Seventeen Years, A Valentine's Day Betrayal

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I was at a bar, keeping my newly divorced best friend company while she drank her sorrows away. She was crying, telling me how much she envied the ten years of wedded bliss I had with my husband.

Just then, I heard suggestive flirting coming from the booth next to us.

The man who had hugged me and given me a sweet morning kiss just hours ago...

Was now shamelessly pinned under another woman, lost in a heated make-out session.

Eventually, he became the laughingstock of our entire social circle.

"Some people have kids who can run now, while others are still stuck pining for their old flames," someone joked.

...

It started on Valentine's Night, when my best friend, Becca, officially signed her divorce papers.

She and her husband had been together for years, surviving every storm, only to be defeated by the mundane passage of time.

On a special night like this, I should have been home with Dwight Dawson.

But he'd sent me a last-minute text saying a major case at the office required his attention, so I ended up at the bar with Becca instead.

After a few drinks, her tears started flowing.

"Summer, I never thought he'd leave me. We were so in love. How did we get here?"

"Is it true that even the best love can't beat the craving for something new?"

"Summer, you and Dwight have to hold on. You're the only reason I still believe in love."

I sighed, feeling a bit helpless.

Dwight and I were indeed the couple everyone envied.

From high school sweethearts to a wedding dress, we were each other's firsts.

We'd argued, fought, and struggled, but we never chose to walk away.

In today's shallow, flashy world, a bond like ours felt like a rare gem.

While I was daydreaming about what Dwight might be doing at work, a soft moan drifted from the booth next to us.

The arm I had around Becca froze. My entire body felt like it had been turned to ice.

That voice...

I would recognize it anywhere, even if the world were ending.

Because the owner of that voice had woken up in my arms this morning, pulling me close for a sweet morning kiss.

His sugary words were still ringing in my ears.

"Happy Valentine's Day, honey. I hope you're by my side for every one of these for the rest of our lives."

I stood up, my mind reeling. Through the gaps in the decorative plants, I saw him clearly.

There was my husband, the man who promised me forever this morning, now offering his lips to another woman like a sacrifice.

Between kisses, he murmured sweet nothings I'd never heard before.

"Yara, hold me tighter..."

"You have no idea how much I've missed you. I think about you every second."

My blood felt like it had frozen in my veins. I couldn't move.

Becca noticed my reaction and stood up to follow my gaze. Her jaw dropped.

"IDmph!"

I instinctively reached out and covered her mouth.

Then, I dragged her out of the bar as if we were escaping a fire.

It wasn't until we were outside that I collapsed against a wall, tears finally streaming down my face.

Why...

Dwight, why?

My heart was full of resentment and questions, but I didn't have the guts to confront him then and there.

I didn't have the courage to face that scene. I was terrified of reaching the point of no return.

Becca was fuming, pacing back and forth.

"That bastard! How could he do this to you? Why did we run? We should've gone in there and caught him red-handed!"

"We should have made those two scumbags lose face in front of everyone!!!"

I slid down the wall, burying my face in my arms and sobbing uncontrollably.

How was I supposed to face him in a situation like that?

That was Dwight...

My first love of seventeen years, my husband of ten.

He was the golden boy in a white shirt who walked into my life and eventually stood by me as I wore my wedding gown.

We exchanged rings and promised our lives to one another.

We went through so many storms and hardships together. He was my best friend and my partner.

More than that, he was my most cherished love.

How could I admit that the man I'd held so dear in my heart was now completely rotten?

I simply couldn't face it.

I went home like a zombie. I sat on the sofa, staring at our wedding photo on the coffee table.

The tears wouldn't stop.

I sat there from the middle of the night until dawn. It was only then that the front door finally opened.

Dwight jumped when he saw me on the couch. "Honey? Why are you sitting here?"

I looked up at him.

He was wearing a sharp suit, but the dark circles under his eyes were obvious.

He probably hadn't noticed the faint hickey on the side of his neck from last night's activities.

A sharp pain stabbed at my heart. I forced a smile and asked him a question.

"Dwight, was work that busy last night? So busy you couldn't even come home for Valentine's?"

He thought I was just annoyed that he hadn't spent the night with me. He walked over and hugged my neck.

"What's wrong? Is my little Summer upset?"

"Don't be mad. Something urgent came up at the office and I couldn't get away."

"I'll spend the whole day with you today, okay?"

The scent of a woman's perfume wafted off him. Suddenly, I felt like vomiting.

I stood up abruptly.

"Something just came up at my office. I have to go."

Without looking back, I walked out the door.

I hated myself for being so cowardly.

But for now, I just needed to escape.

I truly didn't have the courage to face any of this yet.

I sat in my office, staring out the window like a hollow shell.

Yara. When I thought about it, the name sounded familiar.

About six months ago, Dwight got hooked on watching livestreams.

One of those pretty influencers went by the name Yara.

Driven by a dark impulse, I pulled out my phone and searched for the name.

