jackie_long

On my wife's birthday, I rushed back from another city overnight.  
But the one who opened the door was my male assistant, wearing my bathrobe.  
"Mr. Lucas, I came to report to Ms. Johnson, and accidentally got caught in the rain, so I took a shower. Please don't misunderstand."  
"There's nothing to explain."  
My wife, also in a bathrobe, walked out of the bathroom with a look of disdain on her face. Her gaze towards me was full of contempt.  
"Aren't you supposed to be on a business trip? Why are you back?"  
I paused for a moment, then shook my head and gave a light laugh. "It's nothing. Just came back to grab a few documents."  
I casually tossed the carefully chosen birthday gift into the trash bin, then sent a message to my lawyer.  
"Help me draft a divorce agreement."

After My Wife Had an Affair with Her Assistant, I Chose Divorce

"Whatever you and your little lover do has nothing to do with me. That's your business."

With that, I grabbed Sophie's hand and walked away.

Amanda's voice rang out behind me as she hurried to catch up.

Sophie cast a quick glance over her shoulder before tugging me into a nearby flea market.

We ducked and weaved through the maze of narrow aisles, dodging vendors and customers alike, before slipping out through a side exit.

For a moment, I thought we had lost Amanda.

But I had underestimated her persistence.

Soon enough, I spotted her and Ethan trailing behind us, and an irritated sigh escaped me.

Tired of the chase, I stopped in my tracks, waiting for them to catch up.

"Lucas, how long are you going to keep this up?"

Amanda strode up to me, frustration clear in her expression.

"Fine, if that's what it takes—I'll apologize, alright?"

But even now, her words lacked sincerity, laced with the same indifference she had always shown.

Funny how, in five years of marriage, she had never once even *pretended* to apologize.

"Amanda, what's the point of this charade?"

"You know exactly what you did. Tell me—if I had slept with another man, would you be able to accept it?"

Before Amanda could answer, Ethan stepped forward and took her hand.

"Lucas, there's no need for things to get this messy because of me," he said, his tone annoyingly smooth. "My sister needs a man who can take care of the house, someone who can be there for her emotionally."

"If you really love her, you wouldn't make things harder for her. Just stay by her side, take care of things at home—leave the rest to me. What's so wrong about that?"

"Three people in a relationship... who's to say it couldn't work? Don't you think?"

A laugh bubbled up before I could stop it—dry, humorless.

Before I could respond, Amanda wrenched her hand from his grasp.

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

Her voice was sharp, her expression thunderous.

"Ethan, you're an adult. Learn what to say and what *not* to say. Think before you open your mouth."

Amanda had *never* spoken to him like that before.

For as long as I could remember, she had indulged him, coddled him, let him get away with anything.

So when he fell back on his usual act—eyes wide, lips pressed into a hurt little pout—I expected her to cave.

But this time, she didn't even *look* at him.

And for the first time... she looked tired.

Ethan hesitated, then took a step back, visibly unsettled.

Part 16