Chapter 3
Back home, I started packing.
I was planning to take my daughter somewhere peaceful.
Someplace with trees, mountains, and fresh air.
Emily walked in.
Her stockings were gone, blouse half open.
The smell of alcohol hit me like a wall.
“Make me a hangover drink. My head’s killing me.”
She collapsed on the couch, totally out of it.
I didn’t even look up. Just kept packing.
“Don’t have time.”
Since her business took off, Emily had been drinking more.
Late–night parties, endless “client dinners.”
I used to stay up and wait for her.
Every time, I’d make her a hangover soup so she wouldn’t wake up miserable.
Not anymore.
She didn’t deserve any more of my time.
She finally noticed something was off.
Forced her eyes open and frowned.
“What are you doing?”
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The Internet’s Favorite Couple Was My Marriage’s Worst Nightmare
Chapter 3
When I didn’t answer, she got up and came over.
Wrapped her arms around me from behind.
Rested her cheek against my back.
“Babe, my head hurts… Can you please make me something? Just this once?”
She used to say that every time I got mad.
And every time, I’d fall for it.
Not today.
I shrugged her off like she was some stranger.
“Didn’t your precious assistant take care of that for you last night?”
She reeked of booze and… something worse.
The kind of scent that didn’t need explaining.
“Alan can barely take care of himself. I wasn’t about to ask him to cook.”
“Oh, right–you needed money last night?”
I zipped up my suitcase.
And just before I left, I sent her a screenshot of Alan’s Instagram story.
“Nice party. Promotion, six–figure bonus… not bad for a ‘lowly‘ assistant.”
“I guess I thought he’d be a little more loyal.”
Emily’s face darkened instantly.
She slapped me hard across the face.
“God, can you stop being so petty? You’re a grown–ass man!”
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The Internet’s Favorite Counte Was My Marriage’s Worst Nightmar
Chapter 3
“Alan’s not shameless like you.”
“He’s literally quitting to avoid this whole mess.”
“It was just a party.
“I didn’t think I needed to get a hundred missed calls from my insecure husband!”
But my rage had already burned out.
All that was left was silence and cold.
“You’re right. You didn’t.”
I grabbed my suitcase and walked out.
Didn’t look back.
She screamed after me like she always did:
“If you walk out that door–don’t bother coming back!”
Usually, that threat would scare me.
Because when Emily made a threat, she meant it.
I still remember one time–I accidentally knocked over a bottle of perfume Alan had given
her.
She locked me out of our bedroom all night.
Wouldn’t even let me inside to sleep.
I sat in the hallway like a dog.
Apologized until my voice went hoarse and I came down with a fever.
She didn’t open the door until morning.
It wasn’t that I didn’t have pride.
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Chapter 3
I just… used to think she was worth it.
Growing up, my parents worked out of state.
I got passed around between relatives.
I was the shy, quiet kid no one picked for anything.
I’d sit alone during school events, watching ants crawl in the dirt just to feel like I belonged
somewhere.
Then came Emily.
She pulled me out of that shell.
Made me feel like I mattered.
Fed me candy and gave me the world.
That’s why I was scared to lose her.
Scared she’d leave me behind like everyone else.
But the slap she gave me today?
That woke me up.
Whatever part of me that still clung to her–it finally let go
Maybe she wasn’t a light in the dark after all.
Maybe she was just another person I should’ve walked away from a long time ago.
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