My Husband Dove Past Me to Save His Mistress

The ocean breeze whipped across the deck of the yacht. It was freezing, but the party inside was warm and loud. I stood by the railing, watching the dark waves of the Hamptons. Inside the cabin, my husband, Axel Brooks, was laughing with a group of investors. He was standing tall. Three years ago, he was paralyzed from the waist down. I spent hours every single day massaging his legs. I studied holistic rehab just for him. I loved him enough to bring him back to life.

Milana walked up beside me. She wore a white silk dress that hugged her perfectly. The Hoffman family’s precious adopted daughter. She smiled, but her eyes held a cruel glint.

“Axel looks so handsome standing up,” she whispered. “It’s a shame he still looks at me the way he used to. Thanks for keeping him warm for me, Edith.”

My knuckles turned white on the metal railing. “Stay away from my husband, Milana.”

She let out a soft, mocking laugh. “We both know he only married you because I didn't want a cripple.”

Before I could answer, a loud, violent crunch echoed through the night. Another boat clipped our side. The yacht lurched hard. My feet slipped on the wet deck. The world tilted. I fell backward into the dark water. Milana screamed and tumbled over the edge right beside me.

The ocean was like ice. It swallowed me instantly. I couldn't swim. I kicked my legs frantically, swallowing bitter salt water. Panic crushed my chest. I broke the surface, gasping for air.

“Help!” I choked out.

A heavy splash sounded nearby. Axel. He had dived in. I saw his dark hair cut through the waves. A spark of hope ignited in my chest. He was coming for me.

But he swam right past me.

The water pushed roughly against my face as he passed. I watched him grab Milana. He wrapped his strong arms around her waist. “I've got you, Mila! I've got you!” he shouted.

He didn't even look back at me.

My lungs burned. The dark water pulled me down. I stopped fighting. The freezing cold seeped into my bones, and it froze my heart completely.

Strong hands suddenly grabbed my arms. A crew member hauled me out of the water and onto the wooden deck. I collapsed, coughing up seawater. My throat was raw. I shivered violently in the wind.

A few feet away, Axel knelt beside Milana. He wrapped a thick towel around her shoulders and kissed her wet forehead. His hands were shaking. He looked terrified. For her. Not for me.

I stared at them. The three years of devotion. The late nights holding him when he cried in pain. It all shattered into dust. Right then, my love for Axel Brooks died. It vanished, leaving a hollow, quiet space in my chest. I didn't shed a single tear.

Two days later, I walked out of the hospital. Axel didn't come to pick me up. He texted his assistant to handle my discharge. I felt nothing but a strange, cold calm.

I went straight to our penthouse in the city. Axel was in his home office, staring at his laptop. He looked up when I walked in. He frowned, noticing my pale face.

“Edith, you're back. How are you feeling?” he asked quickly. “Milana has been having terrible nightmares, so I couldn't come to the hospital—”

I didn't let him finish. I walked straight to his desk and dropped a thick folder on the glass. The sound was a sharp slap in the quiet room.

“What is this?” he asked, his voice tight.

“Divorce papers,” I said smoothly. “I already signed them.”

He stared at the papers, his face going pale. “Edith, stop being dramatic. It was an accident. The water was dark. I just reached for the person closest to me.”

“You swam past me, Axel,” I replied. My voice didn't shake at all. “Keep the penthouse. I'm taking the cash settlement. My lawyer will contact you.”

I turned on my heel and walked out.

My phone buzzed in my pocket as I stepped into the elevator. It was my father, Kenneth Hoffman. I answered it.

“Edith, what is wrong with you?” his voice barked. “Milana is traumatized. You need to apologize to Axel for causing a scene at the hospital. Don't ruin this family's connection to the Brooks empire!”

I let out a dry laugh. I was their biological daughter, but I was just a business asset.

“I'm done being your pawn, Kenneth,” I said flatly. “Don't ever call me again.”

I hung up. I blocked his number. I blocked my mother's number. I blocked Axel. With a few taps, I wiped them all out of my life.

Downstairs, my bags were already packed in the trunk of my car. My golden retriever, Barnaby, panted happily in the backseat. I got in and started the engine. The GPS was set for New Haven. I had an acceptance letter from Yale University for my Ph.D. program waiting for me.

I pulled out into the bright New York traffic. For the first time in my life, I was finally free.