I told him to pack a bag and leave. That week, he moved into a rented apartment, while Claire ended their relationship.
I contacted a divorce attorney and gathered our financial records and evidence. The divorce took months, but eventually we sold the house and divided our assets.
I moved into a smaller place with a sunny kitchen and a little patio. Some mornings, I still wanted to share something funny with Mark. Other mornings, I felt relieved that I no longer had to wonder where he’d been.
When our divorce became final, Mark messaged me, saying he’d never wanted things to end that way. I didn’t respond.
Three weeks later, Claire called again. Mark had approached her, claiming he was finally free to marry her legally. He even brought the ring.
She refused.
“He wanted me to believe those moments were romantic,” she explained. “But they were excuses to go home to you.”
