Shocking Lie for His Sweetheart

James chatted with Sarah for a while.

When he was ready to leave, she suddenly clutched her chest, claiming she was spooked and her heart hurt.

He took her straight to his office to check her out.

It was ironic. I had been married to him for years but had never once stepped foot in that office.

When I complained about it, he'd only say, "I don't get why you're making a stink about this. I'm already beat from work. Can you stop being a pain? That's my space. Can't I have a little privacy? Grow up and quit smothering me. Have a life."

He forgot how I had cut off all my friends to prop him up when he was broke.

He was my whole world. Before meeting him, I had a life too.

By the time I snapped out of it, they were already gone.

My heart ached like it was being squeezed dry. I could barely breathe.

Right then, the ER light went out. The doctor came out with bad news. "The patient's brain is damaged. She might never wake up."

I sobbed at the door till I nearly passed out, refusing to leave her side. The staff had to drag me to a room next door to rest.

For a week, I stayed with Margaret. The opposite room was James's office.

He never came by, and my heart flatlined.

But I wasn't done. I hired a nurse for Margaret and went to the police station for the surveillance footage from that night.

They said the system got an upgrade and all the old videos were gone.

My gut screamed James. With his pull, wiping those tapes would've been a breeze.

I didn't want to make a scene at the hospital, so I went home to wait.

James didn't come home until it was midnight. Reeking of booze, he stumbled in and saw me in the living room. Not catching my vibe, he rubbed his head and hugged me.

His tone was softer than usual. "Waiting for me? Missing me? Our team had a party, and it ran a little late. I got you that little cake you like. Want some now?"

He acted as if nothing had happened, but I knew better. He was trying to please me and ease his guilt.

I didn't miss the faint perfume on him. That was something I had only smelled on Sarah.

My stomach churned. I shoved him off and dry-heaved over the sink.

When I recovered, I glared at him. "Margaret is in a vegetable state. You haven't visited her once but have got time for a party? Do you have a heart?"

I rarely talked to him like that, causing his face to darken.

But he managed to hold back his anger. He said, "Chill it. You know how slammed I am at work. The party was our boss's idea. He's eyeing me for a promotion. I couldn't say no. I get you're upset, so I grabbed the cake to cheer you up. Sweet stuff helps, right?"

Since coming back, he hadn't said a word about Margaret. All her kindness to him over the years was for nothing.

Furious, I smacked the fancy cake out of his hand.

James grabbed my arm, done playing nice. "It's been days. Can't you get over it? I've been patient, but you're pushing it. Sarah already paid you guys off. What else do you want?"

I sneered at his words.

To him, Margaret's situation was not important, but money couldn't wake her up.

Rage took over, and I slapped him across the face. "That's my mom. She's still lying unconscious in the hospital."

"So what?" he shot back. "She is not dead. She'll wake up, okay? Why are you freaking out, trying to ruin Sarah's life? Will that make you happy?"

A life hung in the balance, and he was caring about someone else's future.

I laughed at my blindness of ever treasuring a man like him.

"So, Margaret's life doesn't matter?" I growled. "I want a divorce. Your face makes me sick."