Whenever Jessica gave me the silent treatment, she would wire what she called an “emotional settlement fee.” “You need coddling; I need peace,” she’d say, not even bothering to look up from her iPad. “Take the cash. Go spoil some pretty young thing on the side if you must. Just don’t make a scene.” The final time, she decided she’d bought enough silence to close a deal. The wire was for ten million dollars. She laid out the terms with the sterile precision of an acquisition merger: “Felix is spiraling again. He says if he doesn’t have the legal security of a marriage, he’s going to end it all. We get a paper divorce first. Once he’s stabilized, we remarry.” “While we’re apart, spend whatever you want. I won’t audit your accounts.” At the dinner party, one of her socialite friends couldn’t help asking, “Jessica, you literally walked away from your family trust fund just to marry him back then. You’re really just tossing him aside like that?” “Exactly,” another chimed in. “Enoch has too much pride. What if he actually takes your money and spends it on another woman?” Jessica turned a page of her quarterly earnings report, her eyelashes perfectly still. “He won’t.” “You all know his background,” she added smoothly. “He grew up on scholarships and grants; handouts make his skin crawl. He’d starve in the street before he touched a single cent of mine.” “God, Jessica, you’re brilliant,” someone laughed. “You wired the funds, so you look generous. If he lets his fragile ego starve him, that’s on him. Absolutely ruthless.” Everyone at the table waited for the usual routine – for me to quietly decline the wire and transfer the ten million back to her account, preserving my dignified, pathetic little bubble. Instead, I tapped the notification on my phone and hit “Accept”. “Thanks, Jessica,” I said. “Payment received.” … Jessica turned her head, the amused smirk on her lips freezing in real time. “Enoch?” I didn’t answer. I turned toward the foyer. Her best friend sprang up to block the door, wide-eyed. “Enoch, you’re joking, right?” My voice was flat, devoid of the tremor that usually betrayed me. “Do I look like I’m joking?” Jessica rose slowly from the designer sofa, pressing two manicured fingers to her temple. The entire living room went dead quiet, eyes darting between us like spectators at an execution. Her lips curved into something venomous. “You found someone else on the side?” “Why?” I looked back over my shoulder. “Are you curious?” Her gaze swept over my simple black overcoat and plain cashmere turtleneck, the color draining from her face centimeter by centimeter. Then, she forced a dry laugh, looking down at her phone lying face-up on the coffee table. “Felix,” she spoke into the speakerphone. “You called it. I guess I owe you.” From the speaker came Felix’s soft, carefully vulnerable voice. “I’m so sorry, Enoch. Jessica insisted on betting me. She swore up and down you’d never take the money. I just told her… who turns down ten million dollars?” Jessica looked at me, but her tone when answering him was as tender as velvet. “I lost. Name your prize.” “I want you here,” Felix murmured. “Right now.” “I’m on my way.” The call ended. Jessica grabbed her Hermès bag and walked straight past me toward the door. Swallowing the jagged glass in my throat, I followed her out. In the hallway, the stares of her inner circle clung to my skin like cobwebs. “I give it seventy-two hours,” someone muttered. “He’ll be crying on her doorstep, begging to return the wire. As if a nobody like him could ever walk away from Jessica Haley.” “He came from nothing. He was never in Felix’s league.” “You think Jessica’s actually going through with this divorce?” That last whisper drove a spike through my spine. A cold sweat broke across my neck. Every single time she had frozen me out and wired me hush money, I had returned every penny intact. I thought I was defending my dignity. I thought that if I kept my hands clean, she would eventually see me – really see me – and respect me. What a pathetic delusion. All my patience, all my quiet endurance, had only bought me a front-row seat to her walking away. I took a step toward the elevator, but Jessica suddenly spun on her heel. Her fists were clenched in her coat pockets, knuckles white. A cruel sneer played across her mouth. “Since you’re so eager to spend my money on women,” she said, “let me help you pick one.” I forced the corners of my mouth up into an effortless, indifferent smile. “Much obliged.” The casual tone hit the room like a bucket of ice water. The hallway went entirely silent. Her driver practically shoved me into the back of her Maybach. The leather interior was cavernous, putting a vast, arctic distance between the two of us. The air conditioning was cranked so high it bit into my skin. Just like Jessica. Cold to the marrow. The car tore through the city, pulling up outside a private lounge in the meatpacking district drenched in neon and heavy bass. Within minutes of us walking inside, a lineup of young women in evening dresses was ushered into the private booth, standing in a neat row before me. Jessica leaned back, her smile sharp enough