One Moment Lost, An Eternity Apart

In the eighth year of our marriage, my husband, Nathaniel posted an intimate photo with his first love on social media, flaunting it with pride.

[My new assistant. Good looking? Sweet?]

I commented below.

[You two look like a married couple.]

He quickly deleted the post and called to scold me for being stupid.

A few minutes later, that same photo became her assistant Instagram profile picture.

I asked her, "Is that really appropriate?"

She smirked without hesitation, replying provocatively, "Why do you care? Mr. Lewis doesn't mind. Who do you think you are?"

Everyone seemed to forget that I was the true owner of the company.

This time, I wouldn’t stay silent.

——

When Nathaniel returned home that night, it was already late. Just before sleep, he had posted again.

[With her, I finally understand how youth can be eternal.]

The picture showed the two of them gazing deeply into each other's eyes, like a couple destined for one another.

Of course, he knew I would see it.

He did it on purpose.

Seeing me eating a late-night snack, he said coldly, "Still eating this late? Trying to get fat again?"

He used to stop me from eating junk food, even going so far as to cook something healthier for me himself.

Now? He didn’t even wait for my response. He just turned and walked into the bathroom.

Maybe my answers didn’t matter anymore.

Throughout our relationship, he’s had many impressive women around him.

But this time, it felt different.

When he came out of the shower, I was washing the dishes in the kitchen.

He approached me and said, "That photo I posted? It was just for fun. You overreacted."

"Really?" I turned to him. "Then how do you explain it becoming her profile picture?"

"That’s exactly why I wanted to talk to you," he said, his eyes filled with annoyance. "She just set it as her avatar and you threatened her? Don’t you think you’re being unreasonable?"

"Unreasonable?"

I froze.

Am I the one being unreasonable?

She uses a photo with my husband as her profile picture, parades it publicly and I’m not even allowed to say a word?

Maybe in Nathaniel’s eyes, I should just keep my mouth shut and let that woman parade around.

But I couldn’t.

"Call her and apologize," he demanded, handing me his phone.

Maybe he didn’t realize, or maybe he did. That this was a blatant trample on my dignity.

Or maybe, that was his intention all along.

My heart churned with fury, but I remained calm. "She’s having an affair with my husband and you expect me to call and apologize to her?”

"What kind of nonsense is that?!" he snapped. "You act like you’re the victim here. You haven’t matured at all! I don’t want to argue. I’ll dial for you. You apologize. Now!"

He’s always been overbearing.

Back in school, no one dared cross him.

He dropped out early, hustled through fights and trades and eventually opened bars and restaurants.

He made a name for himself.

And I? I grew up alone. Bullied. Abandoned.

He was the one who protected me. The one who paid for my college tuition.

I was grateful to him.

I married him after graduation and gave everything to help build his business—even risked my life once.