I picked up the fork and poked at the food. There wasn't much left, and it was clear these were leftovers.
The vegetables were mixed with chopped onions, which I hated.
Without a word, I closed the box and threw it in the trash.
I pulled out the divorce agreement from my bag and placed it in front of him.
"Xavier, can you please take some time to finalize the divorce?"
My indifferent tone seemed to provoke him. After a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed the agreement and ripped it to pieces.
His face contorted with anger, and his hand, pointing at me, trembled.
"Serena Wright, you’ve gone too far. Keep this up, and you’ll regret it!"
I didn’t respond. I just got up and went to my room.
Some truths were too tedious to spell out.
Last month, while he was on a business trip, I saw his hotel booking details by accident.
He had booked a single room with Loretta.
In that moment, I realized the man I had loved for ten years had betrayed me, both physically and emotionally.
The only reason I'd held on this long was because my mother was seriously ill, and I didn't want to worry her.
Half an hour later, Xavier finished his shower and came into the room.
I was at my desk, reprinting the divorce agreement.
He came up behind me, draping his arms around my shoulders, a diamond necklace dangling from his fingers.
"Serena, I got this for our anniversary. Do you like it?"
I took it and tossed it onto the table.
I noticed tonight that Loretta was wearing the same style of necklace.
Xavier had carelessly bought two identical gifts.
Instead of being upset by my lack of enthusiasm, he smiled softly.
He gently kissed my earlobe.
"You don't like it? Let's go pick out something else together tomorrow..."
"No need."
I pushed him away and handed him the freshly printed divorce agreement.
"When are you free to finalize the divorce?"
He crumpled the thin paper into a ball, his face emotionless.
"Stop it. If your mother knew, she would..."
I looked up, fighting back tears.
"It doesn’t matter. My mom...she’s no longer with us."
Half a month ago, Xavier called me after work to say he had an appointment and that I shouldn’t wait up.
But then I saw Loretta’s latest social media post. In it, there was a beautiful birthday cake, and Xavier was placing a birthday hat on her head.
The caption read as followed.
"It's my 23rd birthday, and I'm so happy to have someone I love with me!"
That night, I cried myself to sleep.