Sorry, Ex-Husband, There would be no Ninth MarriageChapter 1
My husband Brandon married me eight times, and divorced me eight times for the woman he truly loved, but there wouldn't be a ninth time today.
“Let’s divorce. Your first love is here.”
I placed the divorce papers on the mahogany desk, right over his keyboard.
Brandon didn’t even blink. He just picked up his pen, signed his name with a lazy flick of his wrist, and tossed the document back to me.
“We’ll get married again once she leaves after a month,” he said, his eyes already back on his screen. “For now, just go on a vacay. Buy yourself something nice.”
It was always like this. Paula was a free spirit who despised the idea of marriage and being tied down. She preferred to travel the world, living completely carefree. But whenever she grew bored or lonely, she would return to the city, and Brandon would immediately clear his life for her—which meant divorcing me.
Then, once her wanderlust kicked in and she abandoned him again, he would summon me back to resume my role as his convenient, legally-bound placeholder.
I didn’t say a word.
I just turned around, walked into our master bedroom, and pulled my suitcase from the closet. I started packing my clothes.
Usually, this was the part where I cried. The part where I begged him to look at me, to choose me, to explain why I was never enough.
Today, the room was dead silent.
Heavy footsteps suddenly stormed into the room. Before I could fold my last shirt, Brandon grabbed my arm and yanked me around to face him.
“What the hell was that?” he demanded, his jaw clenched tight. “Aren’t you gonna say a word to me? Aren’t you jealous? Paula is here.”
I gently pulled my arm out of his grip and turned back to my suitcase. “Well, yeah.”
Brandon stared at me like I had lost my mind.
“What is wrong with you?” he barked, stepping into my space. “Are you cheating on me? Is that why you don’t care?”
My hands paused on the zipper. I let out a short, dry laugh and looked him dead in the eye.
“Cheating?” I repeated. “Brandon, it’s not like you love me.”
He flinched, but I didn't stop.
“From the very beginning, it has always been business with us. We aren't husband and wife. We just have contracts and deals.”