After Ten Years of Betrayal

After ten years of marriage, I've spent them all dealing with my husband's affairs. Just as I reached full term in my pregnancy, the actress he was sponsoring caused a scene with a backer at a dinner party. To salvage her career, Dennis insisted I use my charm to appease the director.

Confused, I questioned him.

“But I'm heavily pregnant, and it's a delicate time. I went through months of fertility treatments just to have this child…”

He cut me off impatiently.

“They're only asking you to mingle. It's not a big deal! You're always so adept at these situations, unlike Priscilla—she’s so inexperienced.”

He nudged me toward the investor. As the man grabbed me, pain shot through my abdomen. Blood streamed down my legs.

His precious Priscilla covered her mouth, laughing. “Dennis, why’d you bring someone with a medical emergency? How’s she supposed to keep the investor happy?”

That night, I lost the baby. Due to severe hemorrhaging, I had to have my uterus removed. Meanwhile, photos of Dennis and Priscilla in bed went viral online.

Cora visited with a casserole to comfort me, but I was strangely calm.

“You said the child was our bond. Now that the baby’s gone, I think I should leave too.”

Cora set down the casserole, her eyes filled with helplessness and sorrow. “Estella, you've been together for ten years. Can you really just walk away? Men can be foolish sometimes. Can't you reconsider?”

The TV interrupted with breaking news. It was footage of Dennis visiting Priscilla on set, roses in hand, kneeling on one knee. A massive diamond ring was tucked into the bouquet, larger than my own wedding ring. It was originally meant for her.

The crowd began to tease, “Seems like not every Mrs. Ford can win Mr. Ford's heart. Making a scene out of a visit—Mrs. Ford must feel special!”

All the adulation sent Priscilla soaring. She basked in the repeated calls of "Mrs. Ford."

Someone eager to flatter chimed in, “The ring shouldn’t just slide on the finger, it needs a kiss too, right?”

Dennis didn't clarify Priscilla's status. Instead, he bit the ring, trailing kisses from her finger along her arm, her neck, her lips, then deepening the kiss.

Cora glanced at me awkwardly and turned off the TV. She thought I’d be upset, grasping my hand tightly. “Child, whatever you decide, I’m behind you.”

Inside, I felt an overwhelming calm. Ten years had drained my heart.

“Take one last look at your uterus. The doctor will take care of it soon.” Looking at the bloody mass, my heart wrenched. From now on, I’d never be a mother again. To say it didn’t hurt would be a lie.

The doctor entered to take my uterus away.

“I don’t understand you young people. Don’t you realize how much damage frequent procedures do to the body? Reckless!”

I didn’t want to hear it anymore, turning away. My lips, already chapped, cracked further under my biting. It seemed there was nothing left to keep Dennis.

So, there was no reason for me to stay.

Blood from my lips stained the pillow. Seeing it, Cora angrily picked up the phone to call Dennis.

“Mom, I’m really busy lately. Whatever it is, can it wait until I get home?”

“Do you realize the family you come from? Slipping a wedding ring onto another woman—what are you doing?”

The voice on the other end faltered, cold and annoyed.

“Mom, everything on the news is exaggerated. Don’t listen to Estella. She always blows things out of proportion!”

Cora yelled into the phone, “You need to come back and apologize to Estella right now!”

The call was on speaker, and a woman’s playful voice could be heard in the background.

Furious, Cora wiped a tear and hung up. “Estella, once you’re healed, leave him. That jerk doesn’t deserve you.”

The doctor handed me a discharge form. I’d need to stay in the hospital for seven days, after which I’d be free to leave.

Fine. Then I’ll stay just these last seven days.