Obsessing Over My Ex-Wife

Jolene's POV

“You don't have to keep pretending we're in love,” Brian murmured, his smile never slipping as the camera flashes continued coming from every corner of the room.

“I'm only doing my job as your wife,” I replied just as softly, smoothing the front of his tie while forcing a smile for the paparazzi.

“Just stop it, please,” he said, his lips curving wider for the photographers.

“Okay.”

I mouthed the word, barely letting my lips move.

“Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore! Over here!”

“One more picture!”

“Aww… They look so in love.”

I almost laughed.

If only they knew.

The man standing beside me hadn't shared a room with me in three years. The only time he ever touched me was when there was an audience watching.

And tonight was no different.

This was the Whitmore Group anniversary charity gala, one of those perfect occasions where we had to put on our little show for the world.

To everyone watching, Brian and I were the perfect couple.

But I knew better.

I could still feel the tension in his body whenever my hands touched him. Then I noticed the reason for his distant behaviour.

A familiar face in a red dress waved at us from across the room.

Of course she came.

Sophia Bennett.

“Mr. Whitmore,” a reporter suddenly called.

Brian turned towards them.

The smile on his face almost made me question whether this was the same man I had been living with all these years.

“You've been married for three years now. Should we expect a little heir anytime soon?”

His smile didn't waver. “My wife and I haven't made that decision yet.”

The answer came too quickly. Like he had already prepared it. For one second, I almost believed that we had actually discussed it.

But we hadn't.

There had never been a decision to make. Every time I had gathered the courage to take a step towards him, I had been pushed away.

Sometimes he buried himself in work. Other times he claimed he was tired.

Sometimes he simply looked at me with disgust in his eyes, as though he was still trying to understand how we had ended up married in the first place.

Three years.

Not once had he reached for me like a husband should.

The most painful part was that the only night he ever touched me like he actually wanted me was because he had been drunk.

The next morning, he made his feelings clear. “Last night was nothing but a mistake.”

Those words had remained with me ever since.

And then there was Margaret.

His mother never missed an opportunity to remind me that I was nothing more than a stand-in for Sophia.

“Mrs. Whitmore, is that true?” the reporter asked. “Are you two waiting for the right time?”

I looked at the eager faces surrounding us.

The cameras.

The smiles.

The people waiting for me to confirm the perfect marriage they believed we had. I could feel the tears gathering in my eyes.

But I smiled wider.

“We'll share the good news when we're ready.”

The cameras flashed again.

Everyone seemed pleased with the answer. No one noticed that my smile was being held together by years of disappointment.

I left the hall before the event was over.

The moment I stepped outside, the cool night air hit my face.

I took a deep breath.

I wasn't going to cry. Not because of him. Not tonight.

The doors opened behind me.

I turned around.

Brian walked out. But he wasn't alone. Sophia's hand was wrapped around his. A proud smile rested on her face as they walked towards the car.

To the public, they were childhood best friends.

But I knew better.

I looked away and walked towards the red sports car parked in front of us.

Brian's Ferrari Purosangue.

His baby.

He never let anyone drive it. Not even his drivers.

I reached for the front door, but before I could open it, Sophia caught my hand. My eyes moved to her fingers around mine.

Then to her.

Then finally to Brian.

“There's nothing wrong with the backseat, Jolene,” she said. “Don't create a scene here, please.”

Brian didn't say anything. He didn't have to. Because I already knew what he wanted.

I simply nodded.

“Fine.”

I opened the back door and climbed inside. I was tired of arguing over things like this. After all, my silence and my complaints always ended the same way. With me being ignored.

The journey home began.

I rested my head against the window, watching the city lights disappear behind us. For a few minutes, nobody spoke.

Then Sophia leaned closer to Brian.

“Baby?”

He turned slightly.

“I was worried about what you said earlier at the party.”

“I said a lot of things.”

“The one about children.”

Her voice suddenly became softer. “You said you don't want to have any children yet.”

Brian's hands tightened around the steering wheel. Then Sophia's hand slowly moved towards her stomach.

“Does that mean you won't take responsibility for our child?”

My head snapped up.

Brian turned towards her.

“What do you mean, Sophy?”

There was something different in his voice. Concern. I stared at him through the rearview mirror. That expression, I had seen it before. Or maybe I had only imagined seeing it.

“Are you pregnant?” Brian asked.

Sophia lowered her eyes. For a few seconds, she said nothing.

Then she smiled. “Yes, Baby.”

My fingers tightened around the seat.

“I'm carrying your child.”

For a moment, There was silence.

Brian's eyes widened.

“Really?”

She nodded.

“You're serious?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my God…”

A smile slowly spread across his face. A genuine smile. One I hadn't seen directed at me in years.

Brian reached for her and pulled her into his arms.

I sat frozen in the backseat.

Watching them.

Watching my husband celebrate another woman's pregnancy.

My throat tightened.

I looked away before either of them could see the tears gathering in my eyes.

“I was worried you wouldn't accept the baby,” Sophia whispered.

“Why wouldn't I?”

His answer came immediately.

“I only said what I said back there because I don't want the public expecting a child from me and Jolene yet.”

My heart sank.

So that was the reason.

He didn't want the world expecting a child from him and me. But he was perfectly happy to have one with her.

Sophia rolled her eyes. “Then why are you still even married to her?”

Brian's eyes met mine through the rearview mirror. For a brief second, neither of us looked away. I wondered if he could see the hurt in my eyes.

His expression shifted. Just slightly.

“I already told you not to bring that up again,” he said.

I lowered my gaze. My hand moved unconsciously to my stomach. And for the first time that night, I realized something.

Maybe the problem wasn't that Brian didn't know how to love me. Maybe he simply didn't want to.

I turned towards the window again.

And this time, I stopped trying to convince myself otherwise.