No Legacy For The Liar

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The night before my wedding, I found Brooks and a stranger in my bed.

Proud as he was, that was the first time Id ever seen him weep.

His voice shook as he explained, claiming he was blackout drunk, that hed mistaken her for me, and that it would never happen again.

The young woman, her face flushed, confessed that shed secretly loved Brooks for years and deliberately bribed a hotel clerk for his room key.

She fell to her knees and swore she would disappear from our lives forever.

For the next eight years, we were the picture of a perfect couple, envied by everyone we knew.

Then, on Brookss thirtieth birthday, I specifically took time off work and endured an eleven-hour international flight to give him a surprise.

Stopping at a corner store for a bottle of water, I overheard a woman talking on the phone beside me.

Youre so clingy. Its only been an hour, and youve practically blown up my phone.

Just wait. This girl is going to wear you out tonight.

A jolt of somethingcuriosity, perhapsmade me glance over.

I froze.

The woman was the same girl from eight years ago.

Years had passed, and she clearly didn't recognize me as she walked over to the checkout.

I couldn't hear what the person on the other end was saying, but she pouted playfully into the phone. No, Im not cold. Im wearing plenty. You can check later if you dont believe me.

You can reach right inside, slide your hand down my waist, and keep going until you hit

On an impulse I couldnt explain, I pulled out my phone and texted Brooks.

[Brooks, are you off work yet?]

No reply.

The woman reached out and took two boxes from the shelf for 'Intimate Products.'

Same brand, same flavor, same sizethe one Brooks and I always used.

Her voice was sickly sweet. Its your birthday, so its your call how many times we go.

I glanced down at my phone.

Still nothing.

After paying, I followed the woman outside.

Stop rushing me, she whined. I see your car.

The London rain was hitting my face, cold as ice.

I tightened my coat around me and hit the call button with a trembling hand.

A cold, automated female voice replied: The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable.

I understood instantly. He had his phone on 'Do Not Disturb.'

This year, hed told me his overseas branch was so busy that he couldnt take calls once he stepped into the office.

It wasn't the first time I couldn't reach him.

A sleek Bentley was parked a short distance away at the corner.

Brooks!

The woman hurried forward and opened the passenger door.

I turned my head slightly to look.

One look was all it took to nail me to the spot.

The window was half-down, and the man in the drivers seat looked composed and expensive.

She twisted her body and leaned in to plant a light kiss on the corner of his mouth.

He smiled, a familiar, fond look of resignation.

Always the baby, he murmured.

The streetlights were dim, but I saw his face clearly.

The owner of that face had been by my side for my entire thirty years.

At three, we held hands walking into kindergarten.

Hed sneak the candy the teacher gave him into my palm. Ill protect you. Dont cry.

At sixteen, he copied a movie scene and hid a drawing of me inside a textbook.

When I found it, his ears turned bright red.

I just like you. So what?

At nineteen, during our first kiss, he was so thrilled he bought out the entire restaurants tab.

I want to shout it outIm the happiest guy in the world.

At twenty-two, when I accepted his proposal, he swore in front of both our families that he would only ever love me.

Everything came to a screeching halt the night before our wedding.

When I opened that hotel room door, he and a stranger were naked and tangled together.

The day was a blur of chaos.

Everyone said he was drunk and had made a mistake.

They said I, his childhood sweetheart, should give him a second chance.

Even the girl knelt and begged for forgiveness.

She took all the blame, saying she bought the room key, only to fulfill her foolish secret crush fantasy.

Brooks, who had always been so proud and dominant, cried until his eyes were red that day.

Seeing my silent tears, he picked up a fruit knife and aimed it at his own heart.

Stella, I know Ive failed you.

If you dont believe me, Ill cut myself open and show youthere is truly only you in my heart!

Tears blurred his face.

His voice kept shaking.

Please dont leave me, my love. Im begging you. You know Ive loved you for so long.

If you reject me, Ill die. I truly will die

After that, I sealed the memory away.

Sharing life for so many years, I thought we were inseparable, destined to go from being children's playmates to growing old together.

But in this second.

Our thirty years.

It finally all came crashing down.

Dazed, I returned to the apartment. My mother texted me:

[So, how did Brooks react when you told him you were pregnant? He must be thrilled!]

I took a deep breath, swallowed the bitterness in my throat, and replied with a forced calm:

[Not yet. I just got to his apartment. Haven't told him.]

The apartment door opened, and Brooks walked in, having returned after dropping Quinn off.

