All Chapters of Thirty Years Married, Thirty Years Cheated: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

Ashlee's POVMareya Burruss… I remembered now.She had indeed worked as an executive secretary for a period of time in my past life. No wonder she had looked so familiar at the funeral.A mocking smile tugged at my lips. So, she had already been appearing right under my nose this early on.I went home. Not long after, Ruben returned as well.He got back into bed and pulled me into his arms. Before long, his breathing settled into a steady rhythm.…The next morning, he got up to prepare breakfast for me like usual."I made your favorite omelette today."The way he acted as though he hadn't snuck out the night before made me feel sick.I started wondering how many mornings—both in my past life and this one—that I'd mistaken for happiness were actually just a facade after he'd come back from seeing another woman.I ignored the hand he extended toward me, let alone touch the breakfast he made me."I told you we're breaking up. Do you not understand that?"His expression stiff

Ashlee's POVI looked over at Mareya. Without invitation, she sat down in a chair, a provocative look on her face."Five years ago, he was the one who altered your college application, too."My heart lurched."What did you say?"She chuckled softly, one hand resting protectively over her stomach."It was never his clueless sister messing around at all. That was just an excuse. It was him. He changed your first choice from Harlton University to the same college he was going to. He changed it right in front of me."My mind spun into complete chaos as memories came rushing back.Back then, Ruben had full access to my college application because I trusted him. But when I received my admission letter, I discovered that my first choice—Harlton University, a top-tier college which I was absolutely qualified for—had been changed to Dirton Institute of Technology.The exact same college that Ruben was going to.At that time, it felt like the sky had fallen. I had rushed to confront hi

Third-Person POVRuben slammed on the gas and sped toward the home he shared with Ashlee. He lost count of how many red lights he ran along the way. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his palms slick with cold sweat."Ashlee…"An overwhelming sense of panic and dread twisted in his chest. He had never imagined she could be so ruthlessly resolute.He'd always been so confident. He believed that she loved him more than life itself. Even if he made a mistake, she could never bear to leave him. And that was why he'd been so completely reckless and fearless.He'd even considered what would happen if he got caught one day. He'd just have to apologize and show remorse, and she'd definitely forgive him.That was why, when she discovered everything two days earlier, he'd reacted quickly after the fleeting initial panic.But he'd never expected that she'd really leave him at the altar.As these thoughts ran through his head, the Maybach pulled up to the house with a sharp scre

Ashlee's POVRuben's eyes reddened instantly, looking as though I had wronged him, as though I were the villain in this story."I was wrong. Ashlee, I haven't had a peaceful night's rest for the past four years. Every time I close my eyes, all I see is how you left so resolutely."He looked down, looking small and humbled."I was arrogant. I thought you'd never leave me, so I kept making mistakes and continued my entanglement with Mareya."A bitter laugh escaped him, and his shoulders slumped like those of an old man carrying decades of regret."But I really do love you. Only you. I loved you so much that I was scared of falling too deeply in love with you, so I forced myself to pull away. I used Mareya to keep myself from loving you so much. But now I know I was wrong."Ashlee, I'm begging you. Leave him and come back to me, please?"I listened quietly. Aside from finding it absurd and laughable, I didn't feel a single thing."Love?" I sneered. "You claim to love me, Ruben, a