Reject The Ex-husband: I will be the best version of myself!

Liam hesitated, and I could sense the weight of his words before he even spoke them. "Nora, I...I care about her. I have a responsibility to her and Becca."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "A responsibility? What about your responsibility to me? To our marriage?"

Liam sighed. "Nora, please understand—"

"No, Liam, I don't understand," I interrupted, my voice shaking with emotion. "I don't understand how you can so easily choose her over me. I don't understand how you can throw away our marriage like this."

Liam's voice was soft, but firm. "I'm not throwing away our marriage, Nora. I'm just...trying to do the right thing."

I laughed, a bitter taste in my mouth. "The right thing? You call this the right thing?"

We sat in silence for a moment, the only sound my ragged breathing.

Finally, Liam spoke up. "Nora, I think we need some time apart. I need to figure some things out."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "Time apart? You mean, like a separation?"

Liam hesitated again before answering. "I don't know, Nora. I just know I need some space right now."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Fine. Take all the space you need, Liam. But know this: I won't be waiting around for you forever."

***

It has been five hours since Liam and I spoke. I was worried sick already. It was late and he wasn't home yet. I checked the clock and it was getting late already. I suddenly received a notification from my phone. Abby had posted a new photo. She was in the restaurant where my husband used to take me to when we just got married.

[Abby: Out on a date with my lovely man.]

I was mad at the caption. Here I was all alone at home and Liam took Abby out on a date after they left the hospital? He couldn't even drive me back home?

I felt a surge of anger as I stared at the photo on my phone feed. How could Liam do this to me?

I thought back to our conversation earlier, how he said he needed space and time to figure things out. I didn't realize that meant taking his ex out on a romantic dinner.

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I scrolled through the comments on Abby's post. People were congratulating them on their "love" and saying how cute they looked together. It was like a knife twisting in my heart.

I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to know what was going on. I grabbed my phone and dialed Liam's number.

It rang several times before he finally picked up.

"Where are you?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I'm...uh...at a restaurant," he replied, hesitating.

"I know that," I snapped. "I saw the photo Abby posted. You're on a date with her, aren't you?"

Liam sighed. "Nora,It's none of your business.You have no right to tell me what I do!"

"No, Liam, I don't understand," I cut him off. "I don't understand how you could do this to me. We're still married, and yet you're out with another woman. How could you be so heartless?"

Liam sighed, sounding unbothered. "Nora, don't make a big deal out of this. It's just dinner."

I felt a surge of anger at his nonchalance. "Just dinner? You're on a date with your ex, and it's just dinner?"

"Nora, I told you, I need space. And right now, I'm taking it."

I heard a female voice in the background, and then Abby's voice came on the line. "Hey, Nora. It's Abby."

My heart sank. "What do you want, Abby?"

Abby's voice came on the line, sounding cheerful. "Hey Nora, I'm Abby. I just wanted to talk to you for a second."

I hesitated, unsure of what to expect. "What is it, Abby?"

Abby laughed. "I just wanted to reassure you that there's nothing going on between Liam and me. We're just friends, Nora. I know you're probably thinking the worst, but honestly, we're just hanging out because Becca wanted to go out for dinner and I'm lazy and didn't feel like cooking."

"Save it, Abby," I snapped. "I don't believe you. And even if I did, it doesn't excuse the fact that Liam is out with you and not even bothering to check in with me."

Abby's voice turned condescending. "Oh, Nora, don't be so insecure. Liam's just being nice to me and Becca. You're his wife, not his prisoner."

I felt a sting from her words. "You have no right to talk to me like that, Abby. And I'm not insecure, I'm just tired of being disrespected by my own husband."

Abby sighed. "Whatever, Nora. I just thought I'd try to be nice. But clearly, you're not interested."

The line went dead, and I was left feeling angry, hurt, and frustrated.

I thought I had a good marriage, a loving husband, and a happy life. But now, it all seemed like a lie.

A sob escaped my lips as I thought about all the memories we had made together, all the laughter, all the adventures. Were they all just a lie?

As I sat on the couch, seething with anger and hurt, I scrolled through social media. Abby had posted yet another photo of her and Liam, this time with a caption that read: "Late-night conversations with my favorite person"

I felt a sting from her words.

I kept scrolling, my heart sinking with each new post. They were having the time of their lives, while I was left here alone, wondering what I had done wrong.

Just as I was about to put my phone down, I saw a new post from Abby. A photo of her and Liam, cuddled up together on a couch, with a caption that read: "Sleepover"

My heart stopped.