After My Husband Gave Her Status I Left

Three months into my pregnancy, I was sued by my husbands mistress. At the same time, she demanded I get an abortion.
As one woman to another, she said, her voice dripping with condescension, Im giving you one last chance. Write a letter promising to cut off all contact with my husband, get rid of the baby, and Ill drop the lawsuit. You wont have to pay back a cent.
It took me a moment to process. She thought I was the other woman.
A chill shot through me, but I forced my expression to remain calm as I looked at her.
She mistook my silence for guilt, and her composure swelled with the confidence of a wronged wife. Youre an educated woman. You dont want me to blow this up and ruin your reputation, do you?
A cold, faint smile touched my lips. She had dug up everything about me, it seemed, except for one small, crucial detail: my marriage certificate.
Just then, a text from Manny buzzed on my phone.
She has a very strong moral compass. If she finds out shes the one on the side, she wont be able to handle it.
Ill make it up to you. For now, you need to play along.
Those two short lines shattered what was left of my heart.
My hands were steady as I pulled my marriage certificate from my purse and slid it across the table toward her.
Maam, I said, my voice even. It seems you missed something in your investigation.
1
She flinched. Her face paled, and though her eyes were wide with disbelief, she snatched the document and flipped it open.
As she read the registered information, her expression curdled. The hand holding the certificate began to tremble.
I watched her in silence, but the storm raging inside me was just as violent as hers. This was the first time Id ever had to deal with Mannys infidelity.
And, I decided in that moment, it would be the last.
She slapped the certificate back down on the table, then, trying to regain her composure, opened her own purse. She pulled out an identical document and pushed it toward me.
Miss Collins, she said, her voice strained. Did you really think Id come here without being absolutely sure of my position?
I picked it up. My own hands began to shake when I saw the date of registration.
May 20th, 2021.
The exact same day as mine.
My heart shattered, the pain a suffocating weight in my chest. It was hard to breathe.
Are you trying to cover your tracks with a fake document? Daisy, the mistress, still wore her mask of superiority.
I met her gaze, refusing to back down. Fake or not, why dont you go home and ask your husband? Or maybe the three of us should have a little chat?
Daisy was clearly displeased with my tone. She saw it as a challenge.
Manny is a very busy man. I wont let him waste his time on trivial matters like this, she sniffed. And I wont let you manipulate me into distrusting him.
She seemed to be talking more to herself now, a strange mantra of self-assurance. Hes a man, after all. Men of his status, wealthy and powerful they all have a taste for trash on the side. She spat the word trash with deliberate venom.
The fact that Im even here, talking to you, is a courtesy Im extending to you as the other woman. But if you continue to shamelessly entangle yourself with my husband, then youll have only yourself to blame for what comes next.
Her final warning was delivered with eyes like shards of glass, waiting for me to break, to apologize, to surrender.
I let out a soft, humorless laugh. Miss Monroe, has it ever occurred to you that you might be the trash on the side?
I think were both victims here, I continued, my voice firm. We shouldnt be fighting each other. Manny is the one who created this mess. Hes the one who owes us an explanation, not the other way around.
She sneered, looking at me as if I were a cornered animal, all empty bravado. Still think youre the real wife? Heh. Fine. Ill show you something that will make you shut your mouth for good.
She took out her phone and played a video.
2
On the screen, my mother-in-law, my husband, and my brother-in-law were celebrating with Daisy. A cake with five candles sat on the table. It was their fifth wedding anniversary.
There was a little boy, maybe three years old, whom I didnt recognize.
But then the boys voice piped up, clear as a bell. He called Manny Daddy. He called Daisy Mommy.
My mother-in-law clasped a diamond necklace, worth millions, around Daisys neck and called her daughter with a warm smile. My brother-in-law grinned and called her sis.
I felt like Id been plunged into an ice bath. The blood in my veins turned to slush, and a deep, searing pain spread through my entire body. Everyone knew. They all knew and supported Mannys double life, and I was the only one playing the fool.
Even now, with his secret exposed, Manny wasnt worried or ashamed. He was afraid that I would hurt her.
