The Actor's Failed Act

It was our wedding anniversary when I ended up in the hospital with stomach bleeding."Wow! I'm rooting for them to be a couple!""A big-time actor and a rising star? Now that's a power couple! It's like something straight out of a novel!""Kissing by the lake with fireworks in the background is pure romance!""I heard they dated in school, but their backgrounds didn't really match. And it all ended after Vivian left the country…"Two nurses were talking about tonight's hot gossip right outside my ward.I'd say it was a romantic scene if the guy they were talking about wasn't my husband. I could barely recall the last time Clement Carter and I held hands, let alone kissed.The voices outside kept going, each word stabbing at my heart.Suddenly, my phone rang. Seeing "Babe" on the screen gave me a tiny flicker of hope.But as soon as I picked up, Clement's furious voice hit me like a wave. "You can't even close a simple deal? If you couldn't do it, you should've just said so! H

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Clement was rubbing his fingertips together. It was his tell when he was ticked off.I was halfway through my meal when Vivian's assistant suddenly appeared beside me. Before I could react, he tossed a rag into my soup, sending oily bits all over me."Wash Vivian's car later," he said.It rained hard today, and her car was covered in mud.I ignored Vivian's assistant and quietly wiped my hands.When he saw I wasn't moving, he leaned it and yelled in my ear, "Are you deaf? Why aren't you answering me? That's so rude!"Then, he reached out for my collar.I let Clement have his way because I loved him, but that didn't mean I would let some nobody walk all over me.I grabbed my half-eaten meal from the table and dumped it over his head. "Get lost! Asshole!"Vivian came rushing out at the sound of the noise and shielded her assistant behind her as if I was the one making a scene."Lucille, if you've got a problem with me, come at me, but

"You're seriously thinking about divorcing me? Listen, this isn't happening. I'm not agreeing so don't even think about it," Clement said.A small smile crossed my face as I thought about what he said. "You want me to help Vivian?"Clement bit his lip as if he could already tell what I was about to say. Before I knew it, tears were running down his cheeks.It used to tear me up when he cried. Every tear he shed made me wish I could carry his pain for him, but I didn't feel a thing now."Since you've got the divorce agreement, go through it and sign. I'll clear Vivian's name after that," I said.The divorce agreement slipped from his fingers and landed on the floor.I knew how much this incident could ruin Vivian's career. She was an actress who rose to fame recently through wealthy backing, but now her public image was trashed. Who'd still pay to see her after this mess?Clement broke the silence after what felt like forever, his voice trembling. "Lucille, don't do this, alright

"Quit calling people 'the other man.' Maybe you should say that to Vivian, who's right behind you. Isn't she the one who ruined our marriage?" I didn't raise my voice, but it was loud enough for those coworkers around me to catch it.Clement could pick on me, but Wilfred was blameless.Clement didn't expect me to have Wilfred's back. His eyes got teary immediately."H-How can you say something like that about me?" Vivian's voice cracked, and her tears were about to fall.I ignored her reaction and grabbed Wilfred, who had been watching the spectacle.Clement grabbed me as I walked past him. He'd pulled himself together in just a minute. "Call off the divorce if you don't want him kicked out of this company."He used to loathe those who used their connections to solve personal problems, but now he had become just like them. I suddenly felt repulsed by Clement—someone I used to know so well.Before I could say anything, Wilfred rushed off while shouting, "Dad!"He pulled David