Starting Over at 40

Mason refused, saying I was being paranoid.

Then, he asked our relatives and friends to talk me out of it.

My in-laws tried to persuade me, saying Mason hadn't cheated, and that I should just make do. They said they'd step in and have Mason transfer me 10% of the company shares.

Our friends said that Summer was only after Mason's money. If I divorced him, I'd be giving her exactly what she wanted.

Since Mason was in a period of career growth, he was getting richer by the day.

Letting go now would just benefit her. That would be plain stupid.

One of my best friends also had a cheating husband, who was a broke and ugly man. She told me to endure it, since "all men are the same".

At the very least, Mason had money.

These days, as long as one had money, they could do whatever they wanted, even trample all over marriage without consequence.

I quietly began preparing the divorce paperwork.

Mason even brought my father to talk to me.

As soon as we met, Dad slapped me across the face.

He scolded me, "Every man needs to socialize. So what if he has a few women on the side? He's cared for you for over 20 years, and you're still not satisfied! How could you insist on a divorce? You're almost 40. Do you think you'll find someone better if you leave him?"

What he was really doing was talking about himself—he had divorced, married a younger wife, and had a son. It seemed like he felt proud about it.

To him, the wife was just supposed to endure everything in silence.

My daughter, Yvie Fleming, came home from college one day.

As I tried to hug her, she pushed me away and mocked me, saying, "You stay at home all day, and still you are not satisfied."

I couldn't believe my daughter's reaction.

I tried to explain to her. "Your dad's with someone else. I don't want to live with him anymore."

"You're just overthinking because you have nothing better to do. Dad said she's just a friend."

Yvie's annoyed expression was just like Mason's.

"Mom, Dad's supported you for 20 years. How will you live after the divorce? Don't count on me to take care of you," she added.

Before she said that, I had thought she would feel for me. I thought that she'd angrily hit her father and ask him how he could betray me. Instead, she argued with me and slammed her bedroom door.

I quietly asked myself, "Elaine, how did you end up with a life this pathetic?"

…

As I lay in bed that night, Mason came over and reached into my pajamas.

We hadn't been intimate in over a year.

Even as I didn't respond, his hand didn't stop.

"Alright, stop throwing a tantrum. I've told her to stay away. She won't show up again," he said.

I closed my eyes, unable to stop the tears.

"Mason," I whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Did you sleep with her?"

My question was met with silence.

"You are disgusting," I spat.

I might've accepted it if it had been some woman in her 20s or 30s. After all, men chased novelty.

But he was twisted enough to sleep with a woman young enough to be his daughter.

Hearing that, Mason got angry and yanked at my pajamas violently.