Divorce Papers

Sophia stared at the large framed picture of my husband and I on the wall, a smile frozen in time.

"Beautiful, isn’t it?" I interrupted, trying to lighten the mood as I handed her a glass of water.

She ignored my question, collecting the glass of water with shaky hands, her gaze locked onto the picture.

"How could he do such a thing?" she muttered, her face pale, anger and disappointment swirling within her. I had never seen my friend look so bitter before.

"Sophia, talk to me. Why are you staring at the picture like a widow mourning her husband?" Confusion etched across my face as I exchanged glances between Sophia and the frame.

Finally, she turned to me, her face still drained of color, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Your husband is cheating on you, Kate." Her voice was steady but laced with empathy.

"Alex would never cheat on me. What do you mean?"

Sophia nodded, her expression resolute. "I have the evidence to prove it. Open your I*******m account and check your husband’s page."

I hesitated, studying her earnest face, then reluctantly unlocked my phone. With trembling fingers, I opened I*******m and navigated to his page. What I saw felt like a jolt of electricity coursing through me, shocking and unbearable.

The tray I had used to carry the water slipped from my grasp and fell on the floor.

There he was, Alex—his smile wide as he reconnected with his first love, kissing her publicly and posting it for the world to see.

"I’m so sorry, Kate. I really am," Sophia murmured, her voice gentle as she watched tears pool in my eyes.

"You know what, Sophia," I choked out, my voice already breaking, "I refuse to believe this."

With that, I crumbled, burying my face in my hands as the tears streamed down.

Sophia stepped closer, wrapping her arms around me, I cried into her shoulder, the fabric soaking up my sorrow.

"It hurts, Sophia. It hurts." My words came out in muffled sobs, the reality crashing down around me.

Just then, the sound of a car driving into the compound shattered the heavy silence.

I stepped back from Sophia, hastily wiping my tears and trying to compose myself.

"That must be Alex," I said, my heart pounding as I cleaned up my tear-streaked face.

"I should leave now," Sophia said, her voice low and careful.

"Alright, we’ll talk later," I replied, forcing a brave smile despite the turmoil swirling inside me.

She left the parlor, and the door clicked shut behind her.

I quickly sank into the chair, my hands trembling in my lap as I waited for Alex to walk through the door.

The minutes felt like hours as my mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions—anger, disbelief.

I glanced at the framed photo of us on the wall again. What would I say when he walked in? Would I confront him? Or would I let him spin his web of lies before I revealed that I already knew?

The sound of the front door opening echoed through the house, and I straightened up, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves.

"Kate?" he called out, his voice casual, as if nothing was wrong.

But he wasn't alone, the woman from the video—stepped in right behind him.

I froze, my pulse quickening as she strolled in with a confidence that cut right through me.

Alex didn’t offer an explanation, not a single word. Instead, he walked over, pulled out a document from his briefcase, and dropped it onto the table in front of me.

“What’s this?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“It’s for you,” he said flatly. “I think it’s best if we divorce, Kate.”

The words hit me like a punch, but I forced myself to keep my composure.

I glanced at the woman standing behind him, catching the faint, smug smile on her lips. The satisfaction in her eyes was unmistakable, as if she’d already won.

I shifted my gaze back to Alex, my expression calm. Then, slowly, I let a small smile spread across my lips.

The look of surprise in his eyes was almost satisfying.

He’d expected me to break down, to cry and beg for an explanation. But I was done giving him that power over me.

Without a word, I reached for the pen, took the divorce papers, and signed my name on it.

"Here you go," I said, a smile on my face as I stood up, sliding the signed divorce papers across the table.

Alex stared at me, then down at the documents, confusion and disbelief flickering in his eyes.

He shifted his gaze back to me, searching for some sign of the heartbreak he’d expected.

"Is that it?" he scoffed, a hint of irritation in his voice. "To think you'd easily agree with a divorce. You're even more gullible than I thought."

A laugh bubbled up from my chest, surprising even me.

I could see the shock on his face. Ignoring his question, I casually picked up my phone and dialed a number in front of them, letting the line ring as I held Alex’s gaze.

On the other end, a familiar voice answered. "Hello?"

“Am I speaking with Mr. Calvin Johnson?” I asked, deliberately using the name that still felt foreign to me.

“Yes, I’m Calvin. Kate, is that you?” His voice was warm, but I could sense the underlying curiosity.

I hesitated, the weight of our shared past pressing down on me. “Yes, Mr. Calvin, this is Kate…” I paused, biting my lip as I gathered my thoughts.

There was a moment of silence on the line, and I felt the intensity of our history hanging between us.

“I accept your proposal, Sir. I agree to marry you.” The words came out clear.

“Wow, I’m glad to hear that. Let’s meet as soon as possible so we can begin preparations for the wedding.” His excitement was palpable.

I simply nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, “Yes, of course,” I replied.

With a quick farewell, I hung up, the phone slipping from my fingers as the gravity of my choice settled over me.

The satisfaction I felt was almost exhilarating as I watched Alex’s jaw drop, his mouth hanging open in shock.

His first love’s eyes widened, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face. They both knew exactly who Calvin Johnson was.

Calvin wasn’t just any man—he was the Calvin Johnson, the well-known disabled trillionaire who commanded respect and admiration.

His fortune and influence were legendary, even though a tragic accident had left him in a wheelchair.

My father had wanted me to marry him back then, before the accident. But, young and stubborn, I’d followed my heart and chosen Alex instead, believing in a love that was supposed to last.

Without a word, I slipped my phone back into my purse, turning my attention to Alex and his lover, a calm smile on my lips.

“Looks like I’ll be just fine,” I said, meeting his gaze with newfound clarity.

Turning, I walked out of the room.