Perfect Until I Disappeared

She only had two words for me.

"You're insane."

I walked home in the rain for three hours, soaked and looking pathetic, feeling like the road would never end.

Long enough for five years to replay in my head.

Long enough for something warm to go completely cold.

Gloria froze for a second, like she'd remembered what happened last time too.

But she didn't say anything. She just pulled a delicate diamond brooch from her pocket.

"This is for you."

I glanced at it. It looked familiar.

Two months ago, on my birthday, Gloria had her assistant deliver this exact brooch.

Back then, her assistant had said—

"Ms. Lawton's been really busy lately, but she still went out and picked this out for you herself."

Picked it out herself.

And now, two months later, she was giving me the exact same thing.

The old me would've lost it.

But I can't do that anymore.

I'm Gloria's perfect partner. Everything revolves around making her happy.

So I took the brooch and looked it over like I'd just gotten something amazing.

"It's beautiful." I looked at her and smiled. "I love it. Thanks."

Gloria looked caught off guard, like that wasn't the reaction she expected.

She was about to say something when her phone rang.

The ringtone was familiar.

It was the one she'd set just for Damian.

Giving someone their own ringtone was basically a confession.

I got it.

I looked away and casually played with the brooch in front of the mirror.

Gloria let out a quiet scoff and answered the call.

Damian's voice came through the speaker.

"Gloria, the results are back. You're pregnant!"

"Pregnant?"

Gloria went still, then pressed a hand against her stomach. Her face lit up instantly.

"I'm coming over."

She rushed into the bedroom. When she came back out, she'd changed into flats, the smile still on her face.

At the front door, our eyes met.

"The baby—"

"Congratulations."

We spoke at the same time.

Gloria's face turned cold instantly. "I don't care what you're planning, but I'm keeping this baby. You'd better behave yourself."

Then she shoved the door open and walked out.

I stared after her, confused, trying to figure out what she meant.

Then I caught my reflection in the mirror.

A perfect partner should make his wife's life easier.

Now that she was pregnant with Damian's child, Damian should be the one beside her.

I pulled out my laptop and started drafting the divorce papers.

***

News about Gloria's pregnancy spread through the Lawton family fast.

They were thrilled and immediately set up a family dinner, reminding her over and over to bring Damian.

Gloria barely ever took me back to the Lawton estate, but this time, she asked me to come too.

The old me would've said no.

The Lawtons never liked me.

They thought I came from nowhere and wasn't good enough for someone like Gloria.

Especially her mom, Jennifer. To her, I was a mistake in Gloria's life.

Damian was a celebrity from a wealthy family. He ran in the same circles as the Lawtons.

After finding out Gloria was pregnant with Damian's baby, Jennifer was probably the happiest person there.

But now, I just smiled and changed into the new white suit I'd bought.

I stood in front of Gloria and spread my arms.

"This is your favorite color. But you're pregnant now, and everyone's celebrating. Would it be weird if I wore white?"

Gloria's brows pulled together even more, her eyes sweeping over me again and again.

She rubbed her temples, already annoyed.

"Whatever. I'm going to pick up Damian."