I Divorced Him After He Chose Her

I hadn't been answering any calls for a while. I had just finished nursing my daughter at the maternity center when Irene burst in, looking anxious.

"Lily, why haven't you been picking up your phone? Your father's nearly frantic at the consulate," she burst out. "You need to come with me right now. We have to get Keanu's documents and head to the consulate!"

I calmly recited, "666313."

Irene paused, puzzled. Gently, I adjusted the blanket over my daughter and explained, "I'm not able to leave; that's the password to our home. You can get whatever documents you need from there."

Her hands trembled slightly. "Lily, how can you be so cold-hearted? Keanu is in a warzone, and we have no idea if he's alive or dead." She continued, "Haven't you seen his distress signal? He said he'd been shot in the leg and is hiding out at a stranger's place, under fire."

Irene's entire body shook as she spoke, but I remained composed. "I'm aware of Keanu's situation. Even before he sent the group message, he texted me several times asking for help, but I chose not to respond."

She staggered back, visibly shaken. Watching her, I felt a twinge of guilt. During the seven years I was married to Keanu, she had been like a mother to me, filling the void left by my own mother's absence. But Keanu had shattered all of that.

Quietly, I handed her a recording of my conversation with Keanu from that night. "Mom, please don't blame me for being heartless. This was Keanu's choice."

Her fingers shook as she took the video. After watching it, she collapsed onto the floor, her lips moving silently before she finally found her voice.

"Listen to me, Lily. There's nothing between Keanu and Cassidy."

Despite the pain from the C-section, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. I got out of bed to help her up, much like how I had handed Keanu my credit card and passport as he left, ignoring my condition.

"I know he and Cassidy aren't physically involved. But Keanu abandoned his family to chase after Cassidy in a warzone, showing how little he values our family," I said. "He'd rather risk our daughter growing up without a father and leave me a widow than stay with us. He must face the consequences."

Irene's face turned pale at my cold words, her mouth opening and closing, unable to form a response. Perhaps even she couldn't find a reason that would convince me. Eventually, she gave up trying to persuade me, trembling as she stood. "Take care of yourself. I'm leaving now," she said, looking aged and defeated as she hurried out.

I felt a deep pang of guilt watching her go but still called out just before she left. "Mom, when can you and Dad move out of my apartment this week?"

She turned back, unable to hide her reaction. "Can't you just give it a little more time?"

I shook my head. "Keanu didn't make sure I was safe in the hospital before flying overseas, did he? I just want to settle our marital assets before he returns."