Chapter 3
Jefferson was silent for a moment and then nodded.
"Pretty much everyone at the school knows about Lance and Chloe," he said.
My heart froze, inch by inch, as the truth sank in.
So everyone knew it.
Only I, the real wife, was clueless and left out like an idiot.
Jefferson said, "Three years ago, Lance came to our school for an academic exchange.
"He was really talented, and Chloe was his assistant. As time went by, they developed feelings for each other.
"Then Chloe got pregnant, and that's how Kason came into the picture.
"Lance said he and his wife weren't getting along, and he was going through a divorce.
"We all just assumed..."
He trailed off, but the meaning was clear.
To everyone, I was just the so-called 'ex-wife', the woman whose relationship with Lance had supposedly gone sour.
And Chloe was seen as Lance's legitimate partner, the one he was openly supposed to be with.
I laughed, even as tears rolled down my cheeks.
"Not getting along? Really?" I echoed, my voice shaking.
I sneered, "Mr. Huffman, the night before he left, he held me close and promised, 'When I get back, we'll have a baby. The three of us, together forever.'
"He sent me money every month, video-called me, and always checked in on my parents.
"Is that his idea of 'not getting along'?"
Jefferson was at a loss for words, just letting out another heavy sigh.
He said, "Ms. Freeman, what's done is done. Chloe's gone, and Kason's still just a kid. He needs his dad.
"Lance... he's had a tough time these past few years, too."
"Had a tough time? Really?" I challenged, my voice sharp with disbelief.
I couldn't hold back my anger any longer and demanded, "He's got a happy family here.
"He's got a wife, a son, and everything anyone could want. What's so 'hard' about that?
"I'm the one who had it tough! I was the one taking care of both our parents, all alone!
"When Lance's mom was sick in the hospital, I stayed with her for seven days and nights, never leaving her side, not even once!
"When his dad's birthday came around, I had to make up excuses, telling him Lance was too busy overseas to come home!
"Mr. Huffman, you have a family too, so tell me, what did I do wrong to deserve being lied to and betrayed like this?"
I completely lost it, my voice rising, sharp and shaking with anger.
Jefferson looked at me, sympathy shining in his eyes. "I know Lance did you wrong.
"But Ms. Freeman, perhaps... for the sake of the child, could you..."
"For the sake of the child?" I cut him off. "Which child are you talking about?
"The one he had with another woman? The kid from his affair?
"Why should I be the one to pay for his mistakes?"
Just then, the office door swung open.
Lance stood in the doorway, his expression stormy as he glared at me.
"Gabriela, are you done causing trouble?" he snapped.
He walked in, the cold from outside still clinging to him.
There wasn't a hint of guilt in his eyes, just anger at being exposed for his lies.
"Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Huffman," he said, nodding at Jefferson Huffman.
Then he turned to me. "Come with me."
His words were sharp and absolute, leaving no room for protest.
I stayed put, meeting his gaze with a cold, unflinching stare.
"Why should I even bother? Lance, is there anything left for us to talk about?" I retorted.
Lance was clearly out of patience.
He strode over, seized my wrist, and hauled me out of the office.
Jefferson called after Lance, but he didn't even look back.
He dragged me to a secluded spot behind the classroom building, where there wasn't a soul in sight.
Letting go of my wrist, he raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"What do you want from me?" he snapped.
I looked at him, all smug and self-righteous, and couldn't help but laugh in anger.
I fired back, "What do I want? Shouldn't I be the one asking you that, Lance?
"You lied to me, told me you were going abroad for some exchange, but you stayed here, hooking up with another woman and having a kid behind my back!
"What am I to you? Just some disposable thing you can toss aside whenever you feel like it?"
He looked away, his voice barely above a whisper. "Chloe and I... it was just an accident."
"An accident?" I echoed, incredulous.
I repeated the word, the absurdity of it almost making me laugh.
I shot back, "An accident? The kid's already four years old!
"Lance, how much longer are you going to keep lying to me?"
He finally looked at me, pain flickering in his eyes. "I never meant to lie to you. I was going to...
"Once this project was over, I was going to come back, tell you everything, and ask for a divorce."
He said he wanted a divorce. He tossed out the word like it meant nothing at all.
It sounded like our five-year marriage was just some transaction he could walk away from whenever he wanted.
My heart felt like it was being torn apart.
I demanded, "So, if Chloe hadn't died, would you have ever told me? Or would you have just kept lying to me forever?
"Were you planning to wait until I was past my prime, and then graciously inform me that I'd been tossed aside?"
He fell silent.
His silence just confirmed everything I guessed.