I never imagined that the husband who had always doted on me, who catered to my every whim, could do this to me. It felt like falling from a great height with nothing to break my fall, only the jagged, tearing pain of impact.
Daisy stopped the video, her eyes fixed on me, triumphant. Still want to keep fighting?
I blinked back the hot sting of tears, a bitter, self-mocking laugh escaping my lips. No. Im done.
But, I added, my voice hardening, theres something you need to see.
I showed her the text message Manny had just sent me.
She has a very strong moral compass. If she finds out shes the one on the side, she wont be able to handle it.
Ill make it up to you. For now, you need to play along.
The color drained from Daisys face. Her eyes flashed with rage, and a single, furious tear rolled down her cheek. She stabbed at her phone, dialing Mannys number.
You tell me right now who the other woman is! Manny, you bastard! You get your ass over here right now and clean up your own damn mess!
She hung up before he could even speak. Her imperious tone told me everything I needed to know. This was a woman Manny spoiled rotten.
Manny and I had been childhood sweethearts. Wed been together for ten years before we married, and in five years of marriage, I had never, ever spoken to him like that, no matter how angry I was.
Im sorry, she said, dabbing at her eyes with a silk scarf. Her voice was suddenly soft, contrite. I didnt know he was lying to you. My behavior earlier was out of line.
My blood ran cold. I stared at the scarf in her hand. It was the last piece my mother had ever designed before she died. Someone had once offered me five million for the design rights, and I had refused. I kept it in a special box in my closet, a treasured heirloom. It was my last connection to her. Whenever I missed her, I would take it out, hold it, and try to remember her scent.
My hand shaking with fury, I snatched the scarf from her. This was my mothers, I hissed, my eyes burning. What are you doing with it?
She looked completely bewildered, startled by my outburst. Manny bought it for me. He paid two million for it.
Suddenly, her eyes darted to something behind me. Her face hardened again, all contrition gone. Manny! Youd better explain yourself, right now!
The air in the private room grew thick with tension.
Mannys gaze flickered over the two marriage certificates on the table, then dismissed me completely. He rushed to Daisys side, wrapping a protective arm around her.
Im sorry, honey, he murmured, his voice laced with panic. It was a moment of weakness. I was out of my mind.
I felt like a joke, a tragedy skewered by a thousand swords, watching the man who whispered loving words in my ear every night call another woman his wife.
Shes your wife? I asked, my voice trembling between a laugh and a sob. Then who am I? What am I?
I scrubbed furiously at the tears streaming down my face.
Just as Daisy pushed Manny away in disgust, I summoned every ounce of strength I had and slapped him hard across the face.
His eyes pleaded with me, begging me to give him an out, to let him save face.
Lina, he said, his voice low and strained. Im sorry. I lied to you. Youre the other woman.
A bitter laugh escaped me. I pulled out my phone and dialed. 911? Id like to report a forgery
Manny snatched the phone from my hand and ended the call. His brow furrowed in annoyance. Stop making a scene! Ill compensate you!
Daisys expression softened. She clearly didnt want this to damage Mannys reputation. Miss Collins, she said, her voice conciliatory. My husband was in the wrong. We are willing to compensate you.
3
Compensate me?
A heavy stone settled in my chest. With what?
Daisy thought for a full five minutes before answering. The family will give you thirty million dollars and arrange for your immigration. With that money, you can live any life you want. You just cant ever come back here. For a relationship, thirty million its a good deal.
I stared into Mannys eyes, searching for something, anything.
He remained silent. He just stood there and let his mistress treat me like one.
I took a slow, deep breath, forcing myself to be calm.
Manny, Im giving you one last chance, I said, my voice dangerously low. You tell me, right now, who the other woman is. Whose marriage certificate is fake?
If you dont admit it, the three of us will be on the evening news tonight.
You can stop loving me. You can fall for someone else and ask for a divorce. But you will not treat me like an idiot. My voice cracked. I guess this is my punishment for loving you since we were kids.
Mannys eyes narrowed, a flicker of resentment in them. He was angry that I was forcing his hand. But under my gaze, the cold, hard stare of a woman with nothing left to lose, he finally broke.
