Four

Delia stared at her phone and growled crossly as he had the nerve to try and ring her after everything that he had done. Didn’t he realise how much pain that he had caused her? They were supposed to be happy, she had loved that man with every ounce of her being. She had been faithful and waited on him hand and foot, and this is how he had repaid her? Did Thomas not respect his wife enough to be loyal back?

“I’m here for you, Delia. Don’t let that bitch and that cheating scumbag get you down. They aren’t worth it.” Her best friend reached across the table and said firmly. Looking up at her best friend, Delia smiled a little. She knew that her friends was right but it was hard. She thought of how only a couple of hours ago she had been excited to tell Thomas he would soon be a father but it turned out he was already going to be a father to his secretary’s unborn child.

“Delia, what are you going to do?” She asked softly. Delia drew in a breath and placed her hands on the table.

“I’m going to divorce him and take him for everything that he’s got. He will regret messing with me.” Delia declared, her voice steadying as determination surged within her. Her friend’s eyes widened in surprise, and Delia could see the support radiating from her.

“Are you sure? I mean, it’s a big step,” her friend replied gently, concern lacing her tone.

“I’ve put up with his neglect for too long. I let him take me for granted while I poured my love into a man who clearly didn’t appreciate it. I could’ve built a life with him—but instead, he chose to destroy ours with someone else. I deserve more.” Delia felt the words fire up within her, igniting a resilience she hadn’t known she possessed.

Her friend nodded, slowly. “Okay, but you have to be smart about it. Have you thought about everything you want from this divorce?”

“Of course,” Delia said, a hint of pride creeping into her tone. “I want joint custody of any children we might have, a fair split of our assets, and most importantly, I want my dignity back. I won’t let him make a fool out of me anymore.”

“Good. You have every right to stand your ground,” her friend replied, visibly relieved by Delia's clarity of purpose. “And I’m here for you. Whatever you need, just say the word.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate it,” Delia said, her heart grateful for the support. She had always been the strong one—always rooting for others and placing their needs above hers. Now it was time for her to prioritize herself and regain control of her life.

“You know, I’m right here, and I’ll help you through this,” her friend reminded her. “You won’t be alone. We can find a good attorney, and I can help you figure out what to do next.”

Delia took another deep breath, feeling lighter. “That would be amazing. I did love him once—maybe even still do—but this… this is a wake-up call, and I refuse to let it be for nothing. I can’t let my life revolve around someone who doesn’t cherish me.”

As they continued to strategize over their dinner, Delia felt a mix of sadness and excitement wash over her. Yes, it hurt deeply to know that Thomas had betrayed her, but it also unveiled a world of possibilities she had never allowed herself to envision. A world without the weight of his infidelity hanging over her shoulders.

“I want a new start,” she declared, her voice tightening with renewed resolve. “One where I don’t have to hide or shrink myself to cater to someone else’s needs. I will be the woman I was before him—before I thought I had to change to keep someone else happy.”

“Absolutely! You will rise from this stronger than ever,” her friend affirmed, reaching out to squeeze Delia’s hand in solidarity.

Delia smiled, a genuine one this time, as her heart began to mend itself. It was going to be a long road ahead, but she wasn’t alone. She had people who believed in her, and that made all the difference. Tough choices awaited her, but with each passing moment, she felt a clarity that brought hope.

“Tomorrow,” she concluded decisively, “I’ll start gathering information on attorneys.”

“Perfect! And after that, let’s go out and treat ourselves. You deserve it!”

Delia chuckled, “What I really deserve is a big glass of wine, but I’ll take the treatment too!”

As they laughed and toasted to her new beginning, Delia understood that this was her turning point. She was ready to step into her power and reclaim her happiness, no matter the cost. Thomas had made his choices, and now it was time for her to make hers.