I Divorced Him After He Chose Her

Keanu was on a business trip abroad when he got caught in a terrorist attack. The phone kept ringing off the hook. Irene and Gunner said they were at the embassy, anxiously waiting for me to negotiate with the officials. Even my father, Miles, who hadn’t called in ten years, reached out. He mentioned having connections at the embassy and could help bring Keanu back. Friends, Keanu’s brother Trey, colleagues, neighbors—everyone wanted to know what was happening.

Meanwhile, I sat there, calmly dismissing call after call, as I was in the middle of my postpartum recovery. After all, when Keanu saw on the news that his former girlfriend, the war correspondent Cassidy Baker, was in the middle of the crisis, he had left his family to rush to her side. With amniotic fluid leaking, I had asked him, "Are you sure you want to leave your family to fly to that war-torn country? If you go, Keanu, I won't take responsibility for what happens."

Keanu didn’t respond, but the frantic pounding on the door said it all. So, if he wanted to make this reckless decision, why should I be the one to rescue him?

Keanu loved watching international news channels. I never understood why until a few days ago, when a report showed a female journalist being kidnapped by terrorists during an interview. The footage was brief, but I recognized the woman immediately—it was Cassidy Baker, the most renowned host on the international channel.

As I sat there, heavily pregnant and enjoying some cantaloupe on the couch while feeling sorry for the journalist, Keanu knocked over the fruit tray, jumping up from the sofa so quickly that he hit his knee hard against the coffee table. The impact made my belly tighten, but Keanu didn’t seem to notice the pain. He stumbled into the kitchen to make coffee, accidentally hit the boiling water button, and shattered the glass in his hand when he got burned. He quickly cooled his scalded mouth with cold water and rushed back to the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

It was a full hour before he came out of the room. "I... I need to go on a business trip," he announced. I held onto the cantaloupe tighter, but I stood up calmly. "Keanu, I’m due in just two days. Now isn’t a good time for you to leave. What if something happens suddenly? You know, my mother died in childbirth with my brother. I’m terrified of labor. And didn’t you say you couldn’t wait for our daughter to be born? Don’t you want to be the first person she sees when she opens her eyes?"

Keanu looked pale, yet he continued, "This trip is really important to me. I have to go, but don’t worry, I’ll be back before you give birth." I laughed. Even though sharp pain was coursing through my belly and fluid was running down my legs, I remained composed. "I’ll agree to this, but Keanu, let me be clear: whatever happens as a result of this trip is on you. I won't take on any of it."

Maybe my expression was too serious because Keanu trembled slightly. Then, as if making a vow, he said, "Don't worry, I’ll come back safely before you give birth." He hurried back to the room, threw a few clothes into a bag, and hastily put on his shoes to leave.

As he was about to walk out, I couldn’t help but call out to him. "Keanu, wait." He turned back impatiently. "You already agreed to let me go, so what now?" My hand was clenched tight, and the pain in my belly intensified, but I stayed calm. "You forgot your passport," I said, dragging myself and the fluid leaking down my legs to retrieve it for him.

I handed him the passport and a bank card. This card held all the money he had transferred to me during our seven years of marriage. Watching me do this, Keanu’s hand, which accepted the passport and card, trembled, and his eyes even reddened a bit. For a moment, I thought he might decide to stay. But he stuffed the card and passport into his bag and swore again, "Don’t worry, I’ll be back before you give birth."

Then he slammed the door and hurried away. Listening to the echo of the door slamming in the empty house, I calmly dialed 911 and contacted the staff at the maternity care center.

A man who didn’t even notice when my water broke dared to promise he’d be back before I gave birth. It was almost laughable.