heat crept into my cheeks before I could stop it, Jessica suddenly stood.

"We're getting more drinks."

Within seconds, every one of my friends had mysteriously disappeared, bunch of Traitors they are.

Eris laughed softly.

"They're subtle."

"Not even a little."

A comfortable silence settled between us. He leaned one elbow on the table.

"You look hurt and weary."

I stiffened.

"Is it that obvious?"

"No." His voice softened.

"I know that look." I searched his face.

"You've worn it before?" His smile faded.

" Well... once."

For a moment... the confident stranger looked haunted.

Then he looked back at me, "I don't know who made you lose your smile."

He paused.

"But I hope one day..."

"...I'll be the reason you get it back."

The air between us suddenly felt much warmer but neither of us spoke. The music seemed to disappear.

Without breaking eye contact, he reached into his jacket pocket and placed a simple black business card in front of me.

"No pressure."

"If life ever gives you a reason..."

"...call me."

Our fingers brushed as I picked up the card, A tiny touch, barely a second. Yet it sent an unexpected shiver racing through me.

He noticed and his lips curved into the faintest smile.

"I'll wait." Then he walked away.

I watched him disappear into the crowd.

Only after he was gone did I finally look down at the card. My heart skipped a beat.

The name beneath Eris Ashford wasn't what shocked me. It was the title printed underneath.

"CEO Ashford Media Group.""

The very company that owned... Switfizz's streaming platform.