When I Discovered Husband Was Billionaire, I Divorced Him

By the time I finished scrolling through every post, Derek's name lit up on my screen.

I picked up without thinking.

"Is Jamie asleep? I got off work late today, didn't get a chance to video call you guys." His voice was warm, intimate.

It jolted me back to reality.

"...He's asleep."

"What's wrong? How about we FaceTime right now? I'm a little worried about you."

Before I could answer, he added, "It's just that my roommate's already asleep, so I'd have to step outside."

Normally when he said something like that, I'd tell him not to bother. I always hated putting him out.

"Sure," I said softly.

He seemed to pause for a moment, then laughed lightly. "Okay, give me a second."

I knew that video call was never going to come through. But I waited anyway.

Sure enough, a text came shortly after: "Signal's terrible out here. Tried a few times but it won't connect."

"I'm pretty tired today. Going to sleep first. I'll call you and Jamie early tomorrow, okay babe?"

I didn't reply.

Over the past four years, there had been so many moments just like this. I had accepted every excuse he handed me, filled in every gap he left behind.

The second he showed even a hint of exhaustion, I'd blow it way out of proportion, convinced it was my fault for being a burden.

And every time he made it seem like he was sacrificing something for my sake, I'd be the one to say, "Never mind."

I typed out a message, weighing every word: "Derek, Jamie's in school now, and your parents should be able to look after him. How about I come join you? Two incomes would be faster."

The phone rang instantly.

"Where is this coming from? Didn't I say I'd have enough saved up to come home soon?" Derek was trying to keep his voice even, but I could hear every ounce of his irritation.

"I just think you're working too hard..."

"You want to help? Then stop making things harder for me!" He snapped, then caught himself in an instant and softened. "Sorry, I really am exhausted today. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"Mom and Dad are getting older. Taking care of Jamie is a lot for them. Just stay put and wait for me. I'll be home to see you soon."

"Don't make me worry about you out here, okay?"

I was silent for a moment. "Okay. Then maybe when you come back, we can finally make it official."

Derek's patience finally ran out. "We'll talk about it when there's time. I'm going to sleep."

We'd never managed to actually get married. Even after Jamie was born, somehow there was never the right moment.

Now I understood -- it wasn't that there'd been no opportunity. He simply didn't want to.

After hanging up, I got up and walked to Jamie's room.

He was sound asleep, and I lay down gently beside him, pulling him into my arms.

That night, I replayed every day of the past six years in my mind.

And as clarity returned, I knew exactly where to find the truth.