Chapter 19
My trembling hands reached for my phone, wanting to record this shameless conversation. But, of course, just as I was about to hit record, Dexter ended the call
1 quickly hid behind a few trees, staying completely still. I watched as Dexter finished his cigarette, walked around the garden, and left. I stayed crouched, struggling to contain my anger and helplessness, while tears streamed down my face.
I thought, “He really has an affair. Even though there had been plenty of signs before, it wasn’t until this moment that my heart truly shattered.
I thought. He has another woman. He even has a child with her. Even though the child’s already grown, she’s still the little girl he pampers and comforts. And what about me?
I thought being a mother meant I had to be tough, resilient. I believed Dexter and I would build a life together, only to find out he’d already been emotionally unfaithful….
I wondered, “If that child is his, then he must have been with her even before we got married. So why did he come looking for
r me! do to deserve this?
et What did
did I ever
A wave of injustice and anger surged inside me. Slowly. I sank drops.
Lank to t
the ground, wrapping my arms tightly around myself, letting the tears fall in heavy
Just as I w
was crying in despair, my phone rang. It was Dexter. He must have gotten home and realized I wasn’t t
there.
My throat was raw from crying, and I couldn’t speak. The emotional weight of it all burned in my y chest. I quickly hung up on him, wiped my tears. and walked out of the building.
I wandered around the supermarket for a while, picking up a bottle of eye drops along the way.
When I returned home, Dexter was frantic. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling and you didn’t pick up.”
1 gave him a cold look and, feeling suddenly exhausted, smiled weakly, “I just went to throw out some trash and picked up a few things for Mom at the supermarket.”
When Kimberly saw all the bags I brought back, she was about to complain, but she swallowed her words when she heard what I said,
I watched her expression, amused, before handing her one of the bags. This is the towel and pillowcase you mentioned last time. I couldn’t find it at the mall, but I found it at the little store nearby
Kimberly smiled. “This is nice. I like this one.”
Dexter visibly relaxed “Next time, don’t go out so late. I’ll worry about you”
1 met his gaze and smiled, nodding. “Okay”
I thought, ‘It is all just an act, right?
chit Well, I can play along too! I hadn’t before because I thought my home should be a happy, safe place, no need for pretending. But now, it was clear I had been fooling myself.
Hr noticed my swollen eyes. “Did you cry?”
“No,” I said quickly. “Something got in my eye earlier, and it hurt. I went to the pharmacy to buy eye drops, and the pharmacist helped me get it out” I hesitated, suddenly worried. “Do I look bad! I still have to go to work tomorrow…”
Dexter hurried to reassure me. “No way, you’re the most beautiful. Just use some eye drops before bed, and it’ll be line by tomorrow”
kay, can you help me with it, honey!”
“Of course.” He chuckled.
Lying in bed. I propped myself up with a cushion and closed my eyes. I felt Dexter’s breath near me, his warmth brushing against my skin.
If this were before, I would’ve felt a rush of affection. Hut now… all I could feel was disgust. I forced myself to push down the discomfort and asked, “Dexter, how much do you make a year now?”
