Perfect Until I Disappeared

By the time we got to the Lawton estate, Gloria and Damian were already there.

They were being treated like royalty, surrounded by people.

Jennifer was fastening an antique bracelet around Gloria's wrist.

"This has been in our family for years. I didn't give it to you before because you weren't pregnant. But now, thanks to Damian..."

Her face was all smiles.

Then she saw me.

Her smile disappeared instantly.

"What are you doing here?"

The disgust on her face wasn't even subtle. She looked ready to kick me out on the spot.

Around us, the guests turned to stare, obviously waiting for drama.

Gloria leaned against Damian's chest, her eyes half-lowered, like she was waiting for me to react.

Damian had this smug look in his eyes as he pulled her closer.

I smiled. "Jennifer, what are you talking about? You've always wanted a grandchild. That's on me. Five years of marriage, and I never got Gloria pregnant. Now she and Mr. Keane are expecting, and your wish finally came true. That's a good thing."

The whole room went dead quiet.

The smile disappeared from Gloria's face. She straightened up, her expression turning cold.

Even Jennifer stared at me like I'd completely lost it.

"Did you take something?"

She'd been waiting for me to blow up and get tossed out like garbage.

I kept smiling and set the gift down. "Mr. Keane, this is for you. Hope you like it."

Gloria used to hate it when I got jealous.

Now all I had for her pregnancy were good wishes.

I was being the kind of husband she wanted. Calm. Generous. Easygoing.

The kind that made her happy.

She should've been happy.

But her face only got darker as she stared at me.

"Go sit down. Stop making everyone wait on you. It's rude."

I nodded, but I still couldn't figure out why she looked upset.

Not that it mattered.

I brushed my fingers over the divorce papers in my bag.

Once I gave up my place as her husband, she'd finally be happy.

Gloria stayed attached to Damian the whole night.

I sat at the end of the long table, watching the way she looked after him. Even with a small piece of fish, she carefully picked out every bone before dropping it into his bowl.

Gloria used to treat me like that too.

When my stomach hurt, she'd rub it gently while tears filled her eyes.

If I wanted dessert from some bakery across town, she'd drive two hours through snow just to get it for me.

Once, she lit up the whole city with fireworks and proposed under a sky bright as daylight.

"I'll only ever love Mason Moore in this lifetime."

I frowned.

The Perfect Partner mindset the system had planted in me told me not to think about how good Gloria used to be to me.

The more you held on to things like that, the more you'd want.

And wanting too much would make me the kind of husband Gloria didn't want.

Since Gloria had treated me so well, I just needed to work harder and become the husband who made her happy.

But by the time dinner was over, I still hadn't found a chance to give her the divorce papers.

I stood by the door, waiting to head home with her, only to hear that she and Damian were staying at the Lawton estate for the night.

"You can go."

Her bangs fell over her eyes, hiding whatever expression was there.

I nodded and started walking out.

I had barely stepped outside when she called my name.

"Mason?"

I turned around, confused.

Gloria looked like she wanted to say something.

But she didn't.

She rubbed her temples, looking irritated. "Forget it. Text me when you get home."

Strange.

Ever since Damian showed up, this was the first time she'd seemed concerned about me.