I was about to drift off when Cedric finally walked into our bedroom. He'd been out dropping Anya off, and considering how late it was, they must've taken their sweet time saying goodbye.

He sat down next to me, and right away, the thick, sugary scent of some perfume—definitely not mine—hit me like a punch.

"Astrid," he said, trying to keep his voice gentle, "I was on a business trip yesterday and just happened to pass through Anya's city. We had a chance to clear up a misunderstanding, so we came back together. And about that cake—she was just being thoughtful. You really didn't need to throw it in the trash."

I slowly sat up, a bitter smile tugging at my lips as I took a good look at him. His shirt was rumpled, the collar loose, and right there, just barely visible, was a smear of lipstick.

He kept going, that soft tone almost coaxing, but every word was about Anya—defending her. It sounded like I was the villain.

It hit me then, like another punch in the gut, that the man I'd loved for so long was… gone. Or maybe he'd never really been here. It felt like I was looking at a stranger.

He noticed me pulling away and reached out, trying to wrap me in a hug, but I jerked back, instinctively pushing him away.

"I've explained everything!" Cedric snapped, his patience running thin. "What do you want from me? Should I get on my knees and beg? And that cake—it wouldn't kill you to eat a piece! Did you have to make it such a big deal?"

I met his gaze, my voice calm and cold. "I heard you. Now, I'm going to sleep."

With that, I turned off the light, my back to him. He let out a frustrated huff and stormed off to the guest room. For the first time, I didn't follow. I didn't try to smooth things over. I just let him go. And that night, I actually slept soundly.

By the time I woke up, he was already gone.

Later, I had to drop some files off in his office. I pushed open the door, and there she was—Anya. She was standing right next to him, leaning in close. She wore this fitted suit that hugged her curves, her long wavy hair spilling over her shoulders. She was saying something to him, her voice low and too familiar.

Cedric's eyes flicked to me, and for a second, he looked uneasy. Then he quickly pulled it together. "Anya didn't have any projects lined up, so I offered her a job as my assistant. She could use the experience," he explained, almost as if rehearsed.

"Astrid, don't get upset," Anya chimed in, her voice soft and sweet. "Cedric's just helping me out. There's really nothing going on."

I barely acknowledged her, I just set the files down and walked out. I didn't feel upset. I didn't feel hurt. Just… nothing.

I caught Cedric opening his mouth like he was about to call me back, but in the end, he didn't say a word.

Catching them together would've torn me up inside. I would've clung to him like I used to, desperate for him to reassure me, to say he loved me. But it all didn't do our marriage anything other than push him away.

"Nothing is going on between me and Anya," he used to say. "You're always imagining things. Maybe you should look at yourself."

After a while, I just stopped asking. After losing the baby, it felt like whatever love I had for him died, too. The emptiness? Work filled it.

Around lunchtime, I saw Cedric and Anya leaving together, side by side, looking like they were inseparable.

The office had emptied, with just me left working overtime. As I was about to pack up, I heard Anya's voice. "Cedric, your tie's a little crooked. Hold on, lemme fix it."

She was right up close to him, adjusting his tie with a tenderness that made my stomach twist. They stood there, just a breath apart, almost like they were daring me to react.

Without a word, I shut down my computer, grabbed my bag, and walked out.

"Astrid, you're not mad, right? I mean, I was just doing my job," Anya said with a bright smile, her red lips parting as she spoke. "Cedric and I are meeting a client for dinner soon, so we had to look professional, you know."

I gave a nod, playing along. "Yeah, you're right. It makes sense."

But Cedric didn't seem convinced. He grabbed my arm, his grip tightening as he glared at me. "You heard it! It's just work! Are you really going to be jealous over this? Anya and I are just colleagues—stop assuming the worst!"

I almost let out a laugh. Just colleagues? He really had the nerve to say that with a straight face!

I shook off his hand, keeping my voice steady. "I'm not jealous, Cedric. She did what she was supposed to do, and you heard me, I'm cool with it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got plans."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away. I wasn't lying—I really did have plans—dinner with a divorce lawyer who had a good reputation for handling messy cases. We were meeting at the Italian restaurant downstairs.

By the time I got there, the lawyer was already seated, waiting for me. We went over the details, and as we talked, I glanced out the window. There they were—Cedric and Anya, walking out of the office together. He opened the passenger door for her and even reached out to shield her head as she got in. Then, they drove away.

That spot in his car used to be mine. But ever since Anya came back, I found myself pushed out little by little. At first, I didn't want to give it up, but Cedric brushed me off, saying she was just a guest and that I was being unreasonable.

Looking back, I should've known then—I wasn't just losing the front seat. I was losing everything, too.

