Blurb：
I never imagined my husband Ryan would abandon me in the hospital just days after giving birth. While I struggled alone with our newborn, he was playing happy family with his childhood friend Chloe. Her Instagram posts—smiling photos, dazzling diamonds, and sickening captions—exposed their affair. Ryan’s threats of divorce used to silence me, but not this time. Facing surgery alone was the final straw. When Ryan prioritized Chloe’s twisted ankle over my gallstone surgery, I knew our marriage was over. Now, I’m demanding full custody and a fair settlement. Ryan thinks I’m being dramatic, but he’s about to learn that a betrayed wife can be his worst nightmare.
Content：
On the third day after I gave birth, my husband Ryan told me he had an urgent business trip. He left me alone in the hospital to care for our newborn.
Three days later, just as I was finally being discharged, his childhood friend Chloe posted a photo on Instagram. It was a cozy family picture with the caption,
From our little getawaya happy family of three.
I stared, stunned, at the image of my husband smiling brightly beside her. I commented simply, ?.
Ryan immediately called me, furious,
She’s a single mom with no one to help her out. All I did was take a simple photo with her.Do you have to be so jealous?
That evening, Chloe posted again, this time flaunting a set of dazzling diamond jewelry worth,
After our family photo, he insisted on buying me these stunning diamonds~
I knew he’d bought them to keep her happy.
But this time, I’d had enough.
As if sensing my mood, the baby suddenly started wailing.
It took me two hours to finally calm him down.
Throughout that time, Ryan didn’t call or text once.
Chloe, however, kept updating her feed.
She posted three more close-ups of the diamonds, sending her followers into a frenzy.
Her comments explodedeveryone was gushing with envy.
My eye caught one reply from Ryan himself,,
Today I buy them for you, and twenty years from now I’ll buy our daughter a set too.
Best husband ever, love you~~
Their sickening sweet exchange felt like a knife.
I turned to look at our son, asleep in his bassinet.
I guess Ryan had already forgotten he had a six-day-old son.
Then again, on the day I went into labor, he’d said he was too swamped with work to be there.
I found out later he was actually busy celebrating the third birthday of Chloe’s daughter.
Your gallstones are too large to ignore. We recommend surgery tomorrow, the doctor said, reviewing my chart.
I’d developed them during the pregnancy. After a moment, I texted Ryan,
Come back tomorrow. It’s important.
A long time passed before he replied.
He sounded annoyed,
I’m busy. Stop bothering me with every little thing.
Keep this up and I’m filing for divorce!
I stared calmly at my screen.
I’d lost count of how many times Ryan had threatened divorce.
Ever since Chloe reappeared, any time I reacted to their closeness, he’d use divorce to shut me down.
All wives have to put up with something in marriage. If you can’t handle it, leave.
Before, I used to always be the one to back down.
Not this time.
I need surgerythat’s why I asked you to come. If that’s how you feel, then let’s get divorced.
A few seconds later, my phone rang.
Ryan’s voice was suddenly softer,
Why didn’t you tell me you were sick? What time’s the surgery? I’ll be there.
Frowning, I glanced at our sleeping son and replied,
2 PM.
Okay.
The next afternoon, Ryan’s phone was switched off.
Pale and in pain, I had to ask a friend to come sign the consent forms.
By evening, it was over.
The doctor said I needed to rest for a few days.
Ryan never callednot once.
Chloe continued flaunting her romance online.
I twisted my ankle slightly a tiny bit, and he totally panickedrushed me to the ER like a madman.
Ugh, he was supposed to fly back today but canceled everything because of my stupid ankle.
OMG! He won’t even let me walkcarries me everywhere!
I opened the photos.
There was Ryan, carrying Chloe on his back.
I remembered when I was four months pregnant, at a checkup.
My hips suddenly locked upevery step was agony.
The doctor said it was synovitisneeded rest and heat packs.
I called Ryan, hoping he could come gat me.
He sounded impatient.
I’m busy. My time is for work, not for your little aches! Being pregnant doesn’t mean you get to be helpless. If you can’t walk, figure it out yourself!
I picked up my phone and texted him again.
I only want two things, full custody and a fair settlement.
Ryan replied quickly.
I have got something important today.
Stop being dramatic. I’ll come tomorrow.
Three days later, when I was discharged, Ryan still hadn’t shown.
Sitting in the car, watching the city blur past, it all hit me.
Ryan and I met in collegefell in love, got married.
First year, his startup failedpartner screwed him over, left him drowning in debt.
I worked three jobs to help dig us out, came home exhausted every night to cook and clean.
When his second venture took off, I thought we’d finally made it.
But then, a year ago, everything changed.
The day he cheated with Chloe, it all crumbled.
Soon after I got home, Ryan finally appeared.
He saw the surgery papers on the table and shook me awake, annoyed,
You went through with the surgery? Why couldn’t you wait for me?
I hadn’t slept properly in three daysfinally resting only to be jerked awake.
I was exhausted, physically and emotionally.
