"I want the marriage ended cleanly. " She nodded. "Then we'll do exactly that. " By the time I returned home, Bianca was sitting at the kitchen table. She had been waiting for me, and she had something in front of her that I hadn't seen before. A small envelope. "This came from Julian. " She said.
I picked it up. Whatever was inside was about to change what I thought I knew about their affair. I opened the envelope. Inside was a printed photograph. Bianca and Julian were standing together outside a hotel.
The date was printed in the corner. It was from 2 weeks before our wedding. I looked at Bianca. "You told me the affair started 6 weeks ago. " "It did. " "Then explain this. " She stared at the photograph. "I forgot about that. " "You forgot? " She shook her head quickly.
"No, that's not what I meant. " "Then tell me what happened. " She sat down. "Julian asked to see me before the wedding. He said he wanted one last conversation. " "Did you sleep with him? " She didn't answer. I already knew. "Bianca. " She lowered her eyes.
"Yes. " I felt my jaw tighten. "How many times before the wedding? " "Once. " "So you cheated before you married me, then continued after? " "I was going to end it. " "But you didn't. " "No. " She looked at the photograph. "Julian gave this to me. He said he kept it because he wanted me to remember that we had something before you. " I took the photograph from her. "Why did he send this now? " "Because I ended things with him yesterday. " I looked at her.
"You ended things? " "Yes. " "Why? " "Because he kept telling me you would never find out. " "He thought everything would continue. " "And you didn't want that? " "I realized I was losing everything. " I put the photograph on the table. "That's not the same as realizing you betrayed me. She started crying again. I know. My phone rang.
It was Julian. I answered. Spencer? Why are you calling me? I wanted to explain.
You've done enough. Bianca told me she's divorcing you. Yes. He was silent. Then he said, "She told me you were going to leave her after the wedding. " I looked at Bianca.
She shook her head. I never said that. I ended the call. Bianca looked at me. I never told him that.
Maybe not. I gathered the documents from the table, but he knew enough about our marriage to manipulate you. She stood. Where are you going? To my attorney.
You're leaving now? Yes. Can we please talk first? We've talked. I picked up my keys.
The only thing left is paperwork. She followed me to the door. Spencer, I don't want to lose you. I looked back at her. You already chose to.
Then I walked out. For the first time since discovering the affair, I wasn't trying to understand Bianca anymore. I was finished. The divorce took 3 months. Bianca didn't fight the paperwork, but she kept trying to reopen conversations that I had already closed.
Sometimes she called to discuss the apartment. Sometimes she wanted to talk about Julian. Once she asked if I could meet her for dinner. I refused every time. Caroline handled the legal side, and I handled everything else.
We separated our accounts, divided our belongings, and ended the lease on the apartment. I kept my car and most of the furniture I had purchased before the marriage. Bianca took her belongings and moved into a smaller place across town. Julian disappeared from her life almost as quickly as he had entered it. I heard that from someone at Bianca's company, not from her.