She Chose Her 'Best Friend' Over Me—So I Left Forever

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On New Year's Eve, when my wife stood up me and my parents again to keep her childhood best friend companybecause he had depressionI didn't make a scene this time. I just waited until she came home with her clothes in disarray, then handed her the divorce papers I'd already drafted.

She tore them up without hesitation, her face full of impatience.

"I told you ages ago, Derek has depression. If I'm not with him, he'll kill himself! Do you really want to watch my best friend die because of me and make me live with that guilt forever? How can you have so little compassion!"

I handed her another copy and said calmly, "You two slept together. I think it's disgusting."

Seeing me pull out the papers again, irritation flashed across Smokey Abbott's face. She didn't bother explainingjust turned and walked into the bathroom.

I didn't say a word. I stared at the black stockings she'd tossed by the bathroom door, at the dried stain on them, and sat there motionless as the torn scraps of paper settled over me.

Faintly, I could hear her on the phone with Derek Henson.

"Derek, I'm home already. Don't be scaredI'll come keep you company again tonight."

Before long, she came out. When she saw me still sitting there, her expression flickered, and her tone softened slightly.

"Alex Dickerson, when Derek first got diagnosed, I told youhis parents died years ago. I'm the closest person he has in this world. Only I can ease his depression. You agreed back then that you'd help him too. So why now? Why are you suddenly unwilling? And why do you keep slandering my innocence?"

I sneered inwardly.

Before, when she went to help Derek, she'd just accompany him during the daygo for walks, help clear his head. But lately, even at night, no matter what we were doing, Smokey would run to Derek's place without hesitation. Even when we were in the middle of sex, she'd stop and leave.

When I didn't respond, her tone softened further.

"Aren't you just upset because Derek interrupted us last time? Over something that small, you want a divorce? FineI'll make it up to you now."

She leaned in and bit my earlobe.

I pushed her away.

Her face twisted with rage. "Alex Dickerson, I'm already lowering myself here. Don't push your luck!"

Looking at her, I almost laughed.

Every single time, she was the one in the wrongyet she acted like I owed her something. Where did she get the nerve?

I let out a cold laugh. "Smokey Abbott, you said you didn't want to come home for the holidays. Yesterday, my parents traveled over a thousand miles to be here. I asked you ahead of time if you were freeand what did you do? We waited for you all night. What, did your Derek have a depression episode that lasted until morning too? Everyone knows what you did. Do you really need to keep using depression as an excuse? Don't you think it's pathetic?"

Her face flushed with anger, and she was about to snap backbut then Derek Henson called.

Her voice turned soft instantly. "Derek?"

"Smokey, I've been thinking it over, and I'm worried it'll affect your relationship with your husband. I want to explain things to him over the phone. Can you put it on speaker?"

Smokey nodded.

"Smokey's husbandSmokey and I did grow up together, but we're just ordinary friends. Don't worry. Nothing happened last night. Her clothes got messed up because she was kneeling for a long time trying to help stabilize my condition. Don't overthink it."

He started off explaining, but by the end, it was pure provocation.

I spoke coldly. "No need to be so vague. You two can take it a step further. But do you dare?"

Hearing that, Smokey snatched the phone and hung up.

"Alex Dickerson, are you sick in the head? Why are you threatening Derek? So what if he didn't spend New Year's with your parents? I'll go home with you in a few days and apologizeisn't that enough?!"

"If you scare Derek into doing something stupid, can you take responsibility?!"

I let out a cold laugh. "Whether he lives or dies is none of my damn business."

She was furious. "Derek called specifically to explain himself so you could feel at ease, and this is what you say about him? How did I never realize you were such a vile person?"

She slammed the door and left.

My heart was ice-cold. The version of myself who gave everything for herhe wasn't worth it at all.

The year I met Smokey, she was still working at a bar to help her father pay off debts. I was moved by the determination in her eyes. I couldn't help but get close to her, often leaving large tips to ease her pressure.

As time went on, she developed feelings for me too. She would unconsciously tell me about the difficulties at home.

Later, to deal with the debt collectors, her father actually sold her to those people.

She fled to me covered in injuries, eyes blurred with tears, begging me to save her.

I had long since decided to confess my feelings. So at that moment, I protected her without hesitation and took out all my savings to keep her safe.

On the day we got married, I gave her father two hundred thousand dollars and signed a severance agreement. From then on, Smokey had nothing to do with him.

Years later, in the business world, I met Derek.

Only then did I learn that he and Smokey were actually childhood sweethearts.

Since he hadn't shown up when she was at her lowest, I figured their feelings had faded to nothing. When he asked for her WeChat, I didn't think much of it.