Ryan, are you seriously saying I should’ve waited three days with a critical condition until you decided to grace me with your presence?
He paused, his tone easing a bit,
Fine, whatever. Now go iron my suitI have to go out.
It clicked.
He hadn’t come back for me or the surgery.
He needed something for work.
My phone buzzedtime for the baby’s feeding.
Weak and sore, I got up to make a bottle.
Ryan kicked a chair in frustration,
Goddamn it, I never should’ve married you. I regret it every day!
With that, he slammed the door on his way out.
I ignored him, turning to comfort our crying son.
It took almost an hour to soothe him back to sleep.
Then I picked up my phone and typed,
Can you refer me to a good divorce lawyer?
The reply came quickly, Are you serious? It’s your birthdaywhy are you talking about divorce today?
The next morning, Ryan came home unexpectedly.
He shot me a cold glare,
It was your birthday yesterday. Why didn’t you remind me?
I stayed silent.
Here, I got you something, he said, handing me a thin gold necklace.
I glanced at it.
It was delicatealmost weightless.
Nothing like the lavish diamonds set he’d bought for Chloe.
You can always tell how someone really feels by what they give you.
Put it on. I’ll cook for you laterwe can celebrate properly.
No thanks, I said flatly.
Belated gifts and forced attention only made me resent him more.
Ryan noticed my tone and scowled,
I’m trying here! What else do you want? Why are you always making things difficult?
I met his eyes calmly,
I’m not making anything difficult.
He threw the necklace on the floor and stomped on it,
I know what this is aboutit was just one photo! Her daughter’s school asked for a family picturethat’s the only reason I did it!
He let out an exaggerated sigh,
Besides, you upset her. Wasn’t it right that I got her a gift? I haven’t even asked you to apologize!
Arguing so soon after giving birth wasn’t good for me.
I took a slow breath,
You’re right.
Just then, a notification popped upmy resignation had been approved.
I booked a flight for five days later and texted my lawyer, full custody, no compromise.
Done, I turned toward to the bedroom to rest.
Ryan glared at my back, furious,
I’m still talking to you! Where are you going?
To lie down, I said, not looking back.
As I closed the bedroom door, I heard crashing sounds from the living room.
The divorce process moved ahead.
Three days later, as I was packing, Get here called.
North Beach outdoor bar. It’s urgent. Get here now.
The wind was strong at North Beachnot ideal so soon after delivery.
I was about to refuse when he called again. And again.
When I arrived, bundled up, Chloe and Ryan were sitting close together.
One of his friends looked me over and sneered,
She wasn’t kiddingRyan’s side piece is kinda… frumpy.
Chloe sipped her wine, her gaze lingering on me,
Sorry, I lost a truth or dare game. They gave me two choices, kiss the band’s lead singer… or call out the woman Ryan’s been seeing.
Ryan didn’t want me kissing anyone else, so he said to bring you here. You can go now.
She sounded apologetic, but I heard the triumph underneath.
I looked at Ryan.
He avoided my eyes, silent.
So, to them, I was the other woman.
I almost laughed. Before I could speak, Chloe tilted her head, proudly showing off a heavy gold necklace.
I walked over, grabbed it, and snapped the clasp open.
You frumpy bitch! What are you doing? she shrieked, scrambling for it.
I dropped it into my bag, face cold,
This was bought with marital assets. I’m taking back what’s partly mine.
My lawyer said I could reclaim the diamonds, too.
Chloe’s face darkened,
Stealing my personal property in public? I’ll call you arrested.
Should I dial for you? I shot back, fearless.
Ryan, seeing I was serious, snatched my phone,
Stop causing a scene. Just go home.
The panic on his face made my heart sink.
His friends started whispering, questioning who the real other woman was.
Chloe’s eyes welled up. She looked pleadingly at Ryan,
You said it yourselfthe one who isn’t loved is the other woman. Tell them Emily is the side chick!
Ryan wiped her tears and turned to me, icy,
Enough! Every time you show up, you ruin everything!
He took Chloe’s hand and announced to the crowd,
Everyone, this is Chloemy wife. The woman I love.
The crowd cheered.
Kiss her, Ryan!
Without hesitation, he cupped Chloe’s face and kissed her deeply.
She flushed, then turned to smirk at me.
See? That marriage certificate means nothing. His heart, his money, his loveI’ll take everything from you.
I couldn’t help itI slapped her.
She covered her face, whining to Ryan,
Honey, she hit me.
Ryan’s face darkened. He kicked me hard in the stomach!
My C-section wound tore open. I collapsed to the ground.
He gripped my chin, snarling,
Apologize to her. Now.
I glared, biting my lip,
Never.
He kicked me again, yelling,
You just don’t learn, do you? I’ll teach you a lesson today!
Blow after blow landed. Blood soaked through my clothes.
Curled on the ground, pale and shaking, I used my last strength to look up,
Ryan I want a divorce.
Surprise flickered in his eyes. His lips moved.
I didn’t hear himeverything went black.
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