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The Man She Lost

The Man She Lost

Short Story · Emotional Realism
By:  Light After DarkCompleted
Language: English
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10Chapters
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Synopsis

Mistress

Bias

Face Slapping

Plot Twists

Independence

Karma

My best friend, Cassidy Braun, earned a modest monthly salary of 2,800 dollars, only to constantly trash her doting husband with an annual income of 600,000 dollars, labelling him a broke loser. “That incompetent husband of mine can’t even afford a 20-carat diamond ring! “I have the looks that can bag me a billionaire. I must have been out of my mind to marry that piece of trash.” I chimed in. “You’re right. You’re practically a goddess. Only a Greek God stands a chance with you.” Eventually, Cassidy left her husband and hooked up with a trust-fund kid, just as she wanted. A year later, she was scammed out of every penny she owned and diagnosed with cancer. Fragile and broken, she came to me. “I heard that ex-husband of mine remarried and that he’s loaded now. Judging by the way he used to worship the ground I walked on, I bet he’ll drop the woman in a heartbeat if I ask to get back together.” I gave a dismissive nod while running my fingers along the new Birkin bag my husband had bought. “Oh, absolutely. He’s pretty wealthy now.”

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10 Chapters
Chapter 1
“Why am I wasting my time with the deadbeat? I should dump him already.” For the umpteenth time, Cassidy threw yet another glass, her delicate facial features grimacing with rage. As the shattered glass shards landed near my feet, I quietly bent over to pick them up. Her shrill voice boomed above my head. “Just look at this! What am I supposed to do with peanuts? It’s not even enough to cover a designer bag!” I looked up and saw the bank transaction notification on her mobile screen. My eyes widened in surprise at the 50,000-dollar transfer. Josh Fray’s pay had climbed to the 50,000-mark. A subtle emotion stirred within me.I regularly came across pictures of Josh leaving the office late into the night that he shared on social media. “Cass, Josh’s been swamped with work lately. I heard that his firm is bidding for a massive project.” I disposed of the glass shards in the waste can with caution. “Plus, he hands over his entire paycheck to you. That’s more than what mo
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Chapter 2
“What brings you here, Talia?” Josh forced a smile, his voice hoarse. “I heard that Cass moved out. I came to see if you needed a hand with anything.” I stepped into the house and picked Teddie up for a gentle cuddle before sorting out the absolute disaster. Standing motionless, Josh watched my back as I worked. “Talia, am I that much of a loser?” I looked back at the steadfastly stoic man whose eyes welled up. Cupping his flushed face between my hands, I stared into his eyes. “Cass is blind to see what a great catch you are. “You’re in the top 20% elite. Your qualities extend beyond your looks. You’re a devoted husband, a competent worker, and a man of integrity. Cass can’t see how lucky she is, but I can.” “Talia…” Josh’s face turned red. He looked at me with a complex of emotions. I blushed. “The truth is, I’ve always had feelings for you, but you only have eyes for Cass.” We used to work together seven years ago. He had joined the firm two years before me. Sharp
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Chapter 3
Josh made me feel like a princess, showing up after work with a different surprise each day.Sometimes, it was a bouquet. Other times, my sweet tooth would be in for a treat. He was always quick to help around the house at home, often saying, “I can’t let my wife overwork herself, can I? Take a break. I’ve got this covered.” I’d get creative in preparing his lunches, making sure he had a balanced diet of meat and vegetables. I even used cutters to make adorable shapes of his food. The smile never left his face whenever he was home at night. “Since the meeting ran late today, I had my lunch in the conference room. Edmund from the other department was completely green with envy when I opened my lunchbox. Apparently, the only food his wife would get him is from takeout.” I said with a playful pout, “Duh, my husband deserves the best lunch in the world.” Dragging Josh to the mall, I picked out some well-made clothes for him that were made to last. My eyes sparkled as Josh tr
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Chapter 4
I showed off on social media the necklace Josh had bought me with his project bonus. It was a modest yet uniquely designed piece. Not to mention, I tagged Cassidy on the post with a caption. “A gift from my husband to show his appreciation.” Cassidy was quick to comment. “I guess you’re left to pick up my leftovers now that I’m gone. Is something of this caliber worth posting online?” Not even the least bit bothered, I replied, “A gift is only as valuable as the thought behind it and the happiness it brings.“Once again, thank you for giving him away. [Folded hands emoji]”My response garnered quite a few likes from our mutual friends. “You seem pleased to help yourself with my unwanted junk. That’s sick.” Cassidy shot back with another comment. I typed, “I certainly love this junk. Send a few more my way if you have any.” That day, Josh took me on another shopping spree. This time, we acquired better jewelry pieces on the higher end. I kept the posts coming, adding p
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Chapter 5
