Asking For A Divorce

“Care to tell me how the design I sketched from start to finish ended up in the hands of a model, Ryan?” I spat, eyes blazing with suppressed fury as I waited impatiently for his excuse.

All eyes had turned to us. Some even lifted up their phones, cameras flashing.

I knew this was a bad idea. Kids were present, and this drama would make it to the media, considering my husband and Julia's profiles, but I didn't care. Those words got to me. The betrayal got to me.

“What are you talking about now, Adele? This is a child's birthday. Can you not cause a scene?”

“I don't care!” I yelled. This man was making me frustrated. “I just want the truth. Where did she get this dress? I made it. I designed it!”

“How would I know? I'm not a fashion designer, nor am I into the fashion industry.” He sighed, “Adele, I know you're stressed from being a housewife, you've holed up in the house for years and clearly don't know how the world works. You aren't the only smart one. You're not the only one who can think up this ideas, get over it.”

Stab!

It hit me right where it hurt. My heart ached. And I stood there, eyes wide, staring at him. All the words I wanted to say dissolved into a full blown devastation.

The garden around me melted away, leaving only Ryan's devastating words hanging in the air like poison: ‘You've holed up in the house for years... You aren't the only smart one…’

My mind reeled as I stared at my husband – the father of my child, the man I loved – now a stranger ripping my soul apart, in public.

Julia's smug expression, the party guests' murmurs and laughter, Sophia's wide eyes and Ethan’s disgusted look– everything faded into background noise as I focused solely on Ryan's face.

My heartbreak turned into a hysterical laugh-cry, tears streaming down my face as I choked out words, "How dare you... After everything I've given up for you, for Ethan, for our family... My career, my dreams, my identity – all sacrificed for you to throw in my face like trash!"

Ryan blinked, confusion on his face, as if I was going crazy. “What's all this about?”

"The truth!” I yelled. “Tell them,” I pointed at the crowd, “Fucking tell them who designed and owned this dress!”

I almost didn't notice I just used the 'F' word in front of kids.

“Why is that necessary?” His frown deepened.

“Because they mocked me, insulted me, claimed I stole Julia's dress. They called me names and shamed me. Clear my name, Ryan. Defend me. I'm your wife!”

He glanced around, then stopped to face the crowd, a soft, apologetic smile on his face. And then, he bowed!

My husband bowed!

“I'm sorry, my wife has been stressed lately. Please don't hold her accountable for this.” He turned to Julia, “Can you forgive her for crashing your daughter's birthday party? I'm sure she didn't mean to.”

“I think you need to see a therapist for her before she gets worse. You have a child, and it's detrimental to have him be raised by a mad woman.”

“I understand,” Ryan said.

I stood there, frozen in agony, as my husband publicly humiliated me, dismissed my pain, and validated Julia's cruel words.

My mind shattered into a million pieces as I watched Ryan side with Julia against me – his wife, his partner, the mother of his child.

Ethan's face contorted in distress, tears welling up in his eyes as he whispered "Mommy...why are you embarrassing me? I'm ashamed to be your son. I wish you were never my mother!"

Then, he bolted, running away from the party. From me.

“Ethan!” Sophia shouted and ran after him.

“Ethan! Sophia!” Julia followed.

My legs gave way, and I collapsed onto the garden path, my mind blank and dull.

I saw Ryan kneel beside me, but not to comfort me. He whispered calmly: "Adele, stop this. Even the child knows you're embarrassing us. I'll get the driver to take you home."

My vision blurred from tears as I stared at Ryan, his face twisted in annoyance rather than concern for my shattered soul.

Ethan's devastating words still echoed in my mind:

‘I'm ashamed to be your son… I wish you were never my mother!’

My child rejected me because of this man beside me.

My body trembled with anguish as I whispered back, voice barely audible. "Our son just disowned me because of YOU. Because YOU humiliated me. Because YOU chose HER over me."

My gaze locked onto his, filled with venom and heartbreak. "Tell me, Ryan... is she worth losing your family?"

Suddenly, Julia's voice floated back into hearing range, calling out from afar. "Ethan says he wants to go home with us tonight..."

“No–” just before I could finish, Ryan beat me to it.

“You can take him. Thank you, Julia.”

“Ryan!” I cried out. “What are you doing?”

“You've done enough damage, Adele. It's time you leave.” With that, he pulled me up and dragged me away from there, while apologizing for my ‘mental breakdown’.

…

“I want a divorce,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. We'd just entered the house and hadn't even locked the door.

Ryan froze for a split second before closing the door behind us. “You're not serious. Get some rest. You'll feel better after some sleep.”

My eyes blazed with fury as I slammed my palm against the door he'd just closed, my voice low and deadly. "Don't patronize me, Ryan. You've done enough damage. I can't do this anymore. I want a divorce!”

“And where will you go after you divorce me?” he began calmly. He never raised his voice. “You're an orphan, remember? You don't have any money. You don't know the world. You don't have friends. So tell me, Adele, where will you go?”

His words stripped me of any strength I had left, exposing my deepest fears and vulnerabilities.

Now I realized I was his prisoner. Now it dawned on me that he’d been manipulating me to give up everything and rely solely on him.

Tears of anger and hurt pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall – not in front of him.

My voice dropped to a venomous whisper. "You think you've broken me completely, don't you? That I'm still the scared, alone orphan you manipulated into marrying you 10 years ago.”

I took a step closer, my eyes shutting with fury. "But you're wrong. You've awakened the girl you tried to destroy. And she hates you."

My hands clenched into fists as I spat out.

"I'll go to court. And I'll ask for a divorce. I'll take Ethan away from your toxic influence... And I'll leave you with NOTHING – just like you've left me."

He sighed, “You can do what you want to quench your anger. I know that once you're calm, you'll understand that you can't live without me.” With that, he gave me a bone-chilling smile and left the house.