to draw blood. “Have fun. If this batch isn’t enough, I’ll call more.” She didn’t wait for my answer. She cut through the velvet-roped section and stopped at a low table where Felix was already waiting, his cheeks flushed, swirling amber bourbon in a lowball glass. Jessica knelt beside him, her voice dropping to a gentle hush. “Why did you drink so much?” Felix looked up at her, his eyes glistening like wet stars. “I got bored waiting for you.” Her thumb grazed the corner of his lips. A second later, her hand cupped the back of his neck, pulling him into a deep, bruising kiss. Her friends cheered and whistled. Yet Jessica’s eyes remained open, cutting over Felix’s shoulder to lock onto mine. She was staring at me, waiting for the crack in my mask, waiting for the screaming match she believed she controlled. The thumping bass rattled against my ribs. I took a slow sip of my drink. A stray drop of condensation slid down my glass, mimicking the tear I refused to let fall. The agony I had swallowed down for three years finally calcified into stone. Jessica murmured something against Felix’s ear. Felix blinked, stunned, before pure ecstasy lit up his features. He scooped her up in his arms, spinning her around right there in the middle of the lounge. “Jessica agreed to give me a baby!” he shouted over the music. A suffocating weight seized my chest, dragging my heart down into an abyss. I tore my eyes away from their spectacle and looked past the lineup of women, settling on a quiet figure standing in the dimmest corner of the room. “I just want her,” I said. The girl walked over. Her face was strikingly young, untouched by the hardened polish of the rest of the room. “What’s your name?” I asked quietly. “Why are you here?” “Marina,” she whispered, her voice tight with nerves. “Saving up tuition for my little brother.” “How old are you?” “Twenty.” A wave of vertigo washed over me. When I was twenty, I was a scholarship kid calculating whether I could afford the two-dollar soup in the dining hall. Until Jessica entered my life. She funded my tuition. She invited me into her home under the guise of private tutoring. Proximity bred affection. Affection became love. On our wedding day, I handed her a cashier’s check for every dime she had ever spent on me, plus interest. I wanted her to know – and the world to know – that I loved the woman, not her empire. From that day on, everyone in high society knew how desperately, utterly in love Enoch Rhodes was with Jessica Haley. I downed the rest of my glass, the alcohol burning like acid in my throat. I opened my phone and transferred ten thousand dollars directly to Marina. “Take this,” I told her softly. “And don’t come back to places like this.” Before the girl could speak, whispers rippled through our booth. “Look at her face… doesn’t she look a little like Jessica back in college?” “God, he’s still pathetic. He really can’t let Jessica go, can he?” Jessica’s lips twitched with effortless superiority. One of her friends slid onto the booth next to me, rattling a gold keycard between her manicured fingers. “Enoch, Jessica booked the penthouse suite upstairs for you. Panoramic views of the skyline.” She raised her voice deliberately, ensuring the whole lounge could hear. “I bet a thousand he doesn’t have the guts to go up.” “Enoch? Please,” another laughed. “He’s just putting on a show. In twenty minutes, he’ll return the money and beg Jessica to take him home.” Jessica twirled the keycard on the table, looking at me with absolute certainty. I walked over. I reached out and plucked the metal card from right beneath her fingertips. “Thanks,” I said. The edge of the card brushed her skin. Her smile instantly fractured. … In the penthouse suite corridor, Jessica caught up to me. The top buttons of her silk blouse were undone, exposing the faint scar just below her collarbone. Junior year of college. A freak explosion in the chemistry lab. She had thrown herself over me, taking the shrapnel that required seven stitches. I had cried by her bedside all night, while she stroked my hair, laughing softly, telling me it didn’t hurt. I had worshipped that face. I had believed in the girl who defied her family for me, who knelt at my father’s grave and promised to protect me, who drove through a midnight thunderstorm just to bring me fever medicine. Those things I thought were love… turned out to be nothing more than the calculated patience of a hunter breaking in a stray. My eyes stung, but I locked the moisture behind my lashes. Jessica reached a hand toward my cheek, hesitating in mid-air. For a fleeting second, something like guilt flickered in her eyes. “I promised Felix a child,” she said quietly. “I have to give him that closure. Don’t be like this, Enoch. Once the baby is born, everything goes back to normal.” “Back to normal.” Four effortless words to erase three years of marriage. “No,” I whispered, stepping back out of her reach. Jessica stared at me for two long seconds before turning sharply and slamming the door to the adjoining suite. I closed my door, locking the deadbolt. Through the shared wall, the muffled sounds started. The heavy