When Robert was caught cheating for the tenth time, he didn’t fly off the handle like he used to.

He casually glanced at his watch, then gently draped a coat over the young girl in his arms.

“Wasn’t your prenatal checkup scheduled for the afternoon? Why are you back so early?”

I didn’t answer.

He ruffled the girl’s hair, seamlessly stepping between us to shield her. His voice was sharp with warning. “She’s still young. Whatever you’ve got to say, say it to me.”

He expected me to lose my mind, to scream and throw a fit like I always had before.

But what he didn’t know was that our ten-year agreement was drawing to a close.

I was going to leave him soon.

…

On the nightstand, our wedding photo was marred by two distinct palm prints—one on each side, perfectly covering my face and Robert’s.

You could almost picture the positions they’d been in moments earlier.

I took a deep breath and turned to Robert.

“We agreed you’d never bring other women home.”

“Do you even remember what day it is today?”

Robert chuckled dismissively.

He lit a cigarette with a flick of his wrist, blowing the smoke directly in my face.

“Had too much to drink. Can’t be bothered with all that trivial stuff.”

The girl beside him jumped in alarm.

She scrambled to pull on her clothes, her eyes wide with fear as she stared at me.

“Mrs. Winters, I didn’t mean to—”

“It was last night that—”

Watching her flustered panic, I couldn’t help but step forward and zip up the back of her dress for her.

“It’s fine. You can leave.”

“I know exactly what kind of man Robert is.”

This wasn’t the first time this had happened over the years.

Too drunk, in a bad mood,

bored and looking for some fun—

anything could be an excuse for him to cheat.

As for the girl in front of me? She wasn’t even worth calling a mistress, let alone ranking among the countless others he’d bedded.

Why waste my energy on her?

The girl fled the room in tears. I called the housekeeper to clean up the mess.

The rumpled sheets, the condoms scattered across the floor—every inch of the room made my stomach churn.

I covered my nose and mouth, spraying air freshener until the stench was masked.

Robert snaked his arms around my waist from behind, nuzzling his stubbly jaw against the crook of my neck.

“Aww, look at my good wife. So sensible all of a sudden.”

“Afraid I’ll stop coming home? Or finally learned how to be a proper lady?”

He squeezed my cheek, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips.

“Why didn’t you act like this sooner?”

“Just be good, and I’ll never let anyone take your place as Mrs. Winters.”

With that, Robert rummaged through a pile of gift boxes and pulled out a pair of earrings, fastening them to my ears.

“A little reward for you.”

“Now, stop being mad. I know today’s our tenth wedding anniversary.”

“Wipe those tears away. I’ll take you out to celebrate.”

His tone was offhand, careless.

What he didn’t know was that after ten years of this, I’d already cried all my tears dry.

I dodged his touch, sliding the divorce papers I’d prepared long ago across the table to him.

“Robert, we’re getting a divorce.”

Robert froze for a second, then burst into louder laughter.

“Cut the crap, Lillian.”

“You know we can never get divorced.”

He grabbed my face, his hand trailing down my body until it rested on my stomach.

“Go get ready. I’ll accompany you to your prenatal checkup.”

“Don’t go looking for trouble.”

Years ago, I’d disowned my family to be with Robert.

My father had sworn I’d never set foot on the East Coast again, never step through the family’s front door.

As punishment for my defiance, he’d used all his connections to tie Robert and me together for good.

No breaking up, no getting divorced.

For the rest of our lives, whether we loved or hated each other, we were stuck with one another.

Back then, Robert had knelt at my feet, vowing to love me forever, to make sure I never regretted my choice.

But in our second year of marriage, he’d already betrayed our vows.

He’d held another woman in his arms, staring at me with unapologetic arrogance.

“Yes, I cheated. What are you going to do about it?”

“Lillian, you’ve got nowhere else to go.”

“You’re stuck with me for life!”

I’d sobbed as I called my family, begging to come home, saying I was sorry.

My father had hung up without a word. My mother had stood by and done nothing.

They’d said I’d chosen this path, and I’d have to walk it—even if it meant crawling on my knees.

From then on, knowing I couldn’t leave, Robert grew bolder and more reckless with each passing day.

His lovers came and went, his scandalous affairs splashed across the tabloids.

Now, he didn’t even bother hiding it—bringing them straight into our home.

But what he didn’t know was that when I’d left, I’d made a ten-year bet with my father.

A bet on how long our love could last.

If I won, he’d throw his full support behind our marriage.

If I lost, I’d return home and accept whatever arrangement the family had in store for me.

Because of Robert,

because of this marriage,

because of this bet—

I’d lost everything.

As Robert drove to the hospital, I dialed a number I knew by heart.

“Dad, I lost.”

“A bet’s a bet. I’ll be back on the East Coast in three days.”