Our eyes met. His flickered with unnaturalness for a second, then quickly settled into a calm facade.

Why didnt you tell me you were coming? I would have picked you up from the airport.

My expression was flat. I wanted to surprise you.

He smiled, walking over to gently ruffle my hair. I hate how much I missed you.

The flight must have been exhausting. All this trouble just to adjust your time zone for a birthday.

Before Brooks could say anything more, his phone buzzed.

He looked down to reply, his eyes softening with that familiar tenderness and patience.

Then he looked up apologetically. Im so sorry, but I have a client meeting tonight. My poor girl will have to be lonely.

Before I could speak, he went to the closet and pulled out a garment.

I understood immediately.

He came back to retrieve the intimate item the woman had forgotten.

I had used a week of my vacation time, missing a huge client meeting, to arrange and decorate this temporary overseas apartment for him, bit by bit.

But now, the unique vase Id spent an afternoon hunting for and personally carried over from the States was gone.

Even the photo of us stuck to the refrigerator had vanished.

A sharp, wet chill seeped into my heart through my rain-drenched clothes.

I abruptly stood up, dragging my suitcase toward the door.

Brooks followed. Are you upset?

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder from behind. The apartment hasnt been cleaned. Ill book you a five-star hotel nearby.

I promise, Ill spend the whole day with you tomorrow. Deal?

He tilted his head, intending to kiss me, just as he always did.

A strange, unfamiliar scent of citrus and spice wafted into my nostrils.

It was her perfume.

I turned my face away, but Brooks didn't seem to notice and rushed out the door.

By the elevator, a rough-looking guy whistled at me, his eyes leering.

How much, beautiful? He doesnt want you, Ill take his sloppy seconds.

He grabbed my arm. He has a girlfriend. Ive seen her. Theyre neighbors here. He dotes on her, carrying her from the garage all the way up. She always looks so happy. What makes you so desperate?

He reached out and pinched my waist, trying to lean in for a kiss.

Reflexively, I brought my heel down hard on his foot.

As he yelped in pain, I pulled my suitcase and fled through the fire exit.

I didn't dare stop to check the scrape on my knee after tumbling down the stairs; I just ran straight for the airport.

Sitting aimlessly in the boarding hall, I was consumed by one question.

Why did Brooks cheat again?

In the first two years of our marriage, I was constantly plagued by nightmares.

In the dream, Brooks was naked, wrapped around a strange girl.

Id wake up in tears.

He would hold me, soothing me over and over.

Its all my fault. I hurt my poor baby wife.

He changed the passwords on all his devices to my birthday, and introduced me at every public event as his wife.

He gave me a detailed rundown of his daywho he saw, what he did.

If he had to travel and stay out of town, he would keep a video call open all night, listening to my breathing until he fell asleep.

We were both painstakingly trying to repair the broken trust.

Where did it all go wrong?

Vaguely recalling the woman's name, Quinn, I opened a social media app to search.

It took me less than a minute to find her among the many accounts with the same name.

The reason was her profile picture: it was taken in Brookss office back home.

The hanging abstract painting behind her was one Id personally commissioned from a renowned artist.

I had pleaded with the artist, even standing outside their studio in high heels for an entire afternoon, just because Brooks had once mentioned he liked their style.

Quinn was a moderately famous travel blogger with a decent following.

I scrolled down.

The posts related to Brooks started three years ago.

Quinn and a man holding hands, the background our high school track field.

[Finally dating my high school dream guy!]

It was the same spot where Brooks and I had first held hands at sixteen.

The night wind was cool, and his palm was slick with nervous sweat.

When were old and gray, well come back here together.

The middle of August two years agoour wedding anniversary.

Brooks said he had an urgent business matter and couldnt be there. But in her feed, he was sitting with Quinn, eating street food.

Last New Years Eve, I was hospitalized with a high fever from the flu.

Brooks appeared in Quinns video, intensely focused as he disinfected a small scrape on her finger.

My hand holding the phone was shaking.

Brookss face wasn't visible in any of the photos.

But the familiar cuff of his expensive jacket and the texture of his palm made it impossible to keep lying to myself.

Quinns latest post refreshed on the screen.

The image showed a lacy maid outfit, so revealing it made my stomach churn.

[Bought it but forgot to bring it. Glad someone remembered! Tonight's reward is all his.]

So that was it. That was what Brooks had returned to the apartment to fetch.

The fans in the comments were joking.

[Your hubby has good taste! Sis, you spoil him!]

Quinn replied: [Can't help it. I asked him today when he fell for me.]

