Three Chances, Then Never Again

"I want to give Ms. Sutton three more chances," Jonathan said. "If she really doesn't like us, then we'll leave her forever."

I closed my eyes and agreed to his request. "Alright."

Jonathan and I would give Zoey three chances. After that, we would no longer consider her family.

It was Friday, the day Zoey's first love returned from abroad.

They had been college sweethearts, engaged right after graduation. But a month before the wedding, Sean Henderson had fallen in love at first sight with a Frocian woman. He abandoned Zoey and left for Froca to pursue his so-called true love.

Just like that, they were separated.

Zoey sank into despair over him, and it was then that I started working as her assistant. One drunken night led to a child. I became her husband in secret, and she never acknowledged Jonathan.

After printing the divorce papers I drafted yesterday, I began preparing my resignation.

Unlike Jonathan, I had witnessed Zoey's cruelty too many times to foolishly hope she would ever change. Seven years had been enough to destroy every illusion I once had.

A colleague glanced at my screen and whispered, "Jasper, are you really going to resign?"

I smiled and delivered the excuse I'd already rehearsed. "Yes, my wife is working abroad. I'm taking my son to join her so we can be together as a family."

My colleague nodded. "That's good. It must be hard raising your son on your own here. Honestly, we all thought you were a single father."

I laughed bitterly when I heard that. I wasn't a single father, but compared to one, I had it worse.

Eyes stinging, I forced a smile before submitting my resignation.

That was when Zoey walked in with Sean.

He was walking in front, smiling tenderly. Zoey followed, unable to tear her eyes away from him.

A colleague nudged me, whispering, "Jasper, look at that. Even someone like Ms. Sutton can fall in love."

I managed another smile, though bitterness flooded my chest. Zoey could be gentle, I realized, just never with me.

As she walked past me, I couldn't resist calling after her. "Zoey—"

Her icy eyes froze me mid-word. "What is it, Jasper?"

The warning in her tone told me to swallow my words and remember my place. I lowered my head, hiding the redness at the corners of my eyes.

"It's nothing, Ms. Sutton. I'm sorry."

Zoey hummed and withdrew her gaze, fixing her attention on Sean, as though the rest of the world had faded away.

She was my wife and Jonathan's mother, yet here she was showing affection for another man. The irony was sobering, and the thought drew a self-mocking smile from me.

I had wanted to tell her about my resignation, but it seemed unnecessary. She had never cared about me, about Jonathan, or about this hollow marriage.

When I returned to my desk, I received a call from Jonathan's smartwatch.

"Daddy, there's an early dismissal today for a parent-teacher meeting. Ms. Chance has brought me to your office."