Chapter 2

I stayed at a nearby hotel for the night.

I didn't sleep a wink, my mind replaying the scene from earlier.

At dawn, instead of going straight to the office, I went to a private investigation agency.

"Mr. Greene, I understand your situation."

The detective was a middle-aged man, Mr. Davis, who looked very professional.

"We have extensive experience with infidelity cases."

"However, I must warn you, some truths can be far more brutal than you anticipate."

"I want the whole truth."

I pushed my bank card across the desk.

"No matter how brutal, I need to know everything."

Mr. Davis nodded, taking the card.

"Give me a week."

After leaving the detective agency, I went to the office.

Ryan was already there. Seeing me enter, he immediately stood up.

"Alex, about last night…"

"During work hours, address me as Mr. Greene."

I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop.

"Mr. Greene, can we talk?"

He walked over, his voice barely a whisper.

"Talk about what? Project progress?"

I stared at the screen without looking up.

"Alex, don't be like this. We're friends…"

"I said, during work hours, address me as Mr. Greene."

"And please, stay away from me. I'm worried about catching something contagious."

Coworkers started noticing the tension between us.

Ryan’s face flushed crimson, and he retreated awkwardly to his desk.

At lunch, he followed me again.

"Alex, I know you're angry, but…"

"But what? But you couldn't help yourself?"

I stopped and looked at him.

"Ryan, tell me, how long has this been going on?"

"How long has what been going on?"

"Don't play dumb. You and Brooke, how long?"

He lowered his head, unable to meet my gaze.

"Over a year…"

Over a year.

That meant they started their affair just two years into my marriage.

And I, like a complete fool, still considered him my best friend.

I often invited him over for dinner, had Brooke cook his favorite meals.

Turns out, those dinner invitations were just creating opportunities for them.

"Alex, listen to me…"

"What else do you want to say? That you two are true love?"

I sneered.

"That you're in love, so I should just bless your union?"

"No, that's not it. Brooke and I…"

"Your relationship means nothing to me."

I looked him in the eye.

"But you betrayed me. I won't forget that."

"Alex…"

"And don't call me Alex. We're not close."

After work, I didn't go home.

Brooke called me over a dozen times, but I didn't answer.

Finally, she sent a text:

"Alex, let's talk. This isn't as serious as you think."

Not as serious as I think?

My wife cheating on me with my best friend isn't serious?

What *is* serious then?

I texted back eight words:

"Nothing to discuss. Prepare for divorce."

She immediately called. I hung up.

She called again. I hung up again.

Finally, I blocked her on SnapChat.

The next morning, Brooke was waiting for me outside the office building.

She had on a pristine full face of makeup and the Chanel coat I’d bought her. She looked truly miserable.

"Alex, why aren't you answering my calls?"

"We're married. Can't we just talk things out?"

Passersby and our coworkers were all staring.

I didn't want to make a spectacle right outside the office.

"Follow me."

I led her to a nearby coffee shop.

"Alright, what do you want to talk about?"

"Alex, what happened yesterday was an accident."

Brooke reached for my hand.

"Ryan had too much to drink, and so did I. We weren't thinking clearly."

"It was a mistake, a moment of weakness. Don't take it seriously."

I pulled my hand away.

"A moment of weakness? A year-long moment of weakness?"

She froze.

"How… how did you know?"

"Do you think I'm stupid, Brooke?"

I looked at her.

"Brooke, we've been married for three years, and you've been cheating for over a year."

"That means our *actual* marriage lasted less than two years."

"And in those less than two years, you never loved me anyway."

She tried to argue, but her mouth opened and closed, and nothing came out.

Because I was speaking the truth.

Our marriage was a mistake from the start.

She pursued me in college, and I thought she liked me.

After graduation, she wanted to get married, and I thought she loved me.

But now I understood. All she wanted was a man who could provide a stable life.

A man who was reliable, decent, and easy to control.

And Ryan, he offered her passion and romance. Things I apparently couldn't provide.

"Alex, I admit I made a mistake."

"But we can still start over."

"I'll change. I'll cut off all contact with Ryan."

"We can live happily. We can just pretend nothing happened."

I laughed.

Just pretend nothing happened? What does she think I am? A doormat? Her personal garbage disposal?

To be thrown out and picked up whenever she pleased?

"Brooke, do you really think that's possible?"

"Every night, I'll lie in bed, wondering what you and he did on that bed."

"Every time I see you, I'll remember that night's scene."

"Do you really think I can live a normal life with you anymore?"

Her face grew paler and paler.

"So, what do you want?"

"A divorce."

I said it so casually, as if discussing what to have for dinner.

"We'll sell the house, split the money evenly."

"Everything else will be divided too."

"From now on, we'll be strangers."

Brooke jumped to her feet.

"Alex Greene, don't go too far!"

"You bought the house, yes, but I've contributed for three years too!"

"I did the laundry, cooked, cleaned the house – doesn't that count for anything?"

"And who do you think you'll find better than me? Without me?"

"Look at yourself, what else can you do besides make money?"

"Boring, bland, emotionless. What woman would ever truly want you?"

Her words were like daggers, piercing my heart.

But I didn't argue.

Because she was right.

I was boring, bland, and emotionless.

That's why she cheated.

That's why my best friend betrayed me.

That's why I felt like a joke.

"You're right."

I stood up.

"Precisely because I'm like this, you should be relieved."

"Leaving me is your escape."

"You can go find those 'interesting' men, like Ryan."

"He'll be leaving the company soon. You two can finally be together, happily ever after."

With that, I turned and walked out.

"Alex!"

She screamed my name from behind me.

I didn't look back.

I knew what she wanted to say.

Threats, pleas, or more insults.

But it was all useless.

My heart felt dead.

Dead to her, dead to this marriage, dead to this so-called love.

--- PAYWALL ---