My Marriage Ended, But My Happiness Began

I was about to drift off when Cedric finally walked into our bedroom. He'd been out dropping Anya off, and considering how late it was, they must've taken their sweet time saying goodbye.

He sat down next to me, and right away, the thick, sugary scent of some perfume—definitely not mine—hit me like a punch.

"Astrid," he said, trying to keep his voice gentle, "I was on a business trip yesterday and just happened to pass through Anya's city. We had a chance to clear up a misunderstanding, so we came back together. And about that cake—she was just being thoughtful. You really didn't need to throw it in the trash."

I slowly sat up, a bitter smile tugging at my lips as I took a good look at him. His shirt was rumpled, the collar loose, and right there, just barely visible, was a smear of lipstick.

He kept going, that soft tone almost coaxing, but every word was about Anya—defending her. It sounded like I was the villain.

It hit me then, like another punch in the gut, that the man I'd loved for so long was… gone. Or maybe he'd never really been here. It felt like I was looking at a stranger.

He noticed me pulling away and reached out, trying to wrap me in a hug, but I jerked back, instinctively pushing him away.

"I've explained everything!" Cedric snapped, his patience running thin. "What do you want from me? Should I get on my knees and beg? And that cake—it wouldn't kill you to eat a piece! Did you have to make it such a big deal?"

I met his gaze, my voice calm and cold. "I heard you. Now, I'm going to sleep."

With that, I turned off the light, my back to him. He let out a frustrated huff and stormed off to the guest room. For the first time, I didn't follow. I didn't try to smooth things over. I just let him go. And that night, I actually slept soundly.

By the time I woke up, he was already gone.

Later, I had to drop some files off in his office. I pushed open the door, and there she was—Anya. She was standing right next to him, leaning in close. She wore this fitted suit that hugged her curves, her long wavy hair spilling over her shoulders. She was saying something to him, her voice low and too familiar.

Cedric's eyes flicked to me, and for a second, he looked uneasy. Then he quickly pulled it together. "Anya didn't have any projects lined up, so I offered her a job as my assistant. She could use the experience," he explained, almost as if rehearsed.

"Astrid, don't get upset," Anya chimed in, her voice soft and sweet. "Cedric's just helping me out. There's really nothing going on."

I barely acknowledged her, I just set the files down and walked out. I didn't feel upset. I didn't feel hurt. Just… nothing.

I caught Cedric opening his mouth like he was about to call me back, but in the end, he didn't say a word.

Catching them together would've torn me up inside. I would've clung to him like I used to, desperate for him to reassure me, to say he loved me. But it all didn't do our marriage anything other than push him away.

"Nothing is going on between me and Anya," he used to say. "You're always imagining things. Maybe you should look at yourself."

After a while, I just stopped asking. After losing the baby, it felt like whatever love I had for him died, too. The emptiness? Work filled it.

Around lunchtime, I saw Cedric and Anya leaving together, side by side, looking like they were inseparable.

The office had emptied, with just me left working overtime. As I was about to pack up, I heard Anya's voice. "Cedric, your tie's a little crooked. Hold on, lemme fix it."

She was right up close to him, adjusting his tie with a tenderness that made my stomach twist. They stood there, just a breath apart, almost like they were daring me to react.

Without a word, I shut down my computer, grabbed my bag, and walked out.