Im sorry, Daisy, he said, his voice barely a whisper. The certificate I gave you its a fake. Im so sorry.
Slap!
Daisy, trembling with a fury that seemed to shake the very foundations of her world, struck him across the face.
So thats why you rushed off right after we registered our marriage, I said, the pieces clicking into place with sickening clarity. You went to her.
And our wedding night did you spend the first half with me, then invent some company emergency so you could spend the second half with her?
It was too much for Daisy. With a choked sob, she turned and ran from the room.
Manny didnt even glance at me. He just ran after her.
He didnt come home that night.
I was used to it. My work was in nighttime scientific research; I often worked late shifts. That, I now realized, was a major reason Id never discovered his affair.
I used Mannys laptop to draft a divorce agreement. Just as I finished, a new message popped up on his screen.
Mr. Hayes, should we continue to schedule your wife for night shifts? Her latest health checkup results werent very good.
My heart seized. The message was from my direct supervisor.
I clicked on the chat history. There werent many messages, but every single one was an instruction from Manny, telling my boss to keep me on the night shift.
Even three years ago, right after my miscarriage, when my body was weak and frail, he had insisted I be assigned the night shift, year-round, to analyze experimental data.
I sat there, numb, staring at the screen, reading the messages over and over until the words blurred.
Eventually, Manny returned, his face etched with exhaustion and worry. He checked a few rooms before our housekeeper, Maria, told him I was in the study.
The moment he opened the door and saw me, the laptop, my lifeless expression, panic flashed in his eyes. He rushed to my side and knelt on one knee, taking my cold hands in his.
His eyes were bloodshot. Hed clearly been up all night consoling Daisy.
Maria said you havent eaten since yesterday. Lets get you something to eat, okay? he coaxed, his tone as gentle as it had always been, as if nothing had happened.
But now, it only made my stomach turn.
I yanked my hands away from his. Lets get a divorce, I said, my voice as cold and flat as a frozen lake. I can see how much you love her. You even have a son.
I love you, he interrupted, his voice suddenly sharp. Stop this nonsense. Im not divorcing you.
I couldnt read him anymore. I looked at the man before me, and all I felt was contempt.
Youre a coward, Manny.
A pathetic, spineless coward. I will never respect you.
He suddenly laughed, a strange, defiant sound.
That afternoon, his mother came to talk me down. It was the same old story. All men cheat. Its just a bit of fun. She even had the audacity to suggest that our marriage was unstable because I hadnt given him a child.
I had always respected her. But today, I threw my cup of coffee in her face.
Youre insane! she shrieked.
Yes, I thought. I think Im about to be.
4
Daisy was in the hospital.
She couldnt handle the truth of being the other woman, so shed swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills. Fortunately, they got to her in time, and she survived.
Manny was terrified and heartbroken. He dragged me to her hospital room and forced me to my knees by her bedside.
Apologize to Daisy! he snarled.
If it werent for you, she wouldnt have tried to kill herself!
Did you know shes two months pregnant?
You almost killed her!
His grip on my shoulders was like iron, a sharp, searing pain shooting through me. My knees pressed against the cold, sterile floor. I listened to his voice, tight with rage and trembling with fear for her.
I tried to shrug him off, my body rigid with defiance, but his grip was too strong.
I said, apologize! Did you hear me? my silence only fueled his fury, and he roared at me.
The noise woke Daisy.
She began to weep, her voice weak and hoarse. Dont put on this pathetic show for me. The pain Ive endured, the child Ive lost a simple sorry from you two wont fix any of it.
I laughed, a sharp, incredulous sound. Why should I apologize? Youre the ones who should be apologizing to me!
Daisys voice grew stronger with anger. You couldnt keep your husband on a leash! You let him come out and lie to me! Whose fault is that if not yours?
Manny rushed to her side, his voice full of anguish. Its my fault. Its our fault. Daisy, please, calm down. Dont get worked up.
He held her, coddling her like a princess, his every movement radiating love and concern. He used to hold me that way.
Every sweet memory was now a shard of glass, piercing my heart until it was a bloody, shredded mess.

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