Chapter 1

It was my birthday on Thanksgiving.

My wife, Rosalind, brought her lover home like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She expected me to serve them and cater to their every whim.

Because I spilled a drop of wine while pouring, she humiliated me in front of all the guests.

She called me a pathetic loser who couldn't do anything right.

In the past, I would have started a massive screaming match with her.

But this time, I just took the verbal abuse in silence.

I turned around and walked away without a word.

We had been together for ten years, and I had let her walk all over me for every single one of them.

Starting today, I was finally letting her go.

1.

The Thanksgiving dinner was over, and Rosalind was seeing Jayden out.

I was busy cleaning up the wreckage of the party.

When I took the trash out, I saw them clearly.

They were locked in a passionate kiss near his car.

After they pulled apart, Jayden wrapped his arm around her waist with a smirk.

"I'm so happy you brought me home for the holiday, but won't your husband mind? It is his birthday, after all," he said.

Rosalind leaned in and gave him another quick peck.

"It doesn't matter if he minds or not. You were the real star of the show tonight," she whispered.

I dumped the trash into the bin and didn't even blink.

Normally, I would have thrown the garbage at them and demanded respect.

I had done that so many times that Rosalind's friends called me a "bitter, naggy housewife" behind my back.

I went back to the kitchen to finish the dishes.

A few minutes later, Rosalind walked in.

Seeing me scrubbing the pans, she actually spoke to me for once.

"Caden, let me do that," she said.

When we first got together, I promised her she would never have to touch a chore.

I had kept that promise for ten years.

She only offered to help when she was in a particularly good mood.

It was obvious that her session with Jayden had left her feeling great.

She took the sponge from me and started rinsing a plate.

I went to the bathroom to wash up, but when I came out, her phone was buzzing.

It was Jayden's custom ringtone.

I decided to be helpful and answered it since it was about to go to voicemail.

I put it on speaker, and Jayden's whiny voice filled the room.

"Rose, babe, I left my house keys at your place. I'm stuck outside my door and it's too late to get an Uber. Can you bring them to me?"

Before I could say a word, Rosalind stormed over with a dark expression.

She snatched the phone out of my hand.

"Who gave you permission to touch my phone?" she hissed.

I opened my mouth to explain, but she didn't give me a chance.

She grabbed the greasy dishcloth and threw it right at my face.

The oily rag hit me square in the eyes.

"Go clean yourself up," she snapped.

She grabbed Jayden's keys and slammed the door as she left.

I cleaned the grease off my face and took a hot shower.

My tooth started throbbing with a sharp, agonizing pain.

They say a toothache isn't a disease, but it's enough to make you want to die.

I collapsed on the sofa, shivering and breaking out in a cold sweat.

I wasn't going to be a martyr this time.

I sent Rosalind a text asking her to pick up some Ibuprofen on her way back.

Surprisingly, she came home quickly with the medicine.

She even poured me a glass of warm water.

She knelt by the sofa to help me sit up.

That's when I saw it―a bright red hickey on her pale neck.

Rosalind noticed my gaze and her face went pale for a split second.

"This... it was from a game of Truth or Dare at dinner. Things got a little out of hand," she stammered.

She seemed to suddenly remember that I had been at that dinner and no such game happened.

I acted like I didn't notice the lie.

I pulled my hand away from her and spoke calmly.

"Oh, it looks nice. Like a little red flower."