The truth was, I didn’t care. I was leaving the
country next Sunday.
Chad was extra nice to me for the next week.
He made breakfast for me.
But he wasn’t a good cook.
I said thanks, took the lunch he made, and
threw it away.
He was always texting me, telling me where
he was, what he was doing, who he was with.
It was like we were dating again.
He did the same thing in the past, but then he
just got tired of me.
I worked so much that week.
On Sunday, Chad was dressed to the nines.
He pretended like he didn’t care, but he wore
the tie I got him.
It was the first gift I gave him, and it took me
half a year to save up enough to buy it.
I was supposed to save it until our golden
<
wedding anniversary.
The tie was out for another kid and his mom.
After he left, I put the ring on the coffee table, where I placed a pre–written divorce
paper.
I packed my suitcase and got on the plane.
If Chad looked closely, he would have seen
that I was packing my things, bit by bit.
If he paid any attention to me, he would know
that I was never pregnant.
He only cared about Tiffany. He thought I was
trying to trap him and always jumped at any
opportunity to be with her.
<
vve snouia probably just move on.
The plane landed. I got a lot of missed calls
and texts.
Chad was panicking, asking me where I went and why I wasn’t home.
My manager had texted me: “Did you see the
news?”
“Are you okay?”
“Lindsey, if you need help, I can ask the
office for you to be stationed back home. You
can take care of things at home and then
come back to the company.”
I opened social media. One of the headlines
was “Maybe This is Happiness.”
<
A blogger talked about her normal, amazing
life, spent with her son, her husband, and her
mother–in–law.
The headline would have been heartwarming,
if Chad wasn’t the husband, and Chad’s mom
wasn’t her mother–in–law.
The blogger had posted, “After everything, you’re still here with me!” It felt like I was
stabbed in the heart.
Turns out, I was just a side character in a
novel.
Chad called again.
I picked up, and he sounded sad.
“Lindsey, it’s not what you think. Trust me!”
L
“Tiffany was just writing about her life. The
marketing team got her post and put it up
online.”
“Don’t let this affect our lives. I don’t want a
divorce, can we please talk?”
“Where are you? I miss you so much. I want
to find you.”
I sighed.
“Chad, you can’t find me.”
“What does that mean?”
“The company has a new overseas branch. I
asked to be stationed there.”
Г
“The divorce paper is on the coffee table.
Just sign it so you can move on.”
“I won’t sign it!”
Chad got so angry. He kept repeating.
“Lindsey, you love me. You’re just playing
games, right?”
“I’ll always be there for you. You don’t like me with Tiffany, so I won’t see her anymore.”
“I made a mistake, but I will fix it. Okay?
“I can’t live without you!”
“Please…”
Chad was crving.
Chad was crying.
“Please, do it for the baby…
I felt the wind. I noticed tears rolling down my
face.
“I don’t have a baby. Chad, I took the baby
away the day you gave Tiffany the ring.”
Chad paused.
I said bye and contacted my lawyer.
After leaving his love, I woke up to reality.
Negotiating didn’t work, so I would file for
divorce.
Г
I would do anything to get away from Chad.
I could breath again.
People said Chad was being an awful person,
but Chad’s friends remained silent.
Only Mark was happy, posting all their photos
together as if to show off to me.
Tiffany commented, “I feel like I’m back when
I was a child.”
It was midnight.
When I worried that Chad’s stomach would
hurt him, I would call him to make him go
home.
I continued to work
Sometimes, Chad would text me, but I never
replied.
“Lindsey, please forgive me.
“I made a mistake.
“I can’t live without you.
“Please…”
I didn’t know if Chad was drunk or sober
when he sent those texts, but I didn’t care
anymore.
Chad said he wanted to be free.
I let him be free.
They all think Tiffany and Chad are a perfect
match, so I should leave.
I worked hard, and the boss noticed.
After a month, I was added to the office.
The crew asked me to drink, but my
coworker, Howard, blocked for me.
He was dressed nicely, wearing a suit and a
cold look.
We were close because we were from the
same country.
He had a crush on me, but I was upset about
my marriage and was not in the mood to
accept him.
That’s when my phone rang.
Г
When I picked up, there was a pause.
Then Chad asked, “Who are you with?”
I laughed.
“What does it matter?”
“I care! We aren’t divorced yet! I did not sign
the divorce paper! I do not want to lose you!”
“Why don’t you care about me? Why aren’t
you jealous?
“Come home, I really miss you.”
“It’s too late.”
“I don’t love you anymore.”
く
I had a lawyer now. It was over.
The divorce spread between us.
Mark still posted about how happy Chad and
Tiffany were.
The other guys agreed. They posted
memories from back then.
I received more calls about how Chad was a
mess, but I didn’t want to deal with him
anymore.
Months later, I received Chad’s divorce paper.
It was over.
