The Affair That Cost Everything

“My heart sank when I heard, "Three million dollars has been withdrawn from your joint savings account." Gone. The money, our life' s work, our shared dream, was gone. I knew instantly where it went: to Summer Reed, Liam' s high school sweetheart, the ghost of our marriage. Last night, I overheard Liam on the phone, promising Summer our money, saying, "Of course, it' s our money. Chloe' s and mine. But she' ll understand. Your well-being is the most important thing." He had tricked me into signing "investment papers," draining our future for his old flame. I felt pathetic, a walking bank account for his true love. When I returned to our apartment to grab my last things, I found Summer already moved in, wearing my robe, eating dinner cooked by my husband. He even made her favorite dish, forgetting I was allergic to garlic. He then put her in our bed, saying it was "just for a few days." I finally understood; I was just a prop in their reunion. Liam blamed me, called me "possessive." He then revealed Summer' s husband was abusive, and she had nowhere to go, trying to excuse his betrayal. The office gossiped about Liam' s affair, his spending company money on Summer, taking her to Paris while I managed our home, his career, and built my own. How could he do this? How could his devotion to her erase six years of our life, our dreams, our unborn child? What kind of monster pretends to care while actively destroying everything we built? I wouldn't stand for it. I packed my bags, smashing our wedding photo, and called my estranged brother, Ethan. "I' m coming home," I whispered. This was over. I was getting a divorce.”