No Breeze Crosses for the Loveless One

After I found out my husband, Finn, was cheating on me.

To get back at him.

I went out with no less than 10 different men in six months.

The night I broke up with number 10, a sweet college kid.

I asked Finn for a divorce.

Oh, darling.

How many times have we been here?

Finn finally looked up from his phone.

Whats the matter? Not happy with the latest boyfriend?

He smirked, a cruel little twist of his lips. Did he disappoint you so much that my usually placid wife has to come bother me with her little tantrums?

He laughed and reached for his jacket. Im afraid I dont have time for this, darling. I have plans tonight.

I stared at him, still trying to understand. How could a man separate love and sex so completely, as if they were two different countries with a hard border between them?

Finn, I said, stepping in his way and holding out the divorce papers. My voice was calm. Im serious.

Lets just let each other go.

Darling. Finns expression was still infuriatingly casual. I really dont have time to play these games with you.

He held up his phone, showing me his open messaging app. The kids going to get upset.

He smiled, but the warmth didnt reach his eyes. And you know how it is. Shes not easy to placate.

The screen showed a profile picture. It was one half of a matching set. His was the other half.

The girl was complaining, sending an angry emoji.

[How much longer do you have to spend with that old hag?]

[You said she had a boyfriend now anyway. Or have you decided you prefer older women after all? Are you trying to patch things up with her?]

She was shamelessly mocking my age.

Finn just thought it was cute. He typed back: [Dont be jealous.]

Suddenly, a video call notification popped up on his screen. The jarring ringtone shattered the tense silence between us. Finn gestured to his phone. See, darling? Im a very busy man.

He answered the call, right there in front of me.

The girls voice was a playful pout. Finn. Im already at your gate.

Ill give you three seconds.

If you dont come out.

Were breaking up!

I listened to her confident, demanding tone and watched the flicker of annoyance on Finns face melt back into a fond smile.

You little troublemaker.

His voice was a low murmur, meant only for her. My wifes home, you know. Arent you afraid shell come after you with a kitchen knife?

And if she does, dont you dare come crying to me.

He was flirting with her, right in front of me, as if I wasnt even there. The girl on the phone just laughed.

You wouldnt let her.

You promised youd protect me!

I knew what I was supposed to do. I was supposed to stay silent. I was supposed to let him leave, to give him his space. Everyone told me the same thing: as long as I was Mrs. Thorne, I would have a life of unimaginable luxury. I would want for nothing. My mother, who was seriously ill in the hospital, would continue to receive the best possible care.

But I just couldnt do it anymore. I couldnt stand it for one more second.

I snatched the phone from his hand. His eyes widened in shock as I spoke into the receiver.

Youre right. The wife is very mean. If you dare set foot inside this house, Ill make sure youre carried out.

I ignored the girls shrieks on the other end, her accusations that I was shameless. I smashed the phone on the ground, strode to the front door, and threw it open. The girl stood there, her face red with fury. I raised my hand and slapped her, hard.

Do you know what you are? My voice was sharp, but my face was a mask of cold calm.

As long as I am in this house, as long as I hold the title of Mrs. Thorne, you are nothing but a cheap little homewrecker.

I grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head against the door. The loud thud was followed by her terrified scream.

Youre crazy!

Finn!

Finn! Are you just going to stand there and let her do this to me?!

Finn!

I raised my hand to strike her again.

A hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. From behind me, I heard Finns voice, a lazy drawl that was somehow both amused and threatening.

Darling. Dont you think youre being a little undignified?

His voice was still light, still laced with that mocking amusement.

But I heard the warning underneath.

The kid is at an age where looks are everything, Finn said. If you mess up that pretty face of hers, youll be the one who has to deal with the consequences. Why make things harder on yourself?

His tone was casual, but his grip on my wrist tightened, forcing me to let the girl go.

Lets just say the kid was being impulsive tonight and overstepped, he continued, his gaze shifting to me, his eyes hardening. But if theres a next time, darling my patience has its limits.

I watched as he gathered the sobbing girl into his arms, murmuring comforting words.

Its okay.

Shh, youre okay.

She clung to him, her tears soaking his shirt. He lifted her into his arms as if she weighed nothing and turned to leave. But I called out to him.

Finn.

He didnt stop. I ran after him, blocking his path.

If you really like her, I said, my eyes on the girls tear-streaked face, then you should make it official.

I leaned in and whispered in her ear, my voice a soft poison. Its not me who wont step aside.

Its your dear Finn who refuses to let me go and make room for you. If youre really so special, I said, my voice dropping, then you get him to agree. Just like he did for me, all those years ago. You make him bring you into the Thorne family.

The girls body went rigid. Her expression changed. She looked up at Finn, her eyes wide and uncertain.

Finn sighed, a long, weary sound, and gently set her down. He walked over to me.

Chloe.

His voice was cold. Dont regret this.

He took the divorce papers from my hand and signed his name on the dotted line. Then he turned back to the girl, his voice soft again.

Happy now?

Tears of joy streamed down her face. She threw her arms around him, but her eyes were on me, a silent, triumphant challenge.

She had won.

I didnt look at either of them. The enormous weight that had been crushing my chest for so long had finally lifted.

I couldnt name the feeling.

I just sat in the empty villa, watching as the movers carefully packed up every trace of me. My phone buzzed.

It was a video from Finns new fiance.

In the video, Finn was on one knee, kissing her hand, his expression as reverent as if he were holding the most precious treasure in the world.

Lily, he was saying. My love for you isnt just words.

You wanted a grand gesture, a promise. Im willing to give you all of it. So, he said, pulling out a diamond the size of a pigeons egg and slipping it onto her finger, are you happy now?

Lily was crying and laughing at the same time. She sent me a text.

[Chloe, everyone talks about how much Finn loved you. How he defied his entire family just to marry you. How he knelt in the family shrine for seven days without food or water, even endured the family punishment, just to get them to agree.]

[And your mother, the one whos barely hanging on? The only reason shes still alive is because Finn hired the best team of specialists in the country for her.]

[But heres something you dont know.]

She sent another video.

[Its not what you think.]

The video was dark, filmed in the private club Finn always went to. I recognized the faces of the men with him.

I heard someone ask, Finn, whats the deal with you and Chloe? This has gotten messy.

Finn sat in the middle of the group, toying with his wedding ring. The man continued.

Chloes been running around town with at least five different pretty boys. Arent you worried shell catch something? That shes dirty?

Shes out of control. And youre just going to let it happen?