My Professional Partner and My Husband Are Kissing

Chapter 2

Jason and I were childhood sweethearts, practically inseparable since we were kids in the same neighborhood. We knew each other inside and out. After a decade of marriage, respect was the baseline for us. Who would have thought he'd turn to cheating when the business started tanking? And our son, born premature and fragile, who I've cared for every step of the way, no matter how busy I was with work, now resents me.

The craziest part? I had no clue about any of this until today. That scene I walked in on wasn't a one-time mistake, it was clear they'd been playing house for a long time, making me the outsider. I cried on the floor until the early hours of the morning while Jason and our son didn't bother to come home.

Around noon, I got a text from Jason: [We need to talk divorce. If you're not there, I'm filing.] Along with it was a reservation at a high-end restaurant, one I had begged him to go to since our third anniversary.

His usual excuses echoed in my mind: "Too busy, maybe next time." And "That place is a rip-off. We could cook a feast at home for less. Why waste money?"

Now, the first time I'd be at that fancy restaurant would be to hash out a divorce. Looking at my reflection in the phone screen, pale and defeated, I cracked a bitter smile, grabbed my bag, and headed out.

When I arrived, Jason was dressed up in a sharp suit, looking slick and impatient.

"Took you long enough," he snapped.

"Subway was a nightmare," I replied.

His face soured.

"You're broke or something? Taking the subway? Crammed in like that? You're pregnant, remember?"

His concern felt like a slap in the face. I shot back, dripping with sarcasm, "Yeah, kudos for marrying into wealth. This fancy place is nothing to you now. Guess I just can't compete."

He sighed, clearly irritated. "Cut the snark. You think I wanted any of this? The company's going under. That's my life's work. You think you can help bail us out?"

"Look," I said, forcing myself to stay calm. "We've been together for ten years. I still love you. I talked to Sophie last night. After you two get married, you'll still be in the picture. Jake can even stay with you for vacations."

"Fair enough?"

His proposal was beyond ludicrous. Was he seriously suggesting we share a husband? Me, the 'other woman'? Sophie might be okay with being the side piece, but I wasn't settling for scraps.

Jason saw my reaction and his brow furrowed. "I'm already stepping back here. What more do you want? Marriage is just a piece of paper, right? If the love's real, the rest shouldn't matter."

"And if you're set on keeping the baby, I'll support you financially. Emily, just sign the damn papers. Otherwise, when this hits court, you might lose everything."

"Sophie's got her dad's money and influence. Cross her, and you'll regret it," he added coldly.

His threats were poison, slowly creeping in. Ten years of marriage reduced to cold calculations and intimidation. Looking at the man I once loved, I only felt disgust.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Threatening me? We've got all the proof of your affair saved on the home security system. You want to take this to court? Bring it on."

Before, I might have hesitated, worried about the baby, worried about Sophie's so-called billionaire dad's influence. But not anymore.