creak of a mattress spring. Jessica’s soft, breathless gasp of pain, cut short into a trembling sigh. Felix’s voice, deliberately heavy with panting: “Just relax for me.” Rhythmic, deliberate thuds against the wall. A performance staged exclusively for my ears. My phone screen lit up. In their private group chat, Jessica’s friends were taking bets. “I bet he’s staring at the wall crying right now. Five minutes before he kicks their door down.” “Enoch is the most jealous man alive. He won’t last thirty minutes.” I used to fight. The first time I caught the scent of another man’s cologne on her blazer, I threw the garment into the fireplace. She told me it was an accidental brush in a crowded elevator. The second time, I put her car in neutral and watched it roll into the lake. After that, she stopped making excuses. She simply started sending wire transfers. A voice memo from Jessica popped into the chat: “I bet he lasts the entire night. If I lose, I’ll deed our lakeside townhouse to whoever wins.” The chat went wild, praising Jessica for tossing an eight-figure property around like pocket change. I stared at the glowing screen, my fingers numb. I had designed every square inch of that townhouse myself. I carried the paint swatches, picked the reclaimed oak flooring, oversaw every contractor. On our wedding night, holding me on the terrace, she had wept and sworn she would never let that home go, even if the Haley empire crumbled. Now, it was just chips on a poker table. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. A direct message popped up from Jessica. Her voice note carried the languid, breathless satisfaction of someone who had just been thoroughly used. “You wouldn’t want to lose our home to them, would you? Just hold out for one night, Enoch. For me. Tomorrow morning, I’ll transfer the deed to your name and double your monthly allowance.” Clear terms. Transparent pricing. She kept her pride, I got the real estate. A textbook win-win. How tragic that after seven years, the only language left between us was a transaction. The bathroom door clicked open. Marina stepped out, drying her hair with a towel, wrapped modestly in an oversized terrycloth robe. … The next morning, I unlocked the suite door. A small crowd of Jessica’s friends was lingering in the hallway, nursing their hangovers. “See? I told you Enoch loves her too much to lose that house.” “He’s all bark and no bite. We called it.” The opposite door creaked open. Jessica walked out in hotel slippers, rubbing her temples. “Keep it down. Felix is still sleeping.” The snickering died down. Jessica pulled an envelope of cash from her purse and extended it toward Marina, who was standing quietly behind me. Marina didn’t reach for it. “Mr. Rhodes already paid me.” Jessica’s hand froze in mid-air. Her bored, haughty expression shattered. “Enoch,” she hissed, each syllable scraping against her teeth. “You didn’t actually…” She trailed off, her eyes rimmed in red, searching my face for a confession, for a lie. Felix stepped out behind her, his silk robe loosely tied, proudly displaying the angry red marks scattered across his collarbone and throat. He blinked sleepily, then offered me a sweet, toxic smile. “Morning, Enoch. You’re still here?” He stretched delicately. “Jessica was so paranoid about me last night. The second I said my throat was dry, she ran out to find bottled spring water. Kept us up so late… You don’t mind, do you?” He rested his hand casually on Jessica’s waist. Habitually, her shoulder dipped toward him. Yet her eyes were pinned to mine. Waiting. Waiting for me to scream. Waiting for me to tear the hallway apart so she could feel the intoxicating reassurance of my desperation. I didn’t give it to her. I let out a soft, mocking chuckle. “Not at all. Please, continue.” I stepped right between them, walking past without pausing. Over my shoulder, I said to Marina, “Give them the bag.” Everyone looked confused as Marina stepped forward and handed Felix a pharmacy bag. Inside was an exhaustive assortment of morning-after pills and emergency contraceptives, every brand and dosage available. The air froze solid. Jessica’s voice crashed behind me like breaking glass: “Enoch Rhodes! Don’t you dare walk away from me!” I kept walking. Look at that. Even the unflappable Jessica Haley loses her composure when met with cold indifference. What on earth had I spent the last three years enduring? My fingers were ice as I pressed the elevator button. To my surprise, footsteps came rushing up behind me. Jessica caught the closing doors with her bare hand. “Enoch, what is wrong with you? Tell me right now what happened in that room last night!” I tilted my head, looking into her frantic eyes. “If I told you nothing happened, would you believe me?” She exhaled a ragged breath, her shoulders sagging in relief. “We can sign the divorce papers today. Everything I promised you will be wired to your account. Don’t take what Felix said to heart – he’s just sensitive and outspoken.” “Sure,” I said quietly. I took the folder from her hands, pulled a pen from my pocket, and signed my name on the dotted line of the dissolution