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384words
I burst out laughing.
Every single line was about “Paul” — Paul could cook, didn't play video games, never spoiled the mood, and had even hugged me the night before the divorce…
“How’d you know he hugged me?”I taunted.

Nathan didn’t take the bait,spinning more.“Paul told me.”
Nathan:[I’m so jealous.Lily and Grace are adorable.Paul…won’t have kids with me,always‘busy.’If we had kids sooner,maybe we wouldn’t…]
Nathan:[Sarah,I want to divorce Nathan.Can we three raise Lily and Grace?I don’t need status,just to be with Paul.]
Ew…
“I’ll sue you for slander!”I told Nathan.
Sarah lost it,calling me shameless,saying she offered friendship,but I wanted to ruin her family.

She hurled every vile word,two screens’worth.
[Hope you’re a mistress forever,never rising!]
Then blocked me.
“Nathan,”I pointed,“if she spreads this,can you handle it?”

I’m“the mistress”now.
He smirked.“Forgot what your husband does for a living?Her phone’s probably full of‘message recalled.’”
I:…
“That’s illegal,right?I won’t have to bail you out of jail,will I?”
He laughed.“Go ahead and report me. I recalled all those messages in two minutes flat. You saw the fake chat.”
I checked the real one—all“recalled.”
“Impressive.”
“Don’t be mad,wife.I’ll peel durian,kneel on the shells.”
Little Lily was conceived that day.
Nathan wanted“Little Durian.”I promptly vetoed it.I love durian,but not for a name.
He suggested“Lily.”I refused—lily seeds are bitter.
“I’ll remove the bitter core,”he insisted.
Fine,commemorating that day,huh?
“Little Lily,if you like it,kick.”
“Little Lily?”
She kicked my belly.
“She moved!She loves it!”
I:…
At midnight,Lily’s kicks kept me awake and hungry.Nathan accompanied me on a late - night street food hunt, patting my belly.“Mom’s working hard.Be good.”
I swatted his hand.“Save the sweet talk.Whose fault is this, anyway?”
“Mine,mine,mine,”he admitted.
While wiping down the table at the food stall,he said,“I think I saw your ex.”
“Oh.”
“I’ve seen him outside the complex a few times.Didn’t tell you.”
“Oh.”
“I’m worried he’s up to no good.”
“Oh,go chat with your Paul.Tell him to stop.”
I won’t move.
It was in an excellent school district — elementary, middle, and high schools were all within a 15 - minute walk.
Nathan:“Got it.I’ll talk to Paul.”
I soon forgot about it.A week later,Nathan came home bruised.Talks with Paul went south.
“Damn it…his own mess!My wife,my kid,who’s he to meddle!”
I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt.
“Your kid might be coming early…”
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