Chapter 3

Later on, some other things happened.

Raegan had stayed late at the office more than once to help Snyder finish his projects.

She brought Snyder along to all sorts of parties, leaving her secretary behind. Even her private elevator had Snyder riding along.

None of these things was a big deal, but they were enough to make me feel disgusted.

I remarked to her, "You're really giving Snyder special treatment."

Raegan looked completely at ease. "It hasn't been easy for Snyder to get where he is now. Everything he has, he earned through his own hard work. As his friend, of course, I should give him a hand."

Before I could say anything, Raegan was already looking annoyed. "Honey, are you seriously going to be jealous about it? If you could help your friend, would you just sit back and watch?

"I've always trusted you, you know. After everything we've been through, can't you trust me, too?"

See? She was so self-righteous.

They hadn't had an affair, kissed, held hands, or slept together.

But still, everything she did for Snyder was like a thorn in my side.

It wasn't fatal, but it was always there, constantly bothering me.

Raegan and I had been together for eight years.

That was not something I could just drop and forget. So, I gave her another serious warning, making sure she knew I meant it.

I said, "Honey, I can't accept you being this close to Snyder. You two are way past being friends.

"I want you to have him leave your company and seriously cut down on how much you see him. You know what my limits are."

Once is a chance, twice is a pattern, three times is a choice. I'd give Raegan one last chance, and that was it.

I remembered her face looked pretty grim at the time.

The next day, she really did have Snyder leave her company.

But from that day on, I could tell Raegan was holding a grudge against me.

Her attitude toward me was lukewarm whenever we talked.

She stopped keeping me in the loop about everything.

She changed her phone password so I couldn't check it anymore.

I knew exactly what she was thinking.

In her mind, she was just being nice to an old friend. It was not like she was cheating or anything.

She probably thought I was blowing things way out of proportion, being petty, and unable to get over it.

And then that so-called class reunion happened, and our relationship froze over completely.

I reevaluated my marriage with Raegan and finally made up my mind to divorce her.

Raegan said, "Quincy, I don't get it. What did Snyder ever do to you? Why are you always so hard on him? Why can't you let him be?"

When I didn't respond, Raegan's voice took on an edge, and I could hear the anger starting to show.

I said calmly, "I never wanted to go against him. From start to finish, it was you who kept putting him and me on opposite sides."

"Whether you two ever crossed the line, it doesn't matter anymore. Right now, all I want is a divorce."

Raegan was silent for a long moment before she finally spoke. Her voice was a little hoarse. "We've spent six years together, day in and day out, and you're really going to throw it all away over something this insignificant?"

She really made me laugh out of sheer frustration.

I said, "Raegan, if it's really a minor thing, then why have you been giving me the silent treatment for so long? Why are you acting as if you'll only come back if I say sorry?"

This time, there was nothing but silence on the other end.

I didn't want to get dragged back into all that old baggage, so I got straight to the point. "I've left the divorce papers at home. Come by and sign them when you get a chance."

I knew Raegan inside out. She was always proud, never the one to swallow her pride or make the first move.

No matter how much it hurt her, she'd never stoop to begging me to stay.

Just as I expected, a few seconds later, her voice came through, barely above a whisper. "Okay."