Sure enough, the first account that popped up was the girl Dwight was getting intimate with in the lounge.

I clicked on her profile and saw she was only in her early twenties.

She was so young.

I let out a bitter laugh. Becca was rightDnot even the longest relationship can compete with the thrill of something new.

Yara was currently live. I couldn't help myself; I made a burner account and clicked in.

A familiar face appeared on the screen, and my eyes stung as if they'd been burned.

The girl on the screen looked about seventy percent like me.

But she was younger, more vibrant. She looked like a version of me from my college years.

She was currently sharing her Valentine's Day experience with her viewers.

"Yesterday? Oh, I was out on a date with my favorite guy, of course."

"He wasn't going to come out at first, but I pouted a little and he folded. He's still totally obsessed with me!"

"Of course he's handsome, and his body is amazing."

"You guys have no idea how assertive and passionate he is when he kisses me."

"I bet he's never like that with anyone else."

"Who's the someone else? I won't say for now. Maybe later."

I smiled bitterly. That "someone else" was obviously me.

Yara then went into vivid detail about how gentle her "man" was. She even described the specifics of their night at a hotel.

The whole stream was edgy and provocative, almost unbearable to listen to.

The man she described felt like a complete stranger to me.

Yara's version of him would go to amusement parks and go wild with her.

But Dwight always told me he hated the sun and refused to go to a park with me even once.

Yara's version would wake up early to make her breakfast.

But Dwight was a total couch potato. In ten years of marriage, I hadn't let him touch a frying pan once.

Two completely different people were actually the same man.

The man who was out partying and playing around was the same man our friends and family called a "perfect husband."

I never realized my childhood sweetheart could be such an incredible actor.

He had fooled everyone.

A week later, our families gathered for a traditional Sunday roast.

The atmosphere between Dwight and me had been awkward for days, but neither of us had addressed it.

Every month, we had dinner at my in-laws' place.

My parents lived abroad, so my mother-in-law and father-in-law treated me like their own daughter.

"Summer, dear, have some more roast. I made this especially for you!"

My mother-in-law kept piling food onto my plate, her voice full of concern.

"Why have you lost so much weight in just two weeks? Don't let work run you ragged. Health is the most important thing."

"And you, Dwight! You need to take better care of your wife. What are you always so busy with?"

I looked at the woman who cared for me so much, and a wave of bitterness hit my heart.

Dwight responded with perfect composure. "I know, Mom. Things have just been crazy at the office. I'll make sure to look after Summer better from now on."

My heart was a chaotic mess of scales tipping back and forth.

Should I blow the whistle?

Do I really want a divorce? Or should I give him one more chance to come clean and cut ties with that streamer?

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, leaving me dizzy.

While I was lost in thought, Dwight's phone suddenly buzzed.

He glanced at it and immediately headed to the balcony to answer.

A few minutes later, he came back looking guilty as he grabbed his coat and bag. "Mom, Dad, I'm so sorry. A case I've been working on just hit a snag. If it's not handled now, the firm could lose a lot of money. My boss needs me back right away."

My in-laws nodded quickly.

"Go, go. Family dinners happen all the time."

"Work comes first. Don't cause any trouble for the firm."

Dwight nodded and then turned to me.

"Summer, I'm really sorry. I've just been so swamped lately."

"I know you're upset. Please don't be mad."

"As soon as this project wraps up, I'll make it up to you."

I looked into his shifty eyes and suddenly asked, "Can't you just stay?"

Dwight frowned, hesitating for a split second, but ultimately shook his head.

"I can't, Summer. I have to go."

I let out a sarcastic smirk and didn't say another word.

I knew then that my words no longer carried any weight with him.

When someone wants to leave, talking is just a waste of breath.

After saying goodbye to my in-laws and heading home, I lay in bed alone.

I opened Yara's livestream again.

Sure enough, she was basking in the glow of her latest victory.

"I didn't spend the night with my family. My hometown is far from here."

"My man was supposed to be with his family, but I whined a little. I told him I didn't want to be alone, and he dropped everything to come to me~"

"He's in the shower right now, so I'm gonna hop off."

"His body is so fit, I'm keeping the rest of the night all to myself. No peeking for you guys!"

With a smug grin, she ended the broadcast.

I threw my arm over my eyes in despair, tears leaking silently from the corners.

I finally started to doubt everything.

Is a marriage like this really worth the hesitation?

Am I really going to wait until I'm pushed off a cliff before I'm satisfied?

I stared at the ceiling for the rest of the night. I didn't sleep a wink.

The next morning, I was driving to work in a daze from exhaustion.

Because I was so out of it, I swerved and slammed into a guardrail.

The metal from the door pierced my calf. The agonizing pain drenched me in a cold sweat.

I called 911 first, and then immediately dialed Dwight.

The phone rang for a long time before he finally picked up.

His voice sounded groggy and satisfied. "Hello?"

I gritted my teeth against the pain and rasped, "Where are you?"

