You can hide messages, but you can't hide behavior. The truth hit her hard. Her eyes filled again, but I didn't move toward her. I wasn't there to make her feel better about the choices she made. It wasn't supposed to become anything, she whispered.
It started harmless, talking, laughing. I liked the attention. I liked feeling wanted. And then then you crossed the line. She nodded, tears spilling.
It was one night. One stupid night. Weeks ago. I thought I could bury it. I told myself it didn't mean anything.
Did he know you were married? Yes, she whispered. He didn't care. I cared, I said. But you didn't.
She flinched at that. I didn't plan any of this. I didn't go looking for it. I just I got lost. I made the worst mistake of my life and I kept making it worse by lying.
That part, I said, I believe. She moved slightly, like she wanted to reach for my hand, but she caught herself. I pushed you away. I ignored you. I treated you like an afterthought.
I know that. But Randy, I never thought you'd actually end it. That's the problem, I said. You thought my loyalty meant I'd tolerate anything. Her voice cracked.
I don't want a divorce. I'll do anything. I'll cut Frank off. I'll switch jobs, whatever you want. Just please, don't let this be the end.
I studied her face, broken, scared, finally honest. It already started, I said. The divorce filing is in motion. She covered her mouth as a sob escaped. The consequences she never expected were now unavoidable and for the first time, she understood that I wasn't bluffing.
The following week moved like a slow, steady march toward an ending we both knew was coming. Derek handled everything with calm professionalism, emails, filings, timelines, while Betty moved like someone trying to keep pieces of a broken vase from slipping through her fingers. We met at Derek's office on Tuesday morning. Betty arrived first. She was dressed neatly, hair tied back, makeup light, but her eyes were swollen.
She stood when I walked in, like she thought that small gesture might change something. Derek greeted us, opened a folder, and laid out the final steps. We'll review the property division, the accounts, and the agreement you both initialed. Once signed, I'll submit everything to the court. After that, it's a straightforward process.
Betty nodded weakly. Can we talk about adjustments? No, I said. It's fair as written. She lowered her eyes.
Okay. We went through each section. The house would go to me. She didn't fight it. We split savings evenly.