The morning after she was served, I found her sitting in the living room with her hair a mess and her eyes puffy. She almost begged me, “Please, let’s just stop this. Forget the divorce. We don’t need to go through with it.
Let’s just go back to how it was. If you want to make it even, you can even have Mona for some time. We’ve built this together. Let’s not ruin it.
”
I stared at her. ” ” ‘I told you I don’t want this circus. ‘”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “‘I don’t want to move out.
This is my home, too. ‘”
I said flatly, “‘It was, but you burned it. And now you have two weeks to find somewhere else. ‘”
She got defensive.
“‘So that’s why you had this prenup. You always had this divorce thought in your pocket. ‘”
“‘You can think whatever you want. It’s not my problem to give you an explanation.
‘”
She sobbed into her hands, but I felt nothing. No pity, and not even anger. . She lawyered up, and the next day my lawyer called.
“‘Your wife’s lawyer just filed a motion. She’s contesting the divorce terms. She wants alimony and the house. ‘”
I almost dropped the phone.
“‘The house? That’s my family home. It’s in the prenup. ‘”
He sighed.
“‘She’s trying to claim it as social security, saying she gave up her career opportunities to support the marriage and should be entitled to it. ‘”
I laughed bitterly. “‘Support the marriage? She’s been out partying half the week.
And wanted to bring her boyfriend into our bedroom. ‘”
He calmed me down. “‘Don’t panic. She doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
The prenup is airtight. She signed it knowingly. This is just throwing mud at the wall, hoping something sticks. ‘”
That evening, Brenda came home furious.
She slammed her purse on the table and stormed it into the kitchen. “‘You think you can just throw me out like trash after everything I’ve done for you? ‘”
I stayed calm. “‘You agreed to the prenup.
You knew exactly what you were signing. ‘”
She scoffed. “‘I signed it because I thought we’d last forever. ‘”
I snapped.
“‘It would have if you didn’t go around whoring yourself. ‘”
She wept. “‘You made me sign the prenup. I didn’t think you’d actually use it against me.
‘”
I leaned back in my chair. “‘It’s not me using it against you. It’s me protecting what my parents built. This house isn’t yours to take.
‘”
Her voice cracked into a shriek. “‘So, what do I get? Nothing. After eight years?
‘”
I smirked. “‘You get freedom. You wanted open marriage, remember? Consider this the ultimate open marriage.
You’re free. ‘”
She broke down, tears streaming down her face. “‘I don’t want freedom. I want security.
I want the house. I want what’s mine. ‘”
I told her in a flat tone. “‘This house was never yours.
And in one week, you won’t even live here. Start packing. ‘”
I stood up and walked outside. She glared at me, but didn’t say another word.
She just stomped upstairs, slamming the bedroom door so hard the pictures rattled off the wall. . That night, I texted Mona. It had been a long while, and I really wanted to talk to her.
I asked her out for coffee. She replied, “‘Swamped with work, maybe later. ‘”
Something about that felt off. Mona wasn’t the type to dodge.
If she was busy, she’d say, “‘Give me two hours or tomorrow evening. ‘” But this was vague, and not her. I sat there staring at the phone, my gut telling me something was wrong. .
The next day, I decided to show up at her place. She answered the door and, for a moment, she looked guilty, like a kid caught sneaking cookies. I asked if everything was okay. She forced a smile.
“‘It’s just work stress. Deadlines near. ‘”
I shook my head. “‘No, something’s off.
You don’t dodge me unless you’re holding something back. Tell me. If you don’t want to see me, it’s fine. Tell me.
I’m a big boy. I can handle. ‘”
She sighed, let me in, and closed the door. We sat at her small kitchen table, and she finally admitted it was because of Brenda.
Apparently, she showed up at Mona’s and almost begged her to stay away from me. Said, “‘I’m sure he’ll come around if he stops supporting him. He thinks he doesn’t need me because he has you. Please let me save my marriage.
We’ve been together for more than a decade. Please give us the space. He loves me,and you’re just his rebound. He’s using you just for support.
He can’t love anyone but me. ‘”
I clenched my fists, that she was still playing that game. I asked her why she didn’t inform me about it. She said, “‘I didn’t promise her anything, but thought maybe Brenda was right.
Maybe I should step back. Eight years of marriage worth a chance. I don’t want to be called a home wrecker. ‘”
That word cut through me.
I reached across the the table, took her hand, and pacified her. “‘You’re not the reason my marriage ended. Brenda is. She broke it long before you came into the picture.
She dragged Jackie into our lives. She chased other men. Don’t you carry her guilt. ‘”
Her eyes softened, but she still looked torn.
“‘I just don’t want people to see me as the other woman. ‘”
I leaned closer. “‘You’re not the other woman. You’re the woman in my life who has supported me in bad situations.
Brenda’s already been served. She’s moving out in a week. This is done. ‘”
She replied, “‘Okay, but until then, let’s not meet.
I don’t want her ever ambushing me again. ‘”
I agreed. It was just a matter of a week. .
Oh my god, that has been the longest week of my life. First, my lawyer shot back her demand,that it was meaningless,andthe prenup safeguarded all the premarital assets. However, I couldn’t get away with alimony,andalso the split of savings and investments, which I had been doing for all these years for our retirement,andother goals. We were pushing back hard on it.
. After that, she came to me calmly, brought the papers along,and sat me down. “‘Let’s not do this. Instead, let’s try out a trial separation.
Let’s stay separate for six months. No divorce. Just time to think,and reflect. ‘”
I shook my head.