I turned my attention back to the lawyer, listening as she laid out the options. I asked her to draft a divorce agreement, and she seemed thorough, which helped me relax a bit.

Later that night, I went home and started packing after finalizing my resignation letter. Funny enough, after making up my mind to leave, I actually felt lighter—like I could finally breathe.

Then, my phone buzzed. It was a friend, sounding frantic. "Astrid, you've got to get over here! Josie got into a fight at the bar!"

My heart dropped. Josie Calloway was my best friend—bold and blunt, but she always kept it together. It wasn't like her to just lose it, so as soon as I got the address, I rushed downstairs to grab a cab.

When I arrived, I wasn't expecting to see who was there. Standing across from Josie were Cedric and Anya.

"You homewrecker!" Josie shouted, her words slurred from drinking. "The man you're messing around with has got a wife, and you're still all over him? Fucking shameless!"

I quickly moved to Josie's side, trying to keep her steady. When she saw me, she gave a half-smile. "Astrid! You're here!"

Then, she turned back to Anya, still yelling. "Stupid! Both of you! What, you thought it was romantic to give him booze mouth-to-mouth? Can he not drink on his own?! Oh, right, maybe flirting with a married man is just your thing, huh?"

Anya stood there, drenched, leaning into Cedric, tears streaming down her face.

"Astrid, your friend's way out of line!" Cedric barked, his face red with anger. "Anya was just here with me to unwind after work, and she gets humiliated like this? You two better mind your own businesses!"

He was practically yelling at me now, like I was supposed to be the one apologizing, and I just stood there, feeling a strange sense of calm.

Josie, a bit tipsy, shouted, "To unwind? How is cheating unwinding now?! Astrid's your wife! I've got it all on video, and you still won't own up to it!"

She whipped out her phone, and the screen lit up with a video of Cedric and Anya wrapped around each other, drinking straight from the same cup. My shoulders dropped, and I felt the heat rise in my face.

I held onto Josie, steadying her, and locked eyes with Cedric. "Cedric, I'm done. I don't love you anymore. We're getting a divorce."

I didn't wait for his reaction. I turned and walked away with Josie, our friends surrounding us, throwing disgusted looks over their shoulders.

The next day, I handed in my resignation letter. This company—it was our dream. Cedric and I built it together. I had so much history here, but if I didn't let go of the past, I'd never move forward. The HR manager looked at me with pity but didn't say a word to change my mind.

Everyone knew about my relationship with Cedric, and they could see he's still got feelings for another woman. Why would I stick around for more heartache?

By the time I got home, everything was packed up, and my lawyer had the divorce papers ready. I felt a strange sense of freedom like I had cut the last thread tying me down.

I thought about stopping by the house I'd bought in the good school district for our future baby. I had envisioned a bright future with Cedric—a house filled with love, laughter, and family. I had picked the best place and decorated it with care, dreaming of our child's arrival.

But that dream felt so distant now. I ran my hand over my stomach, feeling the flatness. The baby would never come.

When I reached the house, I punched in the code, but the door wouldn't budge. Confused, I knocked harder, wondering if Cedric had rented it out.

No answer.

Frustrated, I pulled up the security camera feed on my phone.

What I saw made my breath catch in my throat.

Cedric and Anya were in the master bedroom, tangled up together, completely naked, kissing like they were the only two people in the world. Even though I had already decided to leave, seeing that so openly—it felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

The furniture, the décor—I had picked out every detail with love for a child that was never meant to be! And now, it was being used for their affair!

I felt hollow like the life had drained out of me. My vision blurred, and just then, the door swung open.

Cedric stood there, a towel around his waist. His eyes widened in shock when he saw me. "A-Astrid, what are you... what are you doing here…"

I pushed past him and stormed inside. Anya had already slipped into a revealing nightgown, lounging against the bedframe, a cigarette dangling from her fingers. She was just as startled as he was, stammering some weak excuse.

I shot her a cold look before heading straight to the baby's room. The bed was a mess, and the trash can overflowed with evidence of their affair.

In the corner, the plaster baby figurine Cedric and I had painted together was tossed aside. The sight twisted my heart. There was no denying it; the entire house was tainted by their sins!

Nausea hit me, and I bent over, choking back bile.

"Astrid, please, let me explain!" Cedric rushed to my side, pulling on his clothes in a panic. "Anya just got back to town. She didn't have anywhere else to go, so I—"

"So, you chose the house I bought for our baby?" I interrupted, my voice devoid of any emotion.

"Astrid! When did you get so petty? You weren't like this before!" His voice rose. "And what about last night? We haven’t even talked about that! Your friend humiliated Anya! Did you even think about her feelings?"