Divorcing My Childhood Sweetheart, I Finally Saw the Truth

My husband, Tobias Blackchard, has been cheating on me for three years.

I refused to divorce him.

It was simply because of my deep-rooted unwillingness.

We were childhood sweethearts, from school uniforms to wedding dresses, and we once truly loved each other.

Then one day, I had an epiphany.

I decided to end this painful entanglement.

I would let him go, and I would set myself free.

...

I took my parents to the Tobias & Fiona Hotel for dinner.

As we entered the restaurant, I walked straight toward the private room we always used.

Lily Whitmore, the lobby manager, stepped calmly in front of me.

She flashed her signature smile and greeted me with her usual politeness. "Mrs. Blackchard, good evening."

"Mm." I nodded. "The usual dishes, please, and bring them quickly."

After I spoke, I noticed Lily didn’t move. She was standing still, which struck me as odd.

"Madam, the Afternoon Tea Garden is occupied. May I take you to another private room?" she asked politely.

"Is Tobias back?" I asked without thinking.

"Mr. Blackchard is still on his business trip. It's another guest," she replied.

"Are you kidding me?" I snapped. "The Afternoon Tea Garden is reserved for our family. It’s never open to the public. You, as the lobby manager, shouldn’t be allowing anyone else to use it without permission. I’ll have to—"

"There was an instruction," she interrupted me. "It was Mr. Blackchard’s."

"That’s impossible—"

Before I could finish my sentence, I froze.

I saw a flicker of sympathy in Lily’s eyes that she couldn’t hide.

In that instant, everything clicked.

A cold sensation spread rapidly from my chest to the rest of my body.

I heard my own trembling voice, "It’s Xena Hollis, isn’t it?"

"Yes."

"Tobias instructed you to let her use the Afternoon Tea Garden?"

"Yes." Lily hesitated for a moment, as if reluctant to continue, but then she did. "Mr. Blackchard said Miss Hollis loves the Afternoon Tea Garden, and from now on, it will be her exclusive room. Always reserved for her."

"Exclusive?" I laughed bitterly. "So, I’m not even allowed inside anymore?"

Lily didn’t respond, but her evasive gaze and lowered head said everything.

"That’s too much!" My mother shoved Lily aside and stormed toward the Afternoon Tea Garden.

"Mom!" I grabbed her arm. "Don’t go."

"Fiona, people are walking all over you, bullying you, and you’re still holding back?" She glared at me, her eyes red.

My father, Bruce Clayton, stood beside her with a stern expression. "If you want to vent your anger, we’ve got your back. There’s nothing to fear when you’re the daughter of the Claytons!"

Unable to meet their furious gaze, I clung to their arms, pleading, "Dad, Mom, please let’s just go home."

"You!" Bruce pointed angrily at me. "How can my daughter be so spineless?"

"Tobias is doing this on purpose," I said, my voice raised. "He wants to push me into asking for a divorce."

"Divorce? Then go ahead!" Bruce spat in frustration. "Are you really going to die without him?"

"Fiona, is there any reason to keep holding on to a marriage like this?" My mom took my hand. "Trust me, just divorce him."

"Please don’t!" I cried out desperately. "I don’t want a divorce!"

"Then stay stubborn!" Bruce snapped, shaking his arm and walking away. "We won’t interfere anymore."

After my parents left, I stayed alone in the hotel lobby, frozen in place for what felt like forever.

"Mrs. Blackchard?" A sweet voice suddenly broke the silence.

I turned to see a woman standing there, radiating charm.

Xena. Tobias’s public lover.

Her custom-made evening gown clung to her slender, graceful figure.

With fiery red lips and a gaze that was both alluring and cold, she exuded an air of wild beauty.

Everyone knew Xena was Tobias’s favorite woman.

The two of them appeared in public together all the time.

When the words "Mrs. Blackchard" escaped her lips, it felt like she was mocking me.