Cooking for Him, Ignoring Her Husband

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I was hospitalized with a high fever, but my wife, Sarah, yanked out my IV and dragged me out of the hospital.

All because her assistant, Ashley, was drunk and needed me to make her hangover soup.

I begged her to let me go later, when I felt better, but she called me a drama queen.

After making the soup, I was drenched in cold sweat from the fever, and I pleaded with her to take me back to the hospital, but she didn't even glance at me.

""A grown man, such a drama queen! It's just a cold. Get out, and don't bother me!""

I had no choice but to leave, my body weak and aching.

I barely made it to the street before I collapsed.

A passerby called 911. At the hospital, the doctors called Sarah repeatedly, but she kept hanging up.

Alone, I endured the agonizing pain and fever. Later, I saw a post on Ashleys Instagram.

""My boss thought I had a fever and actually took a cold shower to try and cool me down through body contact! So silly!""

""Such a clueless but sweet boss ?C Id work my butt off for her!""

I silently liked the post, then immediately contacted a lawyer to start divorce proceedings and get out of LA.

But Sarah, unable to find me, started crying.

...

After I was discharged, I went on a solo trip to Hawaii to clear my head.

Sarah didn't call me once.

Ashley, however, continued to post loved-up photos with Sarah.

I gave up, no longer holding onto any hope.

When I got home, the lights were on.

I thought Sarah had realized she was wrong and left them on for me.

But when I opened the door, I saw it was just wishful thinking.

Liam, Sarahs assistant, was lounging on the couch in my robe, sipping wine and watching TV.

He froze when he saw me, then smirked and walked over.

""Sorry, man! My place burned down, so Im crashing here for a bit. Don't get any ideas.""

I said nothing, just stared at him coldly. His smirk widened.

""Looking for Sarah?"" Liam chuckled. ""Shes making me her famous BBQ ribs!""

Just then, Sarah came out of the kitchen with a plate of burnt ribs, offering them up like some kind of prize. ""Try my cooking!""

My heart sank.

In all our years of marriage, Sarah never cooked for me.

Not even when I was sick with a high fever. I always cooked for her, worried about her getting sick from takeout.

She told me girls shouldnt cook because the fumes would make their skin bad.

I loved her and spoiled her, never asking her to lift a finger in the kitchen. She had it made.

But now, the girl I pampered for seven years was cooking for another man.

Happy to do it.

Sarahs smile vanished when she noticed me. She stammered, ""Dont get the wrong idea! Liams place burned down, so he's staying here temporarily.

""If you mind, I can tell him to get a hotel.""

I looked at her and smiled. ""It doesn't matter.""

I was leaving anyway.

Relieved, Sarahs face relaxed. ""I just made these. Come eat some!""

""No, thanks.""

""You made them specially for him. I couldn't deprive you of that pleasure.""

She caught my sarcasm. Her face darkened instantly. ""I thought you were being mature. If you mind, just say it! I can tell Liam to leave. Don't be so passive-aggressive!""

""And where were you all these days? Liam was so upset!""

""He couldn't even find you to make him soup! What good are you?!""

""Yeah, no good at all.""

""So I wont bother you two anymore.""

I turned and went to my room.

Sarah stomped her foot. ""I don't know why youre so jealous!""

""Liam got drunk closing a deal for me! You have no compassion whatsoever! How can you be so heartless?!""

Liam, out of Sarahs sight, grinned, then put on a pitiful face. ""Sarah, don't be mad.""

""If Mark minds, I'll leave. I don't mind suffering a little if it means you two don't fight.""

""Why should you leave?!"" Sarah's face flushed. ""Hes the one being petty and jealous! Its his problem!""

""Don't worry about him. Lets eat!""

Soon, I could hear their laughter and flirting from the living room.

It was annoying, so I locked my door and put on my headphones.

Sarah knocked several times during the night.

I ignored her and went back to sleep. After a while, she gave up.

The next morning, I saw Sarah asleep in Liams bed in the guest room. Her hair was messy, her clothes rumpled, and she was clinging to him.

I scoffed and left.

We were getting divorced anyway. What she did didn't matter to me anymore.

I bought two cartons of milk and some fruit and went to visit Grandma at her nursing home.

Grandma was happy to see me, but her face fell when she realized Sarah wasn't there.

Id been raised by Grandma. We were all each other had. It hurt to see her disappointed, but there was nothing I could do.

Sarah always promised to visit Grandma with me but never did. She always claimed she was too busy with work.

Now I knew it wasn't about being busy. She just didn't care.

She could drop a multi-million dollar deal to take care of a drunk Liam, but couldnt keep a simple promise to me.

I realized it was time to end this loveless marriage.

I went to my boss at work and resigned. He looked troubled.

""Does does Sarah know?""

""Lower-level employees dont need the CEOs approval to quit.""

He looked even more uncomfortable. ""Why are you resigning?""

""I want to try something new.""

A headhunter had contacted me last week. The job was overseas, but I couldnt leave Grandma, so Id turned it down.

Now that I was quitting, Id have more time to spend with her.

My boss, although reluctant, accepted my resignation.

He asked me to finish my current project before leaving.

I didn't want to make things difficult for him, so I agreed.

He patted my shoulder and sighed. ""You're a real asset to the company, Mark. I never understood why Sarah demoted you to a junior assistant. Such a waste of talent!""

""That new assistant is useless, always messing things up and needing Sarah to clean up after him.""

""Is it because because of problems between you two?""

""It's nothing. Maybe she just wanted me at home, taking care of things,"" I lied, not wanting to go into details.

