I know. I never wanted to hurt you. You still did. She stood in the doorway. What happens now?
I zipped the suitcase. Now you leave. She took the suitcase from me. At the front door, she stopped. Where am I supposed to go?
That's not my decision anymore. She looked at me through tears. I can't believe you're really doing this. I opened the door. Neither can I.
She walked outside. Before getting into her car, she turned around. Billy. I looked at her. I love you.
I didn't answer. She waited. I finally said, I loved you. Then I closed the door. I stood there until her car disappeared down the street.
Then I called a divorce attorney. The divorce attorney's office was on the third floor of an older building downtown. His name was Martin Cole. I sat across from him the next morning and placed my phone on his desk. I want a divorce.
He nodded. Any children? No. Any major shared assets? Our house, savings, and retirement accounts.
How long have you been married? 10 years. He opened a folder. Do you have evidence of the affair? I unlocked my phone and showed him the screenshots.
He read through them carefully. When he finished, he looked at me. These are useful. I want everything handled properly. That's what we'll do.
I gave him our financial information, mortgage documents, account statements, and insurance records. He explained the process and what I needed to avoid doing. Don't empty joint accounts. Don't threaten her. Don't post anything about the affair online.
Keep communication about the divorce in writing whenever possible. I can do that. Good. He prepared the initial paperwork. By the end of the meeting, I had signed everything I needed to start the process.
I walked outside feeling strangely calm. There was still anger inside me. But now there was a plan. Wanda started calling before I even reached my car. I ignored the first call, then the second, then the third.
Eventually, she sent me a message asking if we could talk. I didn't respond. Another message came. She said she had spoken to Jack. She said she had ended things with him.
I still didn't respond. That evening, she came to the house. I opened the door and found her standing there with red eyes. Can I come in? No.
She looked surprised. Billy, please. What do you want? I want to talk. We've talked.
Not enough. I kept my hand on the door. What else is there to say? I made a terrible mistake. You've said that.
I mean it. I believe you. She stared at me. Then why won't you forgive me? Because forgiveness doesn't mean reconciliation.
She wiped her eyes. I ended things with Jack. Okay, that's all you have to say? Yes, I chose you. I shook my head.