The procedure was painful, but nothing compared to the pain of Jake's betrayal.

I didn't want to stay in the sterile hospital. I took a cab home.

When I opened the door, there was Jake, standing in the hallway.

I didn't expect him to be home from the hospital so quickly.

He was dressed to travel and was pulling a suitcase behind him.

He was always traveling these days.

But I knew this time was different. This time he wasn't going to a business meeting.

Jake froze for a second and then put on a concerned expression.

"Honey, what are you doing home so late? Overtime again? You look awful. Did you skip dinner and upset your stomach?"

Before I could answer, he added, sounding apologetic,

"Sorry, sweetheart. I got called away on business. There was no way to get out of it. Take care of yourself. I made soup, and it’s in the fridge."

I stared at him coldly.

Business or mistress?

I stared into Jake's eyes, trying to understand how he could lie without even flinching.

How could he live with himself?

Jake was a natural actor. There wasn't a trace of guilt on his face.

"I want a divorce."

Jake stopped, looking at me with forced sympathy and a hint of annoyance. "I really don't have time for this. Quit acting out, I will be back in a few days."

He reached for me to give me a goodbye kiss.

I sidestepped him.

Jake seemed to be in a hurry. He grabbed his suitcase and rushed out the door.

I watched him go, feeling like a fool. These last few years had been a joke.

There were signs. I just didn't want to see them. I wanted to believe his lies.

Jake had been going on "business trips" all the time. I was sure he had been spending most of that time with Ashley.

It was hilarious, how I swallowed all of his lies.

I thought he was working hard to give us a better life.

I felt bad for doubting him.

Jake was very good at covering his tracks.

He would tell me what he was doing.

He would text me or video chat me every day.

I used to tease him about that, telling him he was whipped.

But who was I kidding?

Jake left, which was probably a good thing.

I was exhausted and confused. The surgery had drained me. I needed some time to recover.

I also needed to figure out the finances and have a lawyer draw up divorce papers.

It was over. There was no point in dragging it out.

I would be ready when Jake got back.