The Copycat Husband

“You’re learning from Jonas’ wife and cracking jokes like her, right?”

Caleb chuckled.

He gingerly placed a bowl of hot chicken soup on the bar counter and took off the apron.

“Throwing a temper tantrum now, aren’t we? All wives in our circle do that sometimes. The husband just buys her a bag, and it’s over.

“Rebecca, that’s quite enough. There should be a limit to your tantrum.

“I know you’re mad at me for not going to the hospital with you a few months ago, but that’s exactly what Jonas did back then.”

He looked boldly at me.

“Everyone in our circle knows how much I dote on my wife. I only play along and join in the fun occasionally. Must you embarrass me in front of so many people?”

I looked at him as a wave of nausea hit me.

Three months ago, I fell down the stairs and started bleeding heavily down there.

I called him 99 times, and he rejected all of them.

His affair partner, Willow Shea, answered the last call. I could hear his friend's catcalling in the background.

“Rebecca, Caleb is cutting the cake to celebrate the 100th day of our meeting. Jonas and everyone is here. Don’t spoil our fun now, okay?”

That day, I was so overwhelmed with pain outside the operating theatre. My entire body was cramping up. I needed a next-of-kin’s signature.

Caleb replied to my text: [Jonas said that women love feigning pain to win favor. Keep this up, and I’ll block you.]

He blocked me for three months.

It was only until yesterday, when Jonas’ wife filed for divorce with evidence of infidelity and took half of his shares, that Caleb finally started to panic.

He drove Willow out of his apartment and ran back home to prepare this pot of chicken soup for me.

“I cooked this for four hours.”

When Caleb saw me remain silent, he pushed the bowl toward me, as though seeking credit for what he had done.

“I know you didn’t take care of yourself properly after the miscarriage. I brought you some additional health supplements as well.”

He then reached out to flash me a blister on his pointing finger.

“Look, I scalded myself while scooping out the layer of oil from the soup. Jonas has never set foot in his kitchen. You should be happy I did all this for you, right?”

I looked down at the bowl of soup.

The chicken broth was golden yellow and was indeed the best dish he cooked for me back when he was trying to pursue me.

He had spent nights preparing this soup just to make sure I was eating well.

Yet now, he was even comparing how well he was treating me with other people.

“I’m not drinking it.”

I pushed the bowl away calmly.

“Caleb, I’m not joking. I’ve already signed the divorce papers.”

I tapped my fingers on the document on the table.

It was the same stack of papers he had his lawyer draft and sent me three months ago just to appease Willow.

It was stated in the letter that my jealousy and mental instability had resulted in cracks in our relationship. That drove him to file for a unilateral divorce in court.

Back then, he just wanted to boast to his friends how bold he was.

Caleb’s face fell.

“Rebecca Shaw, I’ve given you a chance to back down from this. There should be limits to your temper tantrum.”

He grabbed the papers off the table and tore them in two without even looking at it.

“I said that I’d be a model husband from now on. Why are you still kicking up a fuss?

“I’ve deleted Willow from my contacts. Jonas and the rest are now all returning to their families. I’ll keep you company every day from now on; will that do?”

The doorbell suddenly rang.

Caleb’s brows relaxed.

“That must be Jonas and the gang. I specially invited them here for dinner.

“I’ll show them what a model husband looks like.

“Please cooperate and wipe that sullen look off your face.”

The moment the door was opened, Jonas and their gang of buddies came strutting in.

What surprised me was a young woman all dolled up following right behind Jonas instead of his wife.

“Caleb, did you really dump Willow?”

Jonas hollered as soon as he walked in and doubled over in laughter. He wrapped his arms tightly around the girl.

“I lied to my wife yesterday. Now that I’ve had my assets transferred, I’m bringing my new woman out for some fun.”