“‘I’m afraid you’ll have to spend your life reflecting on how you screwed up everything. But for me, there’s nothing to think about. ‘”
Her voice sharpened. “‘So, it’s about Mona.
That’s why you’re rushing this. ‘”
I shot back. “‘It’s about you. You torched the marriage.
Mona didn’t enter it. You opened the door for strangers first. ‘”
She slammed the papers shut. “‘Fine.
I’ll see how you walk away without any collateral damage. ‘”
The conversation was going nowhere,so I stormed out. The next day, I came home from work to find her waiting in the living room with crossed arms. She didn’t even let me put my bag down,and screamed, “‘So, what’s your plan?
Move Mona in here once I’m gone. Parade her around like she’s the queen of this place. I made this house,and I cannot see her reaping the fruits. Such a home wrecker,opportunistic witch she is.
‘”
I chuckled. “‘Funny, the only wrecking ball here was you. ‘”
Her face turned red. “‘You’re pathetic.
Do you think she loves you? She’s using you for your money,and security. If she was so good, why didn’t she find a man to marry her? Her father died three months ago.
She could have found a man to love her if she was worth it. ‘”
I snapped. “‘Look who’s judging whom. The one who threw away her stable marriage for a stranger’s dick.
‘”
She threw the wine glass at the wall,and stormed upstairs, screaming about how I’d ruined everything. I was so horrified after that incident,that I couldn’t sit in that house. I got in my truck,and drove to Mona’s place. She opened the door.
Before I could say a word, she just looked at me,and asked, “‘Now what? ‘”
I must have looked like hell,because she immediately pulled me in,and sat me down on her couch. I told her everything. By the end of it, I had my face buried in my hands.
She didn’t lecture me, just sat beside me, placed her hand on my shoulder,and said, “‘She’s trying to break you because she’s already broken. Don’t let her succeed. ‘”
We sat there in silence for a while. Then she turned,and asked me softly, “‘What do you even think about me,and us?
Is this something you want,or am I just a pit stop for you? ‘”
I looked at her,and spoke with conviction. “‘I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I say you’re the sunshine in this mess. You’ve supported me when I was literally drowning.
I can’t even imagine how I would have processed the betrayal without you. If this is a pit stop, I don’t want the road to continue. ‘”
She blushed. I told her clearly, “‘I respect you.
I’d like to date you,and see where it leads. ‘”
She said she needed clarity,that she wasn’t looking to be someone’s rebound. I told her, “‘You’re not. If anything, you’re the only thing keeping me steady.
‘”
She smiled faintly, eyes wet. “‘Good answer. ‘”
We were having a good, intimate moment for the first time. We kissed,and that’s when the banging started.
Felt like someone was hammering on the door. Mona froze. We didn’t move at first, but the pounding increased,and Brenda’s voice echoed through the hallway. She was screaming,and cursing Mona, asking her to answer the door.
Initially, we thought to let her be,or call the cops, but we were afraid that the neighbors would be disturbed. Then Mona was like, “‘Let’s face it. ‘”
She opened the door slightly, not to give the full view of the apartment. Brenda screamed, “‘I was right,you witch,effing my husband.
Where is he? ‘”
Before Mona could respond, Brenda yelled again, “‘I know he’s here. I saw his car downstairs. Come out,coward.
‘”
I stepped out of the living room. “‘I’m right here,and I’m not your husband anymore. Get out. ‘”
Brenda shoved the door wider.
Her mascara was smeared. She looked half drunk,half deranged. She glared at Mona first. “‘You think you’ve won,don’t you?
You think he’s going to marry you? He’ll get bored,just like he got bored with me. ‘”
I cut her off. “‘That’s enough.
You’ve humiliated yourself enough tonight. Go home,Brenda. Whatever’s left of it. ‘”
She tried to push past me,and go for Mona, but I blocked the doorway.
“‘Leave,or I’m calling the cops. ‘”
Her lip trembled. She looked at me one last time, eyes filled with hate,and desperation, then spat at the ground,and just stormed off. Her heels echoed as she went down the stairs,and cursed us.
I shut the door,and leaned against it. Mona was standing there,shocked. I hugged her. We didn’t talk much after that,just sat in silence,letting the storm pass.
I spent the night at her place,too terrified to leave her alone. . The next morning, when I came home,Brenda was packing. I could hear the slamming of the drawers,and closet from outside.
I walked into the hallway,to see her dragging suitcases,clothes spilling out of them. She wasn’t crying anymore,just silent,furious movements. When she saw me,she sneered. “‘Don’t look so smug.
You’ll regret this when she dumps you. ‘”
I didn’t reply. Just walked into the guest room,leaned behind the window curtain,and watched her load bag after bag into her car. And with that,she slammed the door,and drove off.
. Two weeks later,the lawyers finalized the settlement. The prenup held strong. She couldn’t touch the house,farmland,or any of my inheritance.
My family’s legacy stayed safe. However,she did walk away with half of our savings,andinvestments. Every dollar I’d set aside for retirement,for vacations,for safety nets,split down the middle. It burned me.
I won’t lie. Watching years of careful savings get drained overnight,knowing she’d probably blow her half on vacations,and bars,while I rebuilt brick by brick. Still,it was better than losing what truly mattered. .
That night,I sat in my garage,with Mona beside me,andit felt so much peaceful. She smiled at me. No makeup,no act,just herself. Honestly,the garage scene with Mona says it all.
Machines are honest. People aren’t. And Brenda,she made her choices. All the breakfast,night gown,theatrics,and screaming,just noise.
You stuck to your rules,protected what mattered,andlet her act out on her meltdown. That’s all you could do. Some lessons come with tears,andmascara streaks.
.
