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He rarely let me visit his office,worried his staff would call him whipped,bad for his image.
He seldom posted me online,claiming he valued privacy.
Most employees knew he was married but didn’t know my face.
So,despite Lily’s tacky style,everyone assumed she was the boss’s wife.
At the party,staff praised Ethan and Lily as a perfect match.
One junior employee spoke up,confused.“Mrs.Brooks,I saw you at the office once,arm-in-arm with Mr.Brooks.Did you…get surgery?You look different.”
Lily’s heart raced,fearing exposure.
The employee continued,“Did it go wrong?”
Silence fell.
Someone smoothed it over.“I saw that woman,too—total flirt,probably trying to seduce Mr.Brooks.”
“Yeah,no good.But don’t worry,Mrs.Brooks,Mr.Brooks is loyal.”
The flattery eased Lily.She snuggled into Ethan,eyes adoring.
But Ethan was distracted,checking his phone.
It was nearly midnight.
Normally,if he was late,I’d call and text nonstop.
This time,no messages came.
Ethan wondered if his phone was broken,blocking me.
In truth,I’d gone to bed early.
Exhausted,I had a divorce agreement to draft tomorrow.
I crashed the moment I got home.
Ethan returned late.
The house was dark,unlike the usual warm lights.
I always waited up for him.
He paused,not turning on the light,fumbling to my bedside.
He reeked of cheap perfume.
Drunk,he stumbled next to me,his stubbly chin grazing my jaw.
I jolted awake.“Ethan,why are you here?”
In the dark,he missed my disgust,assuming I was thrilled.
“Maggie,I’m back.Sorry for making you wait.”
Those words once melted me.
Now,I scooted away.“Ethan,stay back.This is my house.Get out.”
I’d bought this place outright when we married;he was broke then.
He laughed,lunging at me.“Maggie,stop playing hard to get.I’ll satisfy you tonight.And this house?It’s ours—marital property.”
I shoved him off the bed,voice icy.“I’m not playing,Ethan.The divorce papers are almost ready.”
He froze,then chuckled.“You’re still mad.Lily helped Mom a lot,so I was kind to her.Don’t be petty.”
I laughed.“Kind enough to sleep with h
He snapped,“Maggie,I’m trying to make nice,and you accuse me?Whose umbrella is that?I’m not digging into your mess.Watch yourself.”
Ethan loved turning the tables.
A weak man needs something to prop him up.
I didn’t bother arguing.
He sighed,slinking to the living room sofa,glancing at me,expecting me to soften like always.
