I crossed my arms, my tone unwavering.
“And let’s not forget the money you stole from my personal bank account. That’s embezzlement. If you don’t want to end up in prison alongside your dear son–in–law, I suggest you consider my offer carefully. Cut ties with me, and I’ll let it go.”
They were seething with rage, but with the police watching, they had no choice but to retreat, leaving under the disapproving glares of everyone present.
When Evan was released from custody, he looked utterly worn down, his face pale and exhausted.
Only then did he realize I had been serious from the start–determined to leave him and never look back.
“You never listened to a word I said,” I told him, tossing a thick folder of evidence into his
hands.
Page after page documented the harm he’d done, the pain I’d endured, every betrayal meticulously recorded.
The more he read, the more panicked he became, finally understanding the weight of the damage he had caused.
1/2
He began sobbing, his voice choked with regret
“Claire, I’m so sorry. I’m a terrible person. I can’t believe I made you go through all this.”
His belated apologies felt pathetic, almost laughable.
With the help of the police and my lawyer, I had already prepared the divorce papers. Now, it was just a matter of getting his signature.
The moment I brought up divorce, Evan fell to his knees, panic–stricken, and begged me for another chance.
“Evan, I have given you so many chances. Why did you always choose to ignore them?”
I held up the documents in my hand. “If you refuse to sign, that’s fine. This evidence I’ve gathered isn’t just for you to read. I’ve also sent it online for the world to see.”
His company was already teetering on the brink, and with public backlash mounting, clinging to me would only make things worse. If he wanted to salvage what was left of his reputation, he had no choice but to let me go.
He hesitated, his eyes clouded with pain and uncertainty.
Sensing his reluctance, I continued, “You’ve always had plenty of options, Evan. But every time, I was the one you left behind. In the beginning, I tried to tell myself it wasn’t personal. Work meetings, overtime, business trips–I convinced myself those things were for our future, and I accepted it.
“But then Anne came along, and you chose her. Over and over again. I kept trying to convince myself that we were the ones truly in love, but the years have worn me down. I’m tired, Evan.”
His eyes turned red, desperation creeping into his voice.
“Claire, I swear, I’ll never see Anne again. Never.”
In a frantic attempt to prove himself, he pulled out his phone and, in front of me, deleted her contact and blocked her number.
But I shook my head.
“It’s pointless, Evan. I’m done being someone you get to choose. After all these years, the love and hate have canceled each other out. There’s nothing left.”
His hands trembled as he realized there was nothing he could do to change my mind. Defeated, he lowered his head and signed the papers.
He opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t wait. With the divorce papers in hand, I turned and walked away. Just as he had done to me so many times–leaving without a second thought to run to Anne–I left him with nothing but the sight of my cold, indifferent back.
