Our Love Has Expired

The day before our tenth anniversary, my husband sprung a sudden business trip on me.

While packing his bags, I unearthed two telling items in a box under our bed.

One was a lipstick he scrimped and saved to buy me when we were just 19.

The other was a pregnancy test that wasn't mine—and it was positive.

I was thrown back to the days when Lucas Wilson was 19, whispering to me.

"Someday, I'll give you the best of everything."

"Just relax and be my princess."

Now, there he was, sprawled on the sofa, laughing up a storm with his mistress, calling me a lazy slob.

That's when it hit me.

The lipstick was past its prime, just like my love for Lucas.

——

Seeing these relics made my heart skip a beat.

In disbelief, I rubbed my eyes.

I was dying to confront Lucas, but just then, my phone pinged with a new message.

It was from Lucas' assistant, Maggie Nguyen.

She'd sent a screenshot of their chat from just a minute ago.

[Missing you. Come over tomorrow? I can't stand another day of you home with that fat slob.]

[Sure thing, and wear that new dress I got you.]

Maggie sent back a kissy face emoji.

She added: [Got a surprise for you tomorrow.]

Lucas quickly sent her 52,000 dollars.

Before I could process more, the message vanished.

I was frozen, tears uncontrollably streaming down my face.

It was unimaginable.

Lucas and I had been together since I was 19, through the best and worst of ten years of our lives.

He was always so kind, entrusting me with our finances once his career took off.

No matter how late, he never forgot to bring me a midnight snack.

I couldn't fathom this Lucas cheating, bringing her into our home, sharing our stories with her, and allowing her to openly provoke me.

The shock sent me reeling, and I tripped over the suitcase, crashing to the ground.

Lucas finally looked up from his phone at the noise, concern etching his face when he saw my swollen ankle.

"Careful, you're not a kid anymore. Let me get some ointment for that."

He lifted me up into his arms.

In his embrace, I smelled a foreign perfume.

Nauseated, I pushed him away.

Oblivious, he continued to tenderly apply ointment to my ankle.

The touch was familiar, but his wedding ring was gone, only a faint mark remained.

My heart ached, and I reached for a tissue.

Lucas suddenly grabbed the phone next to the tissue box.

His hurried movement pressed on my sore ankle.

I winced in pain, and only then did he realize.

"Work's been insane lately..."

He glanced at his phone, then sheepishly looked away, unable to meet my eyes.

"Go on with your work. I'm fine. I'll sleep in the study tonight, won't disturb you."

Relief washed over Lucas' face.

Still, he tried to show concern.

"Okay, if you feel worse, just holler."

I stayed silent, and he suddenly held my hand.

"Honey, I know I've been distant. Let me make it up to you. You love stargazing, right? How about a trip to the plains to watch the stars?"

I nodded, silently withdrawing my hand.

Hobbling to the study, I opened my laptop and started to review divorce papers.