But then Derek came looking for her, claiming he had depressionand only Smokey could help him.

I thought she would refuse. She didn't.

I told myself she was just being kind-hearted. Until a month ago, when I worked overtime and came home to an empty apartment.

I called her. "Where are you?"

She was panting. "Husband... isis something up?"

"What are you doing?"

"My best friend, she... she insisted on dragging me to get a massage. Too... too many people here. Can't hear clearly. I'll call you back when I get home, okay?"

Before she hung up, I heard Derek's voice in the background.

I called back immediately. Video. Again and again.

No answer.

My heart was in chaos.

The next day, I checked every massage parlor in the city. None of them had any record of Smokey.

When I pressed her, she said they'd only registered under her friend's name. And yes, she'd brought Derek alongto help with his depression.

Because I cherished three years of marriage, I chose not to push further.

But I told her: in my marriage, betrayal was not allowed.

She swore up and down.

Days later, she escalated it even more. Eating, sleeping, whatever she was doingher phone was always open to her chat with Derek. I saw the explicit messages.

Every time I asked, she grew more impatient than the last.

In the end, I gave up. Through a friend at a hotel, I got photos of the two of them together.

Smokey didn't come home for an entire day.

During that time, I saw Derek's social media post. In the photo, he and Smokey were walking hand in hand through luxury storesas intimate as husband and wife.

I closed the app and contacted a company back in my hometown.

They'd contacted me a year ago, said they'd always keep an executive position open for me.

I only turned it down because Smokey didn't want to live with my parents.

Now that I'd reached out, they agreed immediately.

After that, I filed for a mandatory divorce and asked the staff to mail our marriage certificates separatelymine and Smokey'sfive days from now.

By then, I'd already be gone. Even if she got angry, I had no interest in watching.

Smokey didn't message until evening.

In the past, whenever we fought, I'd give her two hours max to come around. Maybe she sensed how serious I was this time, because her tone was much softer.

"Honey, I took Derek to see a psychologist today. The doctor said his condition has improved a lot. One more month of treatment and he'll basically be recovered."

"Don't worry. Once Derek's better, he'll go back to his hometown. Then I'll settle down and live properly with you."

"I brought you a gift when I came back."

I didn't reply. Just turned off my phone.

Before, she still had some value worth salvaging.

But now?

Someone already taintedI don't want anymore.

When Smokey came home, I was taking down the wedding photo from the wall.

Burning all of them.

Looking at this home I'd traded everything for, my eyes stung.

They say getting drunk helps you stop being sad.

But I'd been drinking all day, and I still couldn't shake the weight in my chest.

Seeing this, Smokey rushed over and stomped out the fire. She grabbed what remained of a photo, eyes red, and demanded:

"Alex, are you insane? Why are you burning our photos!"

I shoved her away. "The home's already gonewhat's the point of keeping them!"

She stumbled back, and anger flashed across her face.

"Alex, I told youDerek and I are just friends. Why do you keep trapping yourself in your own head!"

"The moment he's better, even if he doesn't say anything, I'll make him leave this city myself. You won't have to see him again!"

"It's just one more month. We've been married three yearsdon't you trust me at all? You can't even wait that long!"

"And I told you not to drink at home. Not only did you drink yourself into this state, you pushed me. I even brought you a gift!"

She hurled the gift box at me.

It didn't misshit me right on the forehead.

Blood ran down instantly, and the impact knocked me backward.

The back of my head cracked against the table's edge. More blood.

Her expression shifted to panic. She rushed over to help me up.

"Honey, are you okay? Don't scare me!"

In all my memory, this was the first time she'd shown this much concern.

But I didn't need it anymore.

I pushed her away.

"Don't touch me. You disgust me..."

This time, the anger on her face flickered and faded, replaced by worry. She called an ambulance.

"Hold on. They'll be here soon. I'll take you to the hospital."

But moments later, her phone rang.

Derek's wounded voice came through:

"Smokey, I just went downstairs to buy something and a dog chased me. My body won't stop shaking. I feel like I want to die. Where... where are you?"

Smokey's face tensed immediately.

"Derek, don't panic. Stay home. I'm coming right now!"

After hanging up, she looked at me. Her eyes were full of conflict.

In the end, she made her choice.

"Alex, I already called you an ambulance. When they get here, they'll take you to the hospital."

"Derek is in a really bad place right now. I'll stay with him for a bit, then come to the hospitalI promise!"

She didn't wait for a response. Left me there, barely conscious, and rushed out.

When I woke up, a nurse was adjusting my IV.

"Finally. The doctor said if you didn't wake up today, there was a real chance you wouldn't wake up at all."

I winced at the throbbing in my skull. "How long was I out?"

