The Husband Who Kneeled for Divorce

ithful-or perhaps, more accurately,

him, lighting up with a message that l

me, but beneath it all was a dee

g to meet his ex. That bitch had calculated it all. Rhett woul

ayed me, things stopped goi

ett had been nothing short of devoted. He had been attentive,

arly, picked up all his favorite ingredients

I handed him the gift I'd caref

ed distracted,

round his plate before setting his fork

oking, "Are you waiting for a

d, avoidin

" he muttered. "I'm go

isappointment flickering across his face

t. I tidied up the dishes, pl

gift, the celebration-had b

flipped through TV channels

s phone

in the passcode- the one he'd said was just a random n

single messag

he avatar, and Rhett had e

at the Hilto

re we had spent

verything m

istance, the way he'd bee

When someone started to ch

, our marriage h

it all-love, understandin

ving room with his phone in

mand answers. But as I reached for the door, I caught

ctively went t

or myself anymore. There wa

t back on the table, and forced

rried for two years. We

k in the picture, he would do

retreated to the bedroom, my

.

had met on a

relationship-one that ended when I

ning our wedding

en picked, the i

t as gracefully as I could, then loc

Eventually, I agreed to a blind dat

w and when

thought, "Why not?

first date. To be honest, his outspo

ing someone in his heart;

he clean break, I couldn't deny that eight years of

ter that successful blind date, he started asking me o

a month had passed. But since our families knew

nresolved feelings from t

ding, he treated me exceptionally well-taking over household chores,

an to accept him

ed naturally, and soon, w

ttle life erased any l

nt when Rhett's ex came

returned, I would've firm

it didn't feel like an act. I bel

s together. I trusted Rhett would mak

, I decided to give him

rkness, Rhett's footsteps approached

surprise. I glanced at my ph

tions, and hadn't realized how late it was. But wha

he bedroom, had he bee

they talk

o had been so attentive since I became pregnant, hadn'

, I thought I saw a smile on his f

ispered, "Baby, Mommy will figure

.

Scott together, their

ad follo

had lunch together. Julia tossed aside the luxury items Rhett

so when Rhett got up early that Satu

wake up this ea

of him getting ready -the water runn

n door, the faint sound

er shaving, and I quickly closed

the rustling of clothes as he spent an u

hat he didn't notic

r close, I got up, grabbed an outf

seen him in a long time. He st

he emerged empty-handed,

smile on his face,

d through luxury stores, ca

o him, he laughed-a genuine, hearty

avishly, buying a

bought plenty of handbags, cosm

, Rhett had never bought

ng until noon, meticulously sele

mall, driving the car we had chosen together

him a bouquet of vibrant red roses. Th

for its excellent accommoda

't book a private room. Instead, they

bed, not far from them, my

handed Julia the roses, but she

r makeup flawless, he

an many men would idoli

fts he'd spent the morning picking out. However, Julia just impat

felt a sharp p

away, sitting stiffly in her chair

out my phone and captured the s

nce filled with sweet memories of Rhett and me,

. Shivering, I grabbed the remote and turne

o mock me. But Rhett-had

oap opera where the heroine dis

he heroine's husband had loved her. But

on before yesterday, I would'

good to me-how cou

what Rhett had for Julia-tolerant of her pretenses,

ng down my face as a deep,

n betraye

ed a d

.

d another woman h

ulia while I was right t

had been scraped raw

on the sofa, my hand instinc

de its presence known through my nausea, weakness, an

I sat there before Rh

unlocking snapped me

uded with irritation. When he

aren't you

ts outside the window cast

asked, "Honey, where did you go today? Why are

had to hand in our phones to enjoy the night. Sorry,

odd

e, I was

, worried Julia had taken him from me, worri

ome up with an excuse. Did he think about

be grateful I stil

ved to know his past atte

t ached

look so pale. Is the baby

, saying nothing, my eyes

s concern did

e so shamelessly, deceiv

t make se

seen Julia throw to the ground earlier. "I bought the

e, but I felt no joy-onl

bed," I said, fleeing the living roo

I saw Rhett sitting in the s

or a long time before gett

e was asleep on the sofa. I opened the d

rce her. Don't worry... There's a reason for all this. Besides, Nicole'

od ran

droom, lying down and wrapping

htly I held on, I cou

I knew I had t

.

a wealthy family, and a divorce wouldn't affect him much. But I had a chi

ke, I needed Rhe

ling in my mind, I drift

nctively reaching for the other sid

elay any longer. I

d, washed up, and hu

ad been the one to push for our marri

y respectful of his parents

h us for a few days, claiming

't want to intrude on our "young love

just getting up from the sofa,

udly and chat animatedly with h

other frowned the

d? You look so scruffy

ile but still came over

t brings

me to stay for a few days. Do

sked it with a warm smile. He handed us slippe

ven if Nicole didn't miss you,

back to the attentive, dutiful son I once knew. With her around,

this coul

at our relationship seemed unchanged, made

Rhett disappeare

erent route that day, hopin

her, their closeness unmistakable. A cold

ed, pretending not to recognize Julia.

't quite decipher, while Rhet

. I have some work matters to dis

my voice steady. "No.

oin you?"

nic, then anger, and final

le. Go home fi

say no?" I

e end, I left-becaus

alled "true love," he struc

time he'd ever la

ouldn't hold back my tears. I turned and wal

.

ts, not knowing where I was going, and

yself and unlocked the d

ook leave from work. My boss, perhaps sympatheti

through old photos and reminiscing about

e been a lie. Just like wit

t. The sadness was overwhelming, and it only intensified my pregnancy nausea.

days, Rhett di

ing, whether he was working, or

e, waiting-though I didn't k

number-probably f

lying shirtless on a bed, f

n, I retched violently

ote. "Dragging this out

My fingers gripped the phone so

Rhett, it wasn't her pla