I'll Be Back

Regina's POV

I stared at the photos in front of me, my eyes burning. My head throbbed, as if hundreds of moths were flapping their wings in unison, creating a noisy orchestra.

"Your husband did leave his previous company, but that was because he accepted an offer to become a financial consultant at Ms. Leika's family-owned company, Ocean International Food and Beverages Supply Company, ma'am," said Ben Coldman, the private investigator I'd hired to investigate Asher. "He's receiving triple the salary from his previous company, double the benefits, flexible hours, and several other perks he didn't receive at his previous company."

Ben handed me a sheet of paper detailing Asher's employment, and I felt numb. His salary and benefits were substantial. If he managed it well, I was confident he could buy a car every three years.

"They were junior high school classmates, but midway through high school, Ms. Leika moved to Manila with her parents and only returned here about eight months ago," Ben continued.  "Your husband's family's first meeting took place three weeks after Ms. Leika returned."

Ben took out a photo and pushed it toward me. "I took this from the CCTV footage at the restaurant where they met."

I guess I paid Ben a lot of money for his work. He even managed to get photographic evidence from the very beginning of Leila's return.

"And here," Ben handed me a pen-like recording device. "You should hear this. They met at a bridal boutique three days ago. Your husband, Ms. Leika, and Mrs. Magie, your mother-in-law."

"W-what? Bridal boutique?" I asked, surprised. "A WEDDING DRESS?"

Several café patrons turned to look at me at my sudden loudness.

Ben handed me earphones. I put them in my ears and prepared myself to listen to the conversation of the three people Ben had mentioned.

"You're so beautiful, Leika. You've always been beautiful! Look, all those dresses suit you." - Magie.

"Oh, Mom, you're good at complimenting. I think I'll try them one by one." - Leika.

"Go, baby, I'll wait here with Mom." - Asher.

"So, have you prepared the divorce documents?" - Magie.

"It's in process, Mom. In the meantime, I think you and my siblings should be even tougher on her, just in case she can't take it anymore and files for divorce first." - Asher.

"That's impossible. Regina loves you too much and is crazy about you. If you don't divorce her, she'll never let you go. She's clingier than a leech, even after we blackmail her, demanding she pay this and that." - Magie.

"I know. If only there wasn't that prenuptial agreement and I could divorce her now. I'm so sick of her. She even fights with me over her meager savings!" - Asher.

"Just be patient for a while until a week after your anniversary. That way, you won't have to pay her any alimony, especially since you don't have any children and she's not pregnant." - Magie.

"Yeah, I know, Mom. I feel a little sorry for her, but Leika is more important to me. She's always been my priority." - Asher.

"Tsk! Regina is just a pebble compared to Leika. She's just a burden to our family, not to mention her annoying personality. Poor and alone, but arrogant, just because she works as a lowly staff member at a five-star hotel!" - Magie.

I couldn't take it anymore and turned off the recording. Tears welled up in his eyes.

Ben sighed. He looked at me emotionlessly. I guess he was used to dealing with client situations like mine.

"Okay, Ben, just follow them for now," I said, wiping the corners of my eyes. I wasn't going to cry, at least not in a public place like this. "I'll transfer your payment after this is all over."

I went home with various thoughts churning in my head. So all this time, Asher had been lying to me, saying he'd quit his job so I'd have to take over his family's finances, just to make me uncomfortable and for them to hope I'd file for a divorce.

In reality, Asher had been having an affair with the woman who had left him and then shamelessly returned to her, even though she must have known he was married. She even bribed him with a position in his family's company.

Ocean International Food and Beverages Supply Company was the eleventh-largest company in American industry.  They mostly supplied fresh food to major hotels and restaurants in major countries, even as far away as Europe.

No wonder Asher's family was so supportive of Asher and Leika's relationship. They were cruel, materialistic people who only cared about pleasure and money.

When I arrived home, I saw Magie's car parked in the driveway. I entered and saw her stretched out on the sofa, Janus lying with his head in her lap, watching television.

"Where have you been, Regina," Magie scolded when she saw me. "You're home this late and you haven't brought anything? There's nothing on the dining table either!"

"Dinner with friends," I replied dismissively.

"We're starving here, and you're having dinner with friends? How incredible!" Magie snapped.

"What's it to me?" I asked, frowning. "Who made the rule that you can come here when you're hungry? I don't!"

"This is my brother's house," Janus said in an annoying manner. "We can come and go as we please!"

"Then cook it yourself," I snapped. "Or buy it. I transferred the money to you at the beginning of the month, why are you still asking me for so much? Are you trying to blackmail me on purpose?"

I saw Magie's face turn nervous. "What are you talking about?"

I shrugged. "I guess you're not deaf."

"Hey! Don't talk to my mom like that!" Janus stood up, threw the TV remote, and yelled at me.

I turned and approached him quickly, until he took a step back after I stood in front of him.

I pointed my index finger at his chest. "I should have just let you go to jail, you brat!"

"W-what," Janus stuttered.

I turned and walked briskly to my room, entered, and slammed the door, shaking the windows. If anything broke or was damaged, I didn't care. This wasn't my house.

Past midnight, Asher roughly pulled the covers off me, startling me awake.

He stood in front of me, his face bright red.  "What did you do to my mother and Janus?"

I squirmed. "Nothing," I replied. "Why did you come home so late and immediately get angry at me? Did your business meeting not go well?"

"Don't change the subject. My mother's acid reflux is due to her late meal and is upset with you. You didn't cook and instead ate out, while she and Janus were starving? That's outrageous!"

"I wonder why, when they're hungry, your mother and siblings always come here and expect me to cook for them? Do they think this house is a soup kitchen for the homeless?" I said calmly. "Besides, I already gave them a lot of money at the beginning of the month for their living expenses, why are you still acting like beggars?"

"REGINA!!!"

I stood up and put my hands on my hips in front of Asher. "Don't shout. I'm not deaf. My money's gone, and I don't have time to serve them all the time. If you love them so much that you neglect your own wife, then find a job and take care of them with your own money!"

Asher laughed sarcastically. "I knew it. It's about money, right? You're such a materialist, Regina!"

"If it's not money, what else can you give? Love?" I retorted mockingly. "I guess it never existed in the first place."

"What? So you regret marrying me?" Asher hissed, narrowing his eyes, but I could clearly see the hope in his eyes.

I just smiled faintly, then left the room with my phone, moved to the guest room, and locked the door.

I climbed into bed and turned on my phone, sending someone a text.

"I admit defeat. Give me two more weeks, and I'll be home, for good. I'm sorry for defying you earlier."

Two minutes later, my text was returned.

"Just come back, princess. We'll be waiting for you."

I am blinking and tears fell onto the phone, but not from sadness, but from relief.

In two weeks, it was Asher and my fifth wedding anniversary.