After My Husband Chose Another Woman, I Chose Myself

The morning light filtered through our bedroom curtains as I folded the last of my business clothes into my suitcase. Mother's Day—what an ironic time for a business trip. But the Henderson contract couldn't wait, and three days in Chicago would secure the biggest deal of my career.

Cameron sat on the edge of our bed, thumb scrolling through his phone with that familiar distant expression. The blue glow reflected off his face, highlighting the sharp angles that had once made my heart race. Now they just reminded me of how far away he always seemed, even when he was right beside me.

"Cameron." My voice carried more urgency than I intended. "I need you to listen to me about Mom's medication."

He glanced up briefly, those dark eyes meeting mine for barely a second. "Yeah, sure. What about it?"

I knelt beside him, my hands finding his free one. His skin felt cool, detached. "Her heart condition has gotten worse this week. Dr. Mitchell adjusted her dosage, and she absolutely cannot miss today's dose. Not even by an hour."

The phone buzzed in his other hand. His attention flickered back to the screen.

"Cameron." I squeezed his fingers, forcing him to look at me again. "This is life or death. She needs her medication at exactly two PM. I've left it on the kitchen counter with detailed instructions."

"Got it. Two o'clock." He nodded absently, already turning back to whatever message had captured his interest.

Frustration bubbled in my chest, but I pushed it down. This was Cameron—distracted, casual about everything except Rose. But surely he wouldn't be careless about something this important. Not when it came to my mother, who had treated him like her own son from the day we married.

"Promise me." The words came out sharper than I meant them to. "Promise me you'll be there at two."

Finally, he set the phone down and looked at me fully. For a moment, I saw a flicker of the man I'd fallen in love with—the one who used to hang on my every word, who made me feel like I was the center of his universe.

"I promise, Lily. I'll take care of it."

I leaned forward and kissed him, tasting the lingering bitterness of his morning coffee. "I love you," I whispered against his lips.

"Love you too," he murmured, but his eyes were already drifting back to his phone.

The taxi honked outside. I grabbed my suitcase and portfolio, casting one last look at Cameron. He was scrolling again, completely absorbed in whatever digital world held more appeal than our conversation.

"Remember—two PM," I called from the doorway.

"Two PM," he repeated without looking up.

The flight to Chicago felt endless. I tried to focus on my presentation notes, but my mind kept drifting to Mom. She'd been so frail lately, her breathing labored, her color pale. The new medication was supposed to help stabilize her heart rhythm, but missing doses could trigger dangerous