Ninety-Nine Times, Then No More

ith another woman in our five-year marriage. I stood in the hotel d

me all about you. The pathetic wife he's stuck with because of

ring them from a stranger felt like a new humiliation. She lunged, scratching my face, drawing blood. The

re you making a scene? Clean it up and get out. You're embarrassing." He thought I had

t had died. "I want a divorce." He laughed, a cruel sound. "A divorce? Ele

He wanted me to play the dutiful wife for her welcome-home concert. My heart, which I thought had turned to

ety-ninth time was the last

pte

he ninety-

argas, with another woman. I stood in the doorway of the hotel room, my hand still on

't bother. He sat on the edge of the bed, perfectly calm, and looked at me w

eplaced all the other feelings long ago. The pain, the hop

n hissed, pulling the shee

dn't say a word. He just watched, as if th

d," I said. My

gh. He told me all about you. The pathetic wife he's stuck with bec

gs Chase had made sure I understood from the very first day. Still, he

for yourself," I told her, m

the bed, her face twis

there. Her nails raked down my cheek, drawing blood. The sting was sharp, a sur

wrote out a number. I tore it off and held it out

t me, her mouth hanging open. "What i

off. It was about ending this pathetic scene. I

es everything!" she shrieked, her voice filled with mor

till sitting on the bed, now holding his phone t

ered.

laced with contempt. "Are you making a scene?

ad come here to cause a scene with his mistress. That I was the o

s finally coming from a place deep i

Playing the vict

t a di

nd. Then he laughed. A low, cru

e ridiculous. You love me

ung

brilliant, cold CEO of Vargas Industries. Our marriage was a merger, a business arrangement to join his tech empire with

ndsome in a dark suit, his presence commanding the entire room. I

posed, I thought it was a

come to our bed. I found him in his study, staring a

"Everything I'm about to do to you, to your family, is

bring women into our home. He would cancel our plans for a "more important" dinner, and the next d

y time he hurt me, I would retreat to my bathroom and drag a silver letter opener across my arm, not deep enough to leav

ruelty. One hundred times he could break my heart b

other woman as if she didn't exist and stopped in front of me. He

" he said, h

pular indie musician, the charism

lled out a folded document. He pushed it

divorce a

always planned to end it the

"June is having a welcome-home concert. There are rumors flying around, and I

ssage. It was from a number I didn't

me? I hear Chase is finally g

lt a final, crushing blow. He wasn't divorcing me

n my hand. Then I looked up a

l room's desk, picked up

Soon to be forme

was the last time he