There was a pause. "I'm at the office. I pulled an all-nighter and I'm just resting in the lounge."

He was still lying. Even now.

Waves of intense pain crashed over me. I finally broke and begged him for help, my voice trembling.

"Dwight, I was in a car accident on Grand Avenue. Can you come here? Now?"

"An accident?!"

His voice sounded panicked for a moment, but then I heard the rustling of fabric over the line.

And then, the unmistakable, wet sound of a suggestive kiss!

When he spoke again, his voice was shaky. "Are... are you hurt bad? The thing at the office... it isn't finished yet."

Hearing his heavy breathing, my heart finally turned to stone.

The love I had protected and cherished for so long had become something disgusting.

He had already trampled my dignity and our history into the dirt. I was the only fool who thought that if I was patient enough, things could go back to the way they were.

I was so incredibly stupid.

I didn't say another word. I just hung up.

The next second, the world went black, and I passed out.

When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital bed.

The person sitting by my side was Liam Beckett.

Liam was the son of my company's CEO and had been my senior back in college.

We'd known each other for years and were always on good terms.

I didn't know how long he'd been there, but he had heavy bags under his eyes.

Seeing me wake up, he rushed to call the doctor. Once the doctor cleared me, he let out a massive sigh of relief.

"Summer, you scared the hell out of me."

I coughed twice, and Liam immediately grabbed a cup, helping me sip some water through a straw.

Once I felt a bit better, I managed to speak.

"Why are you here?"

"You didn't show up at the office yesterday morning. I was worried, so I called you. The hospital answered."

"That's how I found out."

"Yesterday?" I frowned. "You've been here for a whole day and night?"

"I'd stay for three days and nights if it meant you were okay!"

Liam realized how that sounded and his face flushed a deep red.

I stayed silent. Liam looked at me and asked cautiously, "Summer, is something going on with your husband? I called him, and he said he didn't have time to come."

"But you were in a major accident. How can a husband just ignore that?"

I had been carrying this burden alone for so long. The moment Liam asked, the dam inside me finally broke.

I covered my face and began to sob uncontrollably.

Liam panicked and started frantically wiping away my tears.

"Summer, don't cry. Whatever it is, tell me. We'll figure it out together!"

Between sobs, I told him everything that had happened over the past few weeks.

By the time I finished, Liam actually looked relieved.

"Summer, I thought it was something much worse."

"Love isn't some luxury item that you can never replace once it's gone. If his heart has changed, why stay in the ruins of this marriage?"

"You're so decisive at work. No matter what setback you face, you never give up and you always start over."

"Why are you backing down when it comes to your own life?"

Liam's words were like a wake-up call.

He was right. Was I really the kind of person to be trapped in a failing marriage forever?

Since Dwight had already inflicted irreparable damage, why was I still torturing myself?

The mountain that had been crushing my chest for weeks seemed to vanish.

Suddenly, I felt a warmth on my hand. I looked down and saw Liam holding it.

He looked at me with a tenderness I'd never noticed before.

"Besides, you've always had someone standing by you."

After Liam left, I lay in the hospital room alone and thought a lot.

I thought about our promise in high school, and the proposal after college graduation.

I thought about the struggle of our first rental apartment, and the tears of joy when we bought our first home.

I went from our first meeting to the betrayal.

It felt like I was reliving those seventeen years in my head one last time.

As the final note of my memories faded, Dwight pushed the door open and walked in.

His face was a mask of deep regret.

"Honey, I'm so sorry. These past two days were just insane."

"I came as soon as I could. How bad is the injury?"

"I'll go find the doctor right now and talk about the treatment plan."

He turned to leave, but I sat up slowly and called out to him.

"Dwight, don't bother."

He froze and walked back to the bed. "Summer, do you need something? Just tell me, I'll take care of it."

I looked at the man I had loved for over a decade. The words that had been swirling in my mind for days finally came out.

"Dwight, let's get a divorce."

The color drained from his face instantly.

He shook his head in disbelief, stammering his protest.

"Divorce? Why? Everything was fine, why would you say that?!"

"Is it because I didn't come to take care of you? I was wrong, Summer. I won't let it happen again. I'll make more time for you, I promise!"

Looking at his frantic face, I still felt a sharp pang of pain.

I had loved him for so long...

So long that this love had become a habitDa habit that was hard to break.

But no matter how much it hurts, you have to cut away the rot to survive.

I took a deep breath and spoke clearly, one word at a time.

"Dwight, I know about Yara."

"I saw you kissing her at the bar. I was in the next booth."

"Valentine's Day, our anniversary dinner... even this accident. You were with her every time."

"I know everything."

Dwight's panic turned to ice. He stood there, paralyzed, unable to utter a single word.

My eyes grew red, but my voice remained steady.

"Ten years of marriage, and now I don't want anything."

"The house, the carDyou can have them."

"Dwight, I just want my dignity."

"Don't lie anymore... let's just end this."