I smiled, and got ready to order. John
stormed over to our table.
“Ryan, you know that Wendy and I used to be together. She could do anything for me. The
only person she loves is me.”
Hearing about my lost baby, my hand shook.
The memory was still there, haunting me.
Ryan noticed my fear. He took my hand,
looking at me with a reassuring gaze.
“John, I know that. And I’ve seen the medical
L
“John, I know that. And I’ve seen the medical
reports. If you and Elle hadn’t been around,
Wendy’s baby would have been fine. Do you
know how much a miscarriage affects a
woman’s body? If there had been
complications, she could have died, too.”
“And what were you doing? You weren’t
looking after Wendy, you were trying to
please your first love.”
“John, if you were willing to risk your wife’s
life, why would Wendy wait for you?”
Ryan put his arm around me. “John, I know
you don’t want to divorce Wendy, but think
about how you treated her. Don’t make me
hand over Wendy’s medical reports and let
the government force you to divorce her.”
Ryan hugged me. “Wendy, this place is depressing. Let’s go somewhere else to eat.”
He took my hand and led me out of the
restaurant.
Ryan didn’t turn in my medical reports, but he
gave them to John’s father.
His dad was furious that John had treated his
grandson so badly. He forced John to
apologize to me.
I looked at John, kneeling on the ground. It
felt surreal.
“Wendy, we’re sorry. Tell me what to do, and
I’ll make him pay.”
John knelt there silent
1
John knelt there, silent.
Did I hate him? I think I did.
Because I loved him once.
That’s why it hurt so much.
But I was over it now. The wounds had
healed. I didn’t want to turn back.
“Mr. Rivers, I have nothing to say to John. I
married him willingly, so I deserved whatever
suffering came my way. But I don’t want to
keep making the same mistake. I still want a
divorce.”
Hearing me say the word divorce, John finally
looked up. “No. I don’t want a divorce.”
L
“And who are you to say no? You were the
one having an affair. Elle only dumped you
because she thought your status wasn’t good
enough. Now that her husband’s in trouble,
you ran back to her. You don’t even care
about your own son! I ought to beat you!”
John’s father was a soldier. He didn’t hold
back when he hit John, but John kept his
mouth shut.
“I don’t want a divorce. Wendy, I know I
messed up. Give me another chance. I’ll make
it up to you.”
“John, I’m doing great. I don’t need anything
from you. And what you owe me can never be
repaid.”
“Wendy, I swear I’ll be better. Please, believe
me.” John looked at me.
“John, you said the same thing when you
proposed. And then Elle called, and you took
her to her doctor’s appointment. I don’t
believe a word you say.”
“Wendy…”
“Just let it go. Let this divorce be the last
thing you do for me and our child. Don’t make
me hate you even more.”
John hung his head.
With John’s father watching, we finally went
to the courthouse and got the divorce papers.
<
Looking at the official document, I felt peace
for the first time.
“I’ll take you home,” John offered.
“No need. I have other plans.”
Ryan drove up. “Wendy, let’s go.”
I ran to Ryan’s car, got in, and looked at John,
still standing in front of the courthouse.
It was finally over.
Ryan took my hand. “It’s okay. You still have
me.”
I smiled and pointed at the steering wheel.
“Drive carefully. I don’t want to die in a car
<
Then we both laughed.
I thought my divorce from John would mean
he’d end up with Elle, but after we separated,
they broke up.
John spent all his time at the base.
The investigators looking into Elle’s husband
eventually found evidence of her own
misdeeds. She tried to get help from John,
but he shut her out. She was arrested.
Finally, Ryan and I decided to get married.
This time, Ryan gave me a grand wedding,
with all our friends and family. We walked
down the aisle and started our new life
together.
“Wendy, I love you. I’ve loved you since the
“Wendy, I love you. I’ve loved you since the
first time I saw you. I promise, I’ll make you
happy.”
I smiled, took the flowers from Ryan, and
kissed his cheek.
“Yes, we will be happy.”