"Full day and night."

Something twisted in my chest. "Did anyone... come by?"

She considered it, then shook her head. "Your room's right by the nurses' station. I've been on shift the whole timedidn't see a soul."

I nodded. And felt something I had no right to feel.

A full day and night. She'd been with Derek the whole time.

But I'd expected that.

I pushed the feeling down and focused on recovering.

It wasn't until the third eveningIV finished, discharge papers readythat Smokey finally showed up.

"Babe, Derek had an acute episode. The doctor said someone needs to stay with him constantly..."

She wrung her hands.

"You know how depression is. If he's alone, he might do something stupid. He's already tried beforemultiple times."

"I figured you had doctors and nurses here, so..."

"I know," I said flatly. "You don't have to explain."

Relief washed over her face. She actually smiled.

Then she pulled out the watchthe same one she'd used to crack my skull.

My hand was still numb from the IV, so I let her fasten it around my wrist.

Silence stretched between us.

I stared out the window. Memories flickered pastour first date, our wedding, all those years together.

It was almost over now.

The sadness surprised me.

Smokey didn't notice. She was hunched over her phone, thumbs flying across the screen.

When the bleeding on my hand finally stopped, I got up to handle the discharge paperwork. Only then did she put the phone away.

"Hey," she said suddenly. "There's a lantern festival at Downtown Plaza tonight. You write wishes on them and release them into the sky."

She tucked her phone into her pocket.

"I've been so busy lately. This could be nicejust the two of us?"

I almost said no. But the train station was near the plaza anyway.

"Sure."

She beamed and took my arm as we headed downstairs.

For a moment, it felt like the old days. Back when we first met.

But we weren't those people anymore.

Outside, her car was parked right at the entrance. The one I'd bought her.

I reached for the passenger doorbut the window rolled down first.

Derek grinned at me from my seat.

"Hey, bro. Sorry about this. Smokey wanted me up front, so..." He shrugged. "Back seat's all yours."

Smokey's face tightened. "The doctor said Derek needs to get out more. Fresh air helps with"

"Fine."

I walked around to the back without another word.

But when I opened the door, there they were: a torn black stocking and a pair of men's underwear, crumpled together on the seat.

"Ohdon't get the wrong idea!" Smokey twisted around. "Derek spilled milk during an episode. I just forgot to clean it up."

Milk. On underwear. While wearing how many layers, exactly?

I didn't ask.

"Just drive. The festival's starting."

She exhaled, relieved I hadn't exploded, and pulled away from the curb.

At the plaza, Smokey left us behind the crowd while she went to grab lanterns.

The second she was gone, Derek's eyes dropped to my wrist.

"Nice watch." His smile widened. "Waitisn't that the one Smokey got me? Pretty sure I threw that in the trash." He laughed. "You really go digging for my garbage? That's dedication, bro. Tell you whatshe's given me tons of stuff. I'll hook you up."

I ignored him, but he kept pushing.

"Alex, I heard you and Smokey have been married three years and still no kids?"

I couldn't hold back. "What are you getting at?"

"Nothing. Just seems like a wastea woman that beautiful not passing on her genes."

Then he smirked and shoved his phone in my face.

A hotel room. King bed. Him and Smokey tangled together, her face flushed with satisfaction.

"I've always wondered," he said, leaning closer, "does she look at you like that too?"

I punched him.

Smokey had just walked back. She saw everything.

She ran straight to Derek and pulled him behind her.

"Smokey, I only said I envied him for having such a gentle wife." Derek's voice dripped with wounded innocence. "And he hit me."

Her palm cracked across my face.

"Alex, what is wrong with you? Why do you have a problem with Derek everywhere we go!" Her voice shook with fury. "From the second we got in the car, you've been giving him attitude. I told youI'm just helping him with his treatment. Why can't you get that through your head? I never should have brought you here!"

She hurled a lantern at me, grabbed Derek's hand, and disappeared into the crowd.

I didn't follow.

I picked up the lantern. Wrote six words: Never see Smokey again.

Then I walked out of the square, flagged a cab, and headed for the airport.

Smokey was writing wishes with Derek when unease prickled at her chest. She glanced at his lantern: Smokey, I want to be with you forever.

She frowned. "Derek, I'm only helping you because you used to stand up for me when we were kids. Once you're better, you're leaving."

The uneasiness wouldn't fade. She turned toward the crowd, then pulled out her phone and opened her chat with Alex.

The last message was days old.

Guilt crept in. She thought of everything he'd done for herand how badly she'd treated him lately. How often she'd hurt him.

She was about to put her phone away, already planning how to make it up to him, when a notification popped up.

Reminder: Pick up express deliveryDivorce Certificate.