Far From Perfection

I obeyed Ethan’s command and stopped going to the office. It wasn’t only because he dismissed me. Instead, I couldn’t stand Victoria calling my name with that superior air.

I wanted her to call me Mrs. Graves.

Sadly, Ethan refused to take me anywhere. He claimed that showing up with me now would expose the lie to Lewis and jeopardize the deal.

I ordered him not to bring Victoria either and to go alone. However, Ethan only scolded me for being unreasonable. "Who goes to these events without a spouse?"

I snapped, "And what about the past few years? Because I was stuck caring for your mother, I never had a chance to go anywhere with you. No one even knows I’m your wife! You didn’t need a spouse back then, so why suddenly now?"

At the mention of his mother, something in him snapped. His face twisted with irritation. "Yes, you took care of her, and I’m grateful. But haven’t I provided for you all these years? Food, clothes, shelter… have I ever shorted you? Stop throwing my mother in my face every time you’re unhappy. I don’t owe you."

His voice dripped with scorn, "Maya, you’ve changed. When did you become this petty, always holding favors over me? You should really take a leaf out of Victoria's book."

I couldn’t stop him. He went on taking Victoria to event after event.

Even when my stomach illness flared so badly that I collapsed and was taken to the hospital by ambulance, he didn’t show up. He dismissed me as jealous, petty, and spiteful.

I sat on that hospital bed sobbing. The irony cut deep. My stomach problems had begun while caring for his mother.

Whenever I ate, she would call me to empty her bedpan, and I developed a phobia of food. At night, when I tried to sleep, she would moan and groan without telling me what was wrong, keeping me awake while she slept peacefully during the day.

Year after year, my health eroded.

All it earned me now was Ethan’s sneer that I was ungrateful, always throwing favors in his face.

I cried harder until my eyes were swollen.

In my misery, I called him again and again, desperate to make him share my pain.

However, Ethan turned off his phone.

In the end, it was Victoria who answered. Her voice was laced with false kindness. "Maya, don’t take this the wrong way, but Ethan’s in the middle of an important business meeting. How’s he supposed to focus with you calling over and over?

"You see, that’s why he brings me along. Because I know how to help him and I'm considerate."

Fury boiled up in me. I hurled my phone aside and wailed.

Through the curtain separating my bed, a hand slipped over, pressing a packet of tissues into mine.

A timid voice followed, "Don’t cry, miss. Your stomach will only hurt worse."

I pulled back the curtain just as the door opened.

A man, who appeared travel-worn and was holding takeout, rushed to the bedside of the girl next to me.

She frowned, scolding him, "I told you not to come. All that networking must be exhausting. I’m fine. You should rest."

He smiled, tender and indulgent. "Enough. Eat while it’s hot."

She huffed, "What’s the point of all those dinners? It's just an excuse for shameless behavior. I won’t stoop to their level. I respect you too much."

Respect.

The word exploded in my mind. That was it.

No matter how Ethan dressed it up as business, the truth was plain: he didn’t respect me.

Nevertheless, it had begun with me. I had lowered myself first. That was why he grew so brazen.

Blinking back tears, I thanked the young couple and fled.

I rushed home, grabbed our marriage certificate, and pulled out the divorce papers I’d prepared long ago.

I slipped into a long-forgotten evening gown, did my makeup, and went to find Ethan.

In front of everyone, I hooked my arm around his with a polite, flawless smile.

The room fell silent. Ethan yanked his arm away, barking for security, ready to have me dragged out. His eyes burned with disappointment.

"Why can’t you be more like Victoria?"

I stared him down. "Like her? You mean, like a mistress? I heard today’s gathering is for married couples only. So tell me, Ethan, what exactly is your relationship with Ms. Hale?"

Ethan stammered, his lips trembling and his words failing him. Victoria stepped in smoothly with a gracious smile, asking me to leave first.

I strode right past her. From my bag, I pulled out our marriage certificate and held it up for all to see.

Ethan’s face drained of color.

Then, I laid the divorce agreement flat on the table.

"Ethan, if you want to parade around with Ms. Hale, be my guest. But as a woman, I won’t stand by and watch another become a mistress. Sign this, and you two can go wherever you like—openly."

"Are you insane?" Ethan roared, snatching the papers. Then, with a flourish, he signed. "There. Now get the hell out!"

With my goal achieved, I turned without a moment’s hesitation.

Alas, fate had other plans.

The massive chandelier above came crashing down straight toward me.

Terror froze me in place. My mind screamed at me to run, but my body betrayed me, rooted to the spot.

In that moment, I saw it—the smug curve of Victoria’s lips, the glint of malice in her eyes.

Time slowed. The crystal chandelier was about to smash into me.

Then, suddenly, someone shoved me hard.

There was a deafening crash.

Chaos erupted around me. Voices shouted for an ambulance.

Feigning panic, Victoria ran past me toward the fallen figure.

Stunned, I turned, only to see that the one who had pushed me out of harm’s way… was Ethan.