The Artpiece that Destroyed My Marriage

My wife kept her art studio completely off-limits. Honestly, I never thought much of it, until I found out she was hiding a life-sized replica of Michelangelo’s David in there.

Two months after giving birth, she suddenly became obsessed with sketching sculptures.

Like, really obsessed.

She spent 29 days a month locked in that studio. Sketch after sketch, piling up until discarded pages formed little mountains on the floor. Meanwhile, our baby daughter cried for hours and she wouldn’t even come out to hold her.

Slowly, I couldn’t take it. That's why I told her I wanted a divorce.

Everyone was stunned.

My father-in-law glared daggers at me. “So you're saying, you’re divorcing Tia… because she spends 'too much' time painting?”

I corrected him. “Too much? She’s sketching that David statue over and over again!”

My mother-in-law shouted, clearly unamussed. “She gave birth to your child! She’s dealing with postpartum depression! So what if she’s retreating into her art a little? If she can’t handle the baby, hire a nanny! It’s not the end of the world!”

I said nothing to that, but I didn’t back down either.

Tiana was furious at my request and slapped me.

“Charles, I didn’t cheat on you, I haven’t even been around another man, I haven’t done a single thing to betray you! Yes, I’ve been distant. Yes, I’ve been spending more time in art lately. But are you seriously ending our marriage over that?”

People called me heartless.

I let out a dry laugh and pointed toward the studio. My voice was flat, “Well, if you said that only that statue can satisfy you, then I’m doing you a favor now.”

——

I slammed the freshly printed divorce papers down on the table. “Sign it.”

“Charles!” Tiana stared at me in shock, tears began streaming down her face. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I’ve been busy painting at the studio this month, I admit I’ve been distant. That’s on me. I’ll make it up to you, okay? But is divorce really necessary?”

Her voice broke as she pleaded, loud enough for everyone to hear. “And of all days, you had to pick today! Bringing up a divorce, in front of all these people?”

I looked around the room.

Today was our fifth wedding anniversary.

To mark the occasion, Tiana had organized a family dinner. She called it a “celebration of love,” a way to bring everyone together. Yet, the entire night, she hadn’t looked at me once. Even during the toast, she clinked glasses with her childhood crush instead of me.

That was when I realized, there was no point dragging this marriage anymore.

“If you’re that embarrassed for getting everyone’s attention, then it’s better that you do as I say and sign the papers,” I said coldly, no longer interested in talking it through.

The room fell silent.

Every guest exchanged stunned glances. For five years, we’d been the picture-perfect couple. People saw us as the gold standard of marriage.

Tiana’s face turned pale. Her shoulders shook as she tried to hold herself together.

“I’m begging you,” she whispered, stepping closer, her voice choked with emotion. “Chaz, please… whatever this is, let’s talk about it at home. Don’t do this here. My parents are worried.”

I yanked my hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

Seeing how harsh I was, the mood shifted. Faces turned cold. Her father slammed his glass onto the table. Her mother’s expression darkened instantly.

Tiana lost her balance from my yank and stumbled—straight into Eddie’s arms. The very person she had a crush during childhood.

“Charles, what kind of man are you?” Eddie was furious. He stepped closer towards me.

“Did you forget Tiana carried your child for nine months? That her stomach’s covered in stretch marks and she didn’t sleep a full night for a year?”

“You weren’t even there for her when she was struggling with postpartum depression. She almost jumped off a balcony—twice! It was the doctor who told her to spend time alone, to focus on things she loves—like painting—because that’s the only way she’d start to heal.”

“And now that she’s finally getting better, finally finding herself again, you’re punishing her for it?”