I stepped back. Patrick, please. No, you're my husband and you're my wife. I took off my wedding ring and placed it on the table. But I won't stay married to someone who betrayed me on the first trip we took as husband and wife.
She stared at the ring. You can't just decide this. I can decide what I do with my life. She started crying again. I picked up my phone.
I'll contact a lawyer when we get home. Her face went pale. You're serious? Yes. You're really ending our marriage?
I looked at her for a long moment. You ended it when you chose him. Then I walked into the bathroom and closed the door. I didn't slam it. I didn't need to.
There was nothing left to argue about. Catherine thought I would calm down after a few hours. I didn't. By noon, I had already decided I wasn't spending another night in Santorini. I went downstairs and asked the front desk about flights to Athens.
The earliest connection that would get me toward home was the next morning. I booked it. When I returned to the room, Catherine was sitting on the bed. You're leaving? Yes.
She stood up. Patrick, we haven't even talked properly. We talked. You're angry. I am.
You need time. I've had enough time. She stepped in front of my suitcase. You can't leave me here. I can't.
This is our honeymoon. No, it was supposed to be. Her face tightened. Richard is gone. That doesn't change anything.
I told him it was over. I didn't ask. You don't care? I care that you cheated on me. She started crying.
I made a terrible mistake. You made a choice. I was confused. You had weeks to be confused. You had a wedding day to think about it.
You had the flight here. You had every morning and every night of this trip. She looked down. And you still chose him. She wiped her face.
I thought seeing him would help me finally let go. You could have let go before marrying me. I know. I zipped my suitcase. She grabbed the handle.
Please don't do this. I pulled it away from her. I'm going home. Then I'll come with you. No.
She stared at me. What? I don't want you on that flight with me. Patrick, where am I supposed to go? You can stay here or go wherever you want.
That's your decision. She shook her head. You're abandoning me in another country. I looked directly at her. You cheated on your husband in another country.
Her expression changed. You're going to make me look like the bad person. I don't have to make you look like anything. She went quiet. Then she said, "What are you going to tell everyone? " The truth.
You'll destroy me. I won't tell anyone anything until I speak to a lawyer. That stopped her. You already talked to a lawyer. Not yet.
Then why are you acting like this is over? Because it is. She sat down. For several minutes, neither of us spoke. Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen and declined the call. I noticed the name. Richard. She looked embarrassed. He's calling because he knows what's happening.
Then answer him. No. Why? Because I don't want him anymore. I picked up my suitcase.
That's between you and him. She stood again. You don't understand. Then explain it. She looked at me through tears.
He said he wasn't looking for anything serious. I almost stopped walking. So that's what this was? She didn't answer. I understood.
Richard hadn't promised her a future. She had risked our marriage for someone who hadn't even offered her one. I opened the door. Patrick. I turned.
She was holding the wedding ring I had left on the table. Please don't leave me like this. I looked at the ring in her hand. You should have thought about that before you brought another man into our honeymoon. I walked out.
I spent the night in a different hotel near the airport. Catherine called 17 times. I didn't answer. Then she sent messages asking me to come back. I didn't respond.
At 6:00 the next morning, I checked out. At the airport, I turned my phone on one last time before boarding. There were three new messages. The first said she was sorry. The second said she loved me.
The third said, "Please don't tell anyone what happened. " I stared at that one for several seconds. Then I put my phone away. That message told me everything I needed to know. She wasn't asking me to save our marriage anymore. She was asking me to protect her reputation.
I boarded the flight to Athens alone. From Athens, I caught another flight home. For the first time since we had arrived in Santorini, I felt completely certain about what I was doing. When I landed, I didn't go home. I went straight to my lawyer's office.
His name was Simon. And before Catherine even returned from our honeymoon, I was already starting the process of ending our marriage. Simon was waiting for me when I arrived at his office. I had known him for several years through a business connection, so I didn't need to explain who I was. He looked at my suitcase.
You came straight from the airport. Yes. What happened? I sat across from him. My wife cheated on me during our honeymoon.
Simon didn't react dramatically. Tell me exactly what happened. I gave him the timeline. The calls. Richard staying at the same resort, Catherine meeting him downstairs, the lie about not knowing he was there, then the admission that she had slept with him, Simon listened without interrupting.
When I finished, I showed him the messages Catherine had sent me and the photos I had taken when I saw her with Richard. He looked through everything carefully. "Keep all of this," he said. "Don't delete anything. I won't.
And don't threaten her. Don't contact Richard and don't post anything online. " I wasn't planning to. Good. Let the evidence speak for itself. I nodded.
What do I need to do now? We'll file the paperwork and start separating the financial side. I also want you to make a list of everything you own individually and everything you own jointly. I can do that. Good.
And until I tell you otherwise, keep communication with Catherine focused on practical matters. I left his office with a folder of documents and a clear plan. Catherine returned 2 days later. I knew because she called me from the airport. Where are you?
I'm home. Why didn't you tell me? You didn't ask. I need to come home. You can.
Can we talk about the marriage? Yes. I don't think there's anything left to discuss. There was a long silence. You really hired a lawyer?