Of course, I knew why Sarah didn't want me in a position of power.

She was afraid Id be too difficult to control.

I was more like a pet bird than a husband ?C a plaything to keep her amused when she was bored.

Id barely sat down at my desk when Sarah walked over.

""What were you doing in his office for so long?"" She eyed me suspiciously.

""Nothing.""

I tried to ignore her and focus on my work, but she tapped her manicured nails on my desk.

""Come to my office.""

As soon as I stepped inside, I was hit by a wave of cloying mens cologne. It made me nauseous. How vain could someone be? It was practically lethal.

And Id often smelled the same scent on Sarah.

There was a new desk next to Sarah's. The project folder on top had Liam's name on it.

In the open drawer, I saw several unused condom packets.

I scoffed. My heart felt numb.

Sarah noticed my gaze and quickly covered Liams name, then offered a flimsy excuse. ""Don't get the wrong idea. Liam is still learning the ropes. These are important contracts, so I had him move his desk next to mine so we can work together.

""I always keep my professional and personal life separate.""

I laughed.

Separate?

Only when it came to me, apparently.

I remembered when I first started as her assistant, she told me to stay out of her office and not disturb her work.

Now, Liam was practically living in there. It was ridiculous.

But it didn't matter anymore.

I was leaving.

""Just tell me what you want.""

""Last night""

""Last night I was just so tired, and you wouldn't open the door, so I accidentally fell asleep in Liam's room. Don't overthink it.""

She looked so anxious, as if shed committed some terrible crime. I shrugged. ""Okay. If thats all, Ill get back to work, Ms. Mitchell.""

She flinched at the formal address.

""Do you have to be so difficult?""

She was clearly surprised by my change in tone. I used to call her honey even when she insisted on keeping things professional.

Now, I didnt care.

Shed never treated me with respect, so why should I bother?

We were getting divorced. Ms. Mitchell seemed appropriate.

""Fine,"" she sighed. ""Professionalism at work is good.""

""I wanted to ask you could you hand over your current project to Liam? Give him some experience.""

""Young people should be given opportunities. It shows initiative, just like I had."" She smiled dreamily.

When I didnt respond, her smile faltered. ""Its just one project. Can't you let him have it?""

Just one project?

I scoffed.

She had no idea how much work Id poured into this project. It was almost finished, and she wanted me to give it to Liam as a practice run?

""This project is my lifes work right now.""

Sarah thought for a moment. ""What if what if I visit Grandma with you? I know shed love for us both to have dinner with her. If you give Liam this project, I'll go with you. How about that?""

""Ill make sure you get a better project later, I promise.""

I cut him off and walked past him. He smirked, as if to say, See? I get everything I want.

Your wife loves me, not you.

I ignored him.

Sarahs uncharacteristic gentleness caught me off guard. She reached out to hug me, but I instinctively stepped back.

She knew I was giving in. She leaned in and quickly kissed me.

""See you after work tomorrow, then! And after we visit Grandma, there's the company picnic.""

I didn't say anything. As I turned to leave, I saw Liam standing there, glaring at me. When he saw Sarah, his expression melted into a pout.

""Sorry, Ms. Mitchell. I didn't mean to eavesdrop.

""If Mark doesn't want to give me the project, it's okay. I don't want to force him.""

""No, no, it's settled!"" Sarah said, her voice soothing, like she was talking to a child. ""Its good experience for you.""

""Thank""

""Excuse me.""

When I got home that night, Liam was gone.

Sarah came home late from work.

Unlike usual, I was already asleep. Sarah frowned. I always waited for her to come home and cuddle before I could fall asleep.

Now, I didn't want to wait anymore.

Im a light sleeper, so I woke up when Sarah wrapped her arms around me.

Remembering how she had held Liam the same way last night filled me with disgust. I instinctively moved away.

""You're awake?""

I pretended to be asleep, not wanting to talk to her. She kept talking anyway, mostly to herself.

Later that night, a thunderstorm rolled in. Sarah burrowed into my arms, scared. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a special ringtone shed set for Liam.

She got up, grabbed her clothes, and ran out into the pouring rain.

Even though we were getting divorced, wed been together for seven years.

I was worried about her, so I called after her. ""Where are you going so late?""

She looked back, her face etched with anxiety. ""Liam has a fever, and he cant get a cab in this weather. I have to go. Go back to sleep!""

I watched her disappear into the storm, a wave of loneliness washing over me.

I remembered the last time I had a high fever and needed her. She claimed to be busy with work and told me not to be such a baby. Shed even dragged me out of the hospital to make Liam hangover soup.

But now, for a simple fever, Sarah was braving a thunderstorm, something she was terrified of, just to be with him.

The difference between love and indifference was stark.

I was the one clinging to years of memories, fooling myself.

Now that I was awake, it was time to end things.

The next morning, I packed a bag to visit Grandma and waited for Sarah.

I waited from morning till noon, but she didn't show.

Just as I was about to give up, she finally arrived.

""Something came up at work. Let's go!""

""Okay.""

As soon as we got in the car, her phone rang again. Liams ringtone.

She glanced at me nervously and answered.

Her face grew increasingly grim as she listened. She turned to me, her voice strained.

""Mark, there's a problem with Liam's project. The client is giving him a hard time. I""

""Go.""

I didn't wait for her to finish. I grabbed my things and got out of the car.

""Oh, Mark, you're the best!""

""Ill make it up to you next time, I promise!"" She kissed me on the cheek, but I pushed her away.

There wouldn't be a next time.

""Sarah, let's get a divorce.""