Struggling~ Does My Husband Have A Mistress?

"I hope you will change your mind soon, Andrea. Because you know I won't agree to your challenge to divorce me, so I'm giving you enough time to think." He dropped the glass on the table hard, making my body jump in shock. "And when your decision is complete, be sure to talk to me again about this matter. Because if you're sure that you're really going to end the marriage with me, we'll fight for custody for Gian next."

Mike went up to the second floor while I was left in the living room with my body still shaking. I don't know if it's because of the weather tonight, or maybe it's because my emotions are mixed with nervousness... because in fact, I didn't expect myself to end up challenging Mike to have our divorce… for the second time around. I was, perhaps, so impulsive earlier.

"Your loud exchanging voices with Papa reached my room, ma..." Gian sat next to me and hugged my waist. "I'm clueless about what you and Papa are fighting about, but hopefully it will be fixed soon."

"Of course." I swallowed all the sadness I felt, just to make sure when I faced my son, he wouldn't see his mother dealing with a huge relationship problem. "Son, whatever you heard earlier... just... don't think about it. Don't bother asking me why we're fighting earlier. It is normal for those in a relationship to have disagreements, okay? That's part of life, and... let's say a struggle for us that we have to overcome together to enable our relationship, at the same time, be stronger."

"But you and Papa aren't going to break up, are you?"

I was left smiling, but I didn't immediately respond. How can I answer Gian's question, and even I can't assure myself how long Mike and I's marriage will be valid.

"Nothing like that will happen, okay? And even so, one thing I can assure you... your dad and I will stay by your side. You were born with your father and I, and I can assure you that until you get married, your father and I... we will attend the wedding of our only son together." I gently leaned Gian's head on my shoulder so that at least when the tears flowed from my eyes, he wouldn’t see it. "Wherever or from whomever you hear those things, don't listen, okay? Focus on yourself and on our family. Everything else is just a noise.”

If I really need to tell lies, I'll do it. As long as I can hide the problems I'm facing from Gian, I will. As much as possible, I don't want Gian to absorb the weight and stress that is happening in his family... to the point that he can no longer focus on his studies.

He must be out of our fight with his father.

—

"I know, Jazz..." I heaved a long sigh as soon as I arrived at the meeting place where I met Jazz, my new friend since this year. "It's because of the photo you showed me, the face is different from the woman I saw kissing Mike's cheek the same day that woman I gave me a check-up to."

Suddenly, our conversation paused because the waiter came to ask for our order. I had pancakes and a chocolate latte, and Jazz told the waiter about hers.

"What if your husband doesn't have only one mistress? What if there are many?”

I called all the saints I know after Jazz telling her suspicions. My gosh, I hope her suspicions were wrong. Letting myself think that my husband has another woman makes me paranoid already. How massive stress can he give me if it is true he has many mistresses?! Will he do more than one?

"You think that's why the face you saw is different from the one I saw, does that mean they are two?"

"It's not unlikely to be three or four."

I whispered many profanities in my mind. Because I'm still thinking that what if Jasmin's suspicions about my husband are true, I feel like I just want to give up or let my world crumble. I'm losing the strength to fight. I feel that I have no reason not to pursue my divorce with Mike if I can prove that he has many affairs.

Fvck.

"All of those, of course, were all pure suspicions. We still don't have solid evidence to point to two or three women being played by your husband. What you can do now is to be an observer.”

Our ordered foods have also arrived, and I immediately took the choco latte to drink. Although it was hot, it was just plain water for me.

"This would be a different flavor I would dare to taste. I hope I get out of here alive, Jazz.”

I just poured the coffee into the void while I spent twenty minutes before heading to the hospital. I left the house early earlier because I thought of bothering Jazz to see me today due to a lot of questions my mind has been trying to find answers to since yesterday.

"I immediately apologize to you if we started getting close the day I sent you a stolen pic of your husband with a girl. I feel like... I’m becoming someone who’s trying to mind your business," Jasmin bit her lips as she spluttered.

"But I appreciate your effort in reaching me out and sending those pictures. Without your initiation, maybe until now I would remain a fool and blindly believe that I still don’t have any idea that my husband is cheating on me." I showed her how my smile becomes bitter.

Like I mentioned earlier, Jazz is my new friend. We met on the internet, and the main reason why we became close is because she's the one that gave me reasons to doubt my husband. She also provided me with some proof. Those pictures. If not because of her efforts, probably my innocent mind is still closed to receiving the truth.

"Let's just hope that... we're wrong." Jazz reached for my hand and made sure to smile at me. "Your eyes show that you love your husband very much. So, I really hope our suspicions turn out to be wrong.”

—

I was about to enter the elevator when I bumped into a woman, who seemed to be ahead of me as I entered. The black jacket that had been hanging on her shoulders fell off. So, I bent down to pick it up and handed it to the woman-

"Thank you-" When she saw my face, she smiled at me. "Oh, it’s you, Doc Andrea."

I watched her enter the elevator and I followed. We are the only two people; while she was adjusting the hanging of the jacket on her shoulder.

“What a nice jacket.”

"Yes, doc. My boyfriend gave it to me.”

Hearing her answer made my temper grow higher and the bitterness in my face got overloaded. Because now... it looks like I know the real reason why the jacket I gave to my husband as a birthday present is missing from Mike's drawer.

"Have you already told him about your condition?"

"Uh… not yet, doc."

I faced her. "What are your plans, Miss?"

"Eloise."

"So, Eloise... What are your plans? You will forever hide from him about your baby with him?" I tried my very best not to sound like I was interfering in both of their lives. "Or if you're planning something else, I hope it's not a crime on your mind."

"That's the reason why I'm preparing my passport." She immediately looks away from me. "Because in the States, it's not illegal for me to do this.