The Divorce Play

The reunion lights dazzled me, making my head spin. I stood in the corner, holding my wine glass, my gaze unwillingly drawn to my husband Mark Lewis. He wore a dark gray suit today—the one I had tailored for him just last month. But at that moment, the person standing next to him wasn't me. It was Mindy Xavier, his ex-girlfriend. They were pressed so close together, Mindy's hand resting on his arm. "Stacy, what are you staring at?" A classmate beside me tapped my arm. I snapped out of it, shook my head, and said it was nothing. Turning around to find somewhere to calm down, my phone suddenly buzzed. It was a photo from my best friend. The moment I opened it, my blood ran cold. In the photo, Mark Lewis had his arm around Mindy's waist, kissing her on a hotel balcony. The neon sign in the background was glaringly clear—it was the same hotel where we had stayed on our wedding anniversary. I clenched my phone, my knuckles turning white. I hurried up to Mark Lewis and thrust the phone in front of his eyes. "What is this?" My voice trembled. Mark glanced at the photo, his expression unchanged but his brow furrowed. "It's just some fun at the reunion. Don't make a big deal out of it," he said flatly. Mindy Xavier stood beside him, a provocative smile curling at the corner of her mouth. "Just some fun? Does that mean kissing like that?" I locked eyes with him. The classmates around us turned to look, whispering nonstop. Mark Lewis's face finally darkened as he dragged me toward the corridor. Mindy Xavier trailed behind, looking like a conqueror. "Stacy Shaw, can't you give me some face?" He yanked his hand away from mine. "Respect is something you earn, not something I give." I bit my lip and said. Mark suddenly smiled, his gaze sharp with calculation. "Since you've seen it, I won't keep it from you. Mindy has returned, and I want to be with her." My heart felt like it had been smashed by a sledgehammer. "So, what do you want? A divorce?" "Divorce is fine, but you'll have to hand over the downtown apartment from your dowry, plus 5% of the Shaw Group shares, to Mindy as a parting gift." He said it with complete brazenness. I could hardly believe my ears. "Mark Lewis, are you out of your mind?" I raised my voice. "I was the one who picked that apartment for you, and your father only gave you the shares out of respect for me. So what if I transfer them to Mindy?" He shot back. Looking at this familiar yet strange man before me, I was suddenly overwhelmed by a bitter sense of irony. Back then, he had nothing; it was my father who lent him a hand and got him appointed general manager at the Shaw Group. Now, he acts as if all of this is rightfully his. "Impossible." I said, firm and resolute. "Stacy Shaw, don't take my kindness for weakness!" Mark Lewis's voice grew savage. Mindy Xavier stepped forward, hooking her arm around his, and said softly, "Mark, don't argue with her. Maybe she just doesn't understand yet." Their pretentious display made my stomach turn. "Mark Lewis, we're getting a divorce." I spoke again, my voice unnervingly calm. Mark Lewis froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard by my bluntness. "Fine, we'll get a divorce, but don't think you'll walk away with anything!" he snarled. "I don't want a thing. I just want to sever all ties with you." I turned and walked away, not looking back for a second. Behind me, Mindy Xavier's laugh rang out—sharp, grating, and sickening. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms. Mark Lewis, Mindy Xavier, just you wait.