“Let me be clear. I don’t have an ounce of affection left for you. “From the moment you walked out of our home, you mean nothing to me.” Josh shifted his gaze to me, his eyes softening with tenderness. “Talia has shown me the meaning of family and what it’s like to be loved and cared for.“She’s not you. She is no one’s substitute. “Talia is my wife for life. She’s the one I love and walk alongside forever. My heart belongs solely to her.” Josh set the cake box on the coffee table. Without hesitation, he leaned in for a peck on my lips right before Cassidy’s eyes. Straightening his back, Josh opened the cake box and pulled out my favorite tiramisu. He scooped a spoonful and carefully brought it to my lips. “I spotted a new shop on my way home and picked this up for you, babe. Try and see if you like it.” I opened my mouth to take a bite before giving Josh a sweet smile. “You know what I like for sure. It’s delicious. Thank you, sweetie.” Josh’s tone became cold
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Chapter 6
The family portrait on the wall, along with the expensive toys Teddie had left scattered everywhere, silently mocked Cassidy’s decisions back then. “Is Josh home?” Cassidy asked with a glimmer of hope. “He’s working late tonight, so he won’t be back for a while.” I poured her a drink. Cassidy said eagerly, “You have to help me convince Josh, Talia. He had feelings for me before. Surely, he won’t leave me to suffer, right?” I let out a chuckle as Cassidy fell back into her unrealistic fantasies. “Josh’s money is part of our joint marital asset. Besides, you’re his ex-wife. He has no obligation to you.” Unconvinced, Cassidy dialed Josh’s number and put the call on loudspeaker. She desperately pleaded, “I have cancer, Josh. I’ll die without treatment.” The voice on the other end of the line was callous. “You have family to turn to for that. I’m no longer involved in your life.” “Can’t I borrow the money from you? Lend me 100,000 dollars. I’ll pay you back once I get ma
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Chapter 7
“Kids grow up so fast.” While brushing the whole thing off with a remark, I noticed the flicker of gloom across Cassidy’s eyes. After a brief silence, Cassidy had to ask, “Is Josh doing okay?” “Everything is going well for him. Work’s been great, and he’s surrounded by his loving family,” I responded with a smile. However, each word stabbed at her, chipping away at her forced composure. She parted her lips, clearly having something on her mind. In the end, she simply let out a wry smile. “That’s good to hear. I have errands to run. I should get going.” As Cassidy scurried away, a wave of complicated emotions washed over me. Cassidy, once beaming with confidence, couldn’t even find the courage to step into a luxury store. All of this was brought upon by her decisions. For once, I was lost in thought during the drive home. Cassidy’s presence was like a stone dropped in a quiet lake, stirring ripples across the surface.A thought crossed my mind. If Cassidy hadn’t en
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Chapter 8
Cassidy shakily reached out her hand. After a moment’s pause, I took her hand. Her hand, no longer slender and fair, was reduced to skin and bone, icy to the touch. “If only I had appreciated the simplicity of life and seen the good in Josh as you have.” Her tears rolled down her cheeks, soaking into her pillow. “I thought I deserved better, but the very best was right there in front of me.” I patted her hand. I didn’t know what to say. Before a woman nearing the end of her life, words lost all meaning.“Could you… pass a message to Josh for me?”Cassidy fought for air while struggling to put out each word. “I’m sorry… and… I hope you two stay happy.” That was the last exchange I had with Cassidy. Three days later, Cassidy closed her eyes for the last time that cold winter night. She was only thirty-two years old. Josh and I walked shoulder to shoulder from Cassidy’s modest funeral service. The snow drifted down, its cold bite sharp against our skin.Josh squeezed
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Chapter 9
“I have no doubt that you’ll be the best older brother in the world. With your love and protection, the baby will be the happiest kid alive.” Picking up on Teddie’s anxiety, Josh started spending more time with him. Josh would take the time to explain that love wouldn’t run out when shared. Instead, love touched every soul like the sun. Our efforts gradually paid off. Teddie’s curiosity began to extend to my pregnant belly. He would make it a bedtime routine to stroke my stomach and say goodnight to the baby. He even painted a picture of four stick figures hand-in-hand. It was a family of four consisting of Mom, Dad, him, and the new addition. “This is our family.” He proudly showed me his masterpiece, his eyes full of expectation. When I went into labor, Josh insisted on being in the delivery room with me. He held my hand tightly and whispered encouragements into my ear. I caught sight of tears threatening to fall in Josh’s eyes as the newborn’s loud cries filled t
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Chapter 10
“We all make our own choices and live with them.” Taking Josh’s hands, I brought his palms against my cheeks. “We chose each other and this family to live every day with honesty and purpose.“This is the best plan for us, and it’s not about anyone else. It’s what we feel in our hearts.” Outside the window, a bright moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft glow over the land. Within those walls, we were locked in a tight embrace, our hearts full of gratitude and unshakable trust.The sun peeked through the curtains into the bedroom one weekend. I opened my eyes to find Josh awake. Lying on his side, he stared at Joy in her crib and me with the most tender eyes. At some point, Teddie slipped into the room and squeezed between us, fast asleep. “Good morning, Mrs. Fray,” Josh whispered, afraid of waking the kids. His fingers brushed away a lock of hair against my forehead. “Morning, Mr. Fray,” I responded in a hush with a smile, basking in the joy and peace of having my lo
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