Monica's POV

Andrew and I had separate rooms but he always slept in my room every night. As a child, I always wanted my own room because my parents couldn't afford one.

When Andrew and I finally bought our house, it was an opportunity for me to heal my inner child. He had known what it meant. Yet, now he didn't care. His little slut's feeling mattered more.

The old me would have argued but knowing what I now know, no need. I packed some of my clothes and moved to the guest room. That morning, I went to the lawyer and got those papers.

I got back to the sound of Andrew and Selina, in bed.

My hand froze on the front door handle. The house was supposed to be empty. Andrew had mentioned something about a meeting. Selina had talked about going shopping. But here they were.

"Yes, Andy. God, yes. Right there."

His voice, rough and strained. "You're so fucking beautiful like this."

They didn't hear when i came in. They were too busy. Too lost in each other.

Her moans grew louder.

"Does Monica ever make you feel this good?" Selina asked, voice breathy.

"Never. She's dry as hell. I just sleep with her because I have to and I always imagine it's you." Andrew laughed.

"But you are going on a honeymoon with her."

"Nah.Two days after the wedding, I'm taking you to Bali. I'll tell Monica it's a business trip."

Silence. Then the sound of more kissing. They even had the guts to sleep together in my own room. I felt the tears cloud my vision but no, I was done crying about Andrew.

I drove until I found myself in a café.

I brought out my phone and dialed a number. I thought he wouldn't answer, but he did,after three rings.

"Hello?"

"Adrian?"

A pause.

"Monica." His voice softened immediately.

"Sweetheart, have you called to say your final goodbye before your wedding? I guess fate never wanted us together."

Sweetheart. He still called me that after all these years.

It was Adrian Knowles. The city's most elite bachelor. The man every woman wanted.

"No, Adrian. Please, come pick me up in three days. I'm ready to be your woman."

I heard something breaking in the background. Glass shattering against a hard surface.

"How dare you, Monica." His voice turned ice-cold. "Are you trying to mock me? Isn't your wedding on that day?"

"No, Adrian. I mean, yes but I won't be marrying him. I'm leaving him instead."

Silence stretched between us. I could hear him breathing. Could picture him standing there, jaw clenched.

"You..." He stopped, and started again. "You're serious."

"Completely."

"Why now? What did he do?"

"Does it matter?"

"It matters to me," he bit out. "I need to know you're coming to me because you choose me. I'm done being your backup plan, Monica."

The words stung. They were supposed to.

"I choose you," I whispered. "I should have chosen you five years ago."

Another long pause. "Then, if you are really serious about this, call me the night before your wedding. If this is a stunt, don't call me again."

The line went dead.

I set my phone down on the table and smiled, he was still the same. My proud Adrian.

He wanted to marry me after college but I declined. I didn't think myself worthy enough to be his wife. He'd come from old money.

I thought it was more noble to build from scratch with your husband instead of marrying into wealth. I'd wanted to earn my happiness. Prove I could make it on my own.

But what did all that building fetch me?

A cheating husband. A mistress sleeping in my bed. On the day Andrew and I got married at the registry, Adrian had called.

"When you divorce him, call me. I'll be waiting."

I had laughed. "That's never happening. Andrew and I are forever." I thought he was crazy but here I was.

By the time I got back to the house, it was evening already. Andrew didn't even call or text to ask where I was. My phone had stayed silent all day. Before, when we'd first gotten married, he would have called fifty times. Would have panicked if I'd been gone longer than an hour.

Now? Nothing.

When I got to the house, he was cooking again for Selina. I thought that dish he made before was just to welcome her but apparently, I was wrong. He had turned into her personal chef.

"Oh, you're back?" Andrew glanced over his shoulder from the stove. "Where have you been since morning?

“Just finalizing a few things,”I replied, smiling.

"Anyway,these are from the lawyer," I said, dropping the folder on the table. "Everything you asked for. The Hartman merger documentation."

I was also Andrew's secretary but since it was my wedding week, I took a break. He exhaled impatiently. The spoon in his hand stilled. "Can we not do this now?"

"You wanted them done today," I replied. "You said tonight. You know this need to be signed before our wedding".

"Monica, I'm in the middle of..."

At that instant, Selina came into the kitchen. Her hands cradled her belly, rubbing slow circles over the bump in an exaggerated, performative way that screamed look at me.

"The baby is hungry. Aren't you done yet, Andy?" she purred, giving me side eyes and greeting me with a fake smile.

I greeted her back too, returning the energy.

"It's almost ready," Andrew muttered.

He swore under his breath and sat down, grabbing the pen I'd placed next to the folder.

"Fine. Where do I sign?"

I opened the folder for him and watched him sign paper after paper, without reading anything. Just as I had thought. His eyes barely skimmed the lines,before he signed at the bottom of each page.

Too busy with his little slut to care about anything else. If he had cared just a little bit, he would have noticed the divorce papers.

"Here," he said, handing the folder to me.

Finally, we were divorced. I thought sadly to myself. Five years of marriage, legally over in just a few minutes.

"I'm sorry I didn't include you in this meal. I thought you would eat out, since you didn't come back early."

"It doesn't matter. I would get Martha to prepare something for me. Focus on Selina," I said, faking a smile. "She and the baby are all that matters."

"I knew you would understand," Andrew said, already turning back to his precious meal.

Frankly, his stupid dish didn't matter to me. I needed to pack my bags. I headed upstairs and pulled my suitcase from the closet. My phone buzzed.

Adrian: "I meant what I said. Call me the night before. I'll be waiting, sweetheart."

I smiled at the screen.

"Who's making you smile like that?"

I spun around. Andrew stood in the doorway, staring at my phone.