[He said it was eight years ago, the first day I was brave enough to tell him I liked him. He said my eyes were frighteningly bright, and he never forgot it.]

[Just thinking that hes been thinking about me all these years melts my heart.]

I pressed my lips together so tightly they hurt.

But the tears were disobedient, streaming silently down my face.

Quinn posted a video next.

The camera focused on a large bed covered in rose petals.

A woman's voice giggled. My followers want me to ask you, now that youre thirty, do you have any new plans for our relationship?

A mans low laugh replied. Plans?

I do want a baby. Will you have one for me, baby?

The camera shook, and the sound of clothes intensely rubbing together filled the silence.

My fingers were numb; I misdialed several times before I finally called Brooks.

The phone rang three times, then finally connected.

My voice trembling, I asked, Brooks, am I still in your future plans?

He was silent for a few seconds, then said casually, Of course, you are. Why wouldnt you be?

Oh, by the way, my parents mentioned you had a surprise for me. Theyve asked me about it several times. What is it?

I heard Quinns low, urgent voice in the background.

Husband, if you dont pay attention, Im going to punish you.

If I hadn't seen them, I would have been foolish enough to believe she was a subordinate.

My eyes swept over the shredded pregnancy test report I'd tossed in the waste bin. I spoke softly. Its gone.

The surprise was gone.

The past love, the future wed planned.

All gone.

Brookss patience wore thin, a hint of anger creeping into his voice.

Why are you throwing a fit?!

Ive turned down over ten international partnerships for you, all because youre constantly suspicious!

Im with a client tonight for our future. Can you just give me a break?

Tears fell again, and I managed a slight, bitter laugh.

Youre right, Brooks.

Im just throwing a fit.

When you get back home, were getting a divorce.

Brooks was the one who hung up first.

He scoffed. Fine. Be dramatic.

The dial tone cut out, hitting my heart like a drumbeat.

I didn't sleep a second during the twelve-hour flight back.

It wasn't until I lay on the operating table, and the anesthetic poured into my veins, that I found any release from the relentless pain.

When I found out I was pregnant, I was truly overjoyed.

I thought this would be the new beginning for Brooks and me.

Just a few months more, and the baby would have been here.

Happiness was within reach.

But now, everything was lost.

After resting for a day, I received a message from Brooks.

[Im back. Family dinner tonight. Dont you dare give my parents the silent treatment.]

[Stella, youre not a teenager anymore. Your tantrums need a limit.]

I replied that I would attend.

By the time I composed myself and arrived at the Brooks familys estate, both families were already there.

Brooks sat down next to me.

He looked at my averted face, his tone laced with exasperation.

Are you still mad?

He pulled out a necklace and pressed it into my hand.

It was my fault. Is that enough?

Take this as my apology. Smile for me, huh?

My palm was icy cold.

Just yesterday, before I went into the operating room, Quinn had posted a new update.

The messy bed was covered in gifts.

She unwrapped them one by one: a limited-edition crocodile skin bag, custom-made luxury perfume, a diamond bracelet

She wrinkled her nose at this very gold chain. The style is so dated. I don't want it.

The person filming laughed indulgently. Im the one having a birthday, youre getting the gift, and you still complain? Ill just throw it away, then.

I loosened my grip, letting the necklace fall to the floor.

Brooks frowned. What more do you want from me? Take it or leave it.

Brookss mother smiled kindly, trying to ease the tension.

I heard you specifically flew to London for Brookss birthday, and he couldnt even be with you because of work. He was wrong about that.

My mother stepped in, attempting to smooth things over.

You, young lady, are about to be a mother. You cant be so temperamental; its bad for your health.

A mother? Brooks was stunned, turning to look at me in disbelief.

Stella, youre pregnant?!

He shot up from his seat, his lips twitching into an uncontrollable smile.

Im going to be a father, right?!

The coldness in his eyes melted away, replaced by unconcealed excitement.

I didn't look away, taking in every flicker of emotion on his face.

But was this real, or was it another performance?

I couldnt tell.

And I didnt care anymore.

Both sets of parents burst into laughter.

Look at this fool.

I spoke softly. No.

I had an abortion.

The atmosphere froze.

The excitement on Brookss face solidified and then cracked.

His eyes darted around in panic for a few seconds, then he managed a forced smile. Stella, dont joke like that.

I didn't answer, pulling the pre-prepared divorce papers from my purse.

Then I let a faint smile touch my lips. Brooks, I saw Quinn.

If we dont divorce, do you expect her to be your mistress forever?