You can't just decide that. I can decide what I do with my marriage. She walked toward me. Please don't throw away 5 months. I looked at her.
You think I'm throwing away 5 months? She stopped. I'm dealing with what happened before those 5 months even began. She wiped her face. What do you want me to do?
Move out. Her mouth fell open. This is my home, too. I know. So, you're kicking me out?
No, I'm asking you to leave while we work through the separation. Where am I supposed to go? Your sisters, your parents, a hotel, I don't care. She stared at me. You've become so cold.
No. I shook my head. I've become clear. She packed a suitcase that night. Before she left, she stopped near the front door.
Is there anything I can say that will change your mind? I thought about it. No. She nodded slowly. Then, she walked out.
The divorce process was not dramatic. There were forms, meetings, financial documents, and discussions about the house. Susan handled most of the communication, so Christine and I didn't have to keep reopening the same wounds. Christine initially fought the divorce. She sent long messages through mutual friends.
She apologized. She promised counseling. She said Ryan meant nothing. Then, she said Ryan had manipulated her. Then, she blamed the alcohol.
Every explanation changed except one thing. She still wanted me to stay. I refused. The biggest surprise came 3 weeks later. Christine discovered that several of her closest friends had known about Ryan before our wedding.
Not just Melissa. Two others had seen them together months earlier. She confronted them. They admitted it. Their friendships began falling apart.
I didn't celebrate that. I didn't contact them. I didn't tell anyone what happened. I simply kept moving forward. One afternoon, Christine called me directly.
I lost almost everyone. I was silent. Do you care? I care that you're hurting. Then, come back.
I can't. Why? Because even if I came back, I'd always wonder what else you never told me. She started crying. I've told you everything now.
Maybe. Joshua, I have to go. Please. I ended the call. The next morning, Susan called me.
The paperwork is moving forward. I looked around the house. For the first time since I had seen that video, the place felt quiet. Not empty. Quiet.
And I realized something. Christine had spent months protecting a secret. I had spent weeks trying to understand it. Now I didn't need to understand every detail anymore. I only needed to finish what I had started.
The divorce was finalized 4 months after I found the video. By then, Christine and I barely spoke. Most communication went through Susan, especially when we were dealing with the house and the remaining financial details. There were disagreements, but nothing that turned into the kind of battle people expect when a marriage ends badly. I wanted a clean separation.