The Cost of Love

I packed my bags and stayed with my best friend, Layla Smith, for a couple of nights.

On day three, Francis rang me up, all high and mighty.

"Your money? I gave it to Chloe. Since you're so set on splitting, that's fine by me!"

I countered calmly, "We're married, Francis. I'm legally entitled to half of that forty-five grand you handed over. If we're calling it quits, she'll have to return my twenty-two thousand and five hundred dollars."

Francis yelled into the phone, "No way you're seeing that money again! It's Chloe's now. Dream on!"

I ended the call, totally stunned.

The guy did not even finish high school, so him not getting the legal stuff was no surprise.

Layla had been eavesdropping and after a long think, she smelled a rat.

She mused, "Brianna, doesn't your husband seem off to you? Even if he's Mr. Generosity, would he really fork over forty-five grand to an old flame, let alone be cool with funding someone else's kid? Mr. Tightwad? No chance."

She knew just how cheap Francis could be. At our wedding, while others splurged on bridesmaid gifts, he handed out cheap knick-knacks.

The guests got boxed lunches minus the meat—just bread. The guest shuttle was a rickety old bus from his backwater hometown. That wedding was one for the books.

However, that was exactly why her point hit home. Mr. Big Shot, footing the bill for someone else's wife and kid? No way.

We locked eyes, both floored by the revelation.

Unless that kid was his.

Ever since we tied the knot, he had been on my case about having kids.

Back then, my career was skyrocketing, and I was not in the best of health, so I turned him down.

He would gripe at me every few days for not wanting kids, but out of the blue, he stopped his nagging in our second year of marriage.

I figured he had gotten over it and felt a bit of relief.

However, what if he had fathered a son?

'Chloe's little boy is turning two this year!' I thought.

The timing could not be more spot-on.

Layla let out a contemptuous laugh, her voice filled with righteous anger. "I mean, why else would he fork over forty-five grand to his old sweetheart? Clearly, he's been playing away from home!"

She paused, a spark of realization in her eyes.

"Brianna, if you can dig up proof of his cheating while you were married, you could take him to the cleaners!"

I nodded, my mind racing with thoughts.

Francis mentioned Chloe walked away from her divorce empty-handed. She probably got caught in the act.

For someone as materialistic as Chloe, who ditched Francis for money back in the day, she would never get divorced without taking a penny.

Francis's affair was a done deal.

However, I was clueless without proof.