agreement. Seeing how fast I signed, her expression warped into something uneasy. “You don’t have to be dramatic about this. The contract is just to give Felix peace of mind. We’re remarrying in twelve months anyway.” I smiled. I didn’t bother telling her that once I walk away, I never look back. We spoke at the exact same moment: “See you at City Hall in thirty days.” “Come with me to the corporate charity gala tonight.” I didn’t stop moving. “I’m not going.” She pulled a black titanium credit card from her wallet and held it out. “We cannot announce the separation yet. We have a major private equity client attending who values traditional family stability. This card has no spending limit. Buy whatever you want.” She smiled, waiting for my usual sanctimonious outrage. She was waiting for me to turn red, throw the card on the floor, and ask her what she took me for. She was so used to my fragile pride that she thought it was an eternal constant. “Don’t forget,” I said calmly, stepping into the elevator. “Thirty days. City Hall. Even if it’s a show for your little friend, let’s finish the legal paperwork properly.” Jessica’s brows knitted tightly, her face turning stormy. Footsteps echoed down the hall. Felix appeared, wearing my tailored silk dressing gown that had been hanging in our suite. “Enoch, if you’re mad, take it out on me,” Felix whimpered, letting two theatrical tears spill over his cheeks. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have asked Jessica for a baby…” Jessica looked at him, then snapped her gaze back to me. Still waiting. Waiting for me to fight for her. “Whatever works for you two,” I said. “I really don’t care.” The elevator doors slid shut, severing the scorching look in Jessica’s eyes. … At the gala that evening, I played the devoted, polished husband to perfection. The contract was signed. The institutional investors were thrilled. As the crowd dispersed, Jessica visibly relaxed. Her fingers brushed against the side of my neck in a hesitant, testing caress. “Enoch… we don’t actually have to file the final decree next month,” she murmured softly. “Felix said we can raise the child together. He said he doesn’t need the legal title, as long as he gets to be near us and the baby.” “We’ll talk later,” I deflected smoothly. She didn’t want the final decree. But I did. Suddenly, Felix appeared in a tailored tuxedo, followed closely by Marina, who was carrying a tray of champagne in a cater-waiter uniform. “Enoch! Look who I bumped into in the catering kitchen,” Felix announced loudly, drawing immediate attention. “You two must have so much to catch up on after last night.” He put immense, theatrical weight on the words “last night”. The private equity director Jessica had just signed with turned around, his eyes drifting over Felix’s fingers interlaced with Jessica’s, and then to Marina standing beside me. The executive’s smile vanished. “Jessica, on second thought… let’s hold off on finalizing the term sheet.” Jessica’s face drained of color, turning the shade of printer paper. Felix immediately pulled a look of horrified remorse. “Jessica, I’m so sorry… I just wanted Enoch to say hi to his friend. I didn’t think Mr. Crawford would misunderstand.” He paused, adding innocently, “If Enoch hadn’t kept her in his room all night, nobody would think twice.” Jessica’s jaw clamped shut, her knuckles trembling against her clutch. She turned on me, her voice trembling with fury. “Are you happy now, Enoch?” I leaned in, meeting her glare without blinking. “To be completely honest? I really am.” Karma was finally doing its job. “You – ” She stormed off toward the exit, Felix scurrying after her like a lapdog. The remaining guests were staring. I drained my champagne flute and turned to the young woman standing beside me. “Do you like me?” I asked quietly. Marina didn’t flinch. Her dark, almond-shaped eyes met mine dead-on. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but steady: “Yes.” “Thirty days from now. City Hall. Bring your passport and ID.” Her cheeks flushed crimson, but she didn’t look away. There was an uncanny, grounded grace beneath her quiet demeanor. Standing there under the crystal chandeliers, she made my chest ache with an unexpected flutter. … Thirty days passed in the blink of an eye. Outside the county clerk’s office, Jessica signed the final decree. As she set the pen down, her eyes automatically fell to my left hand. My ring finger was completely bare. She stared, horrified. “You swore to me you would never take that band off. Where is it?” “Don’t you remember?” I said mildly. “Felix mentioned he liked the vintage cut, and you made me take it off and give it to him.” Jessica looked like she’d been slapped. “I… I’m sorry, Enoch.” I raised an eyebrow. That was the first time in seven years I had ever heard her apologize. Too bad it didn’t matter anymore. She lunged forward, grabbing my wrists. “Enoch, listen to me. I only intended to sign a separation agreement to calm Felix down. I didn’t think you’d push it all the way to a final decree. Once I deliver the baby, we’ll remarry immediately. You said we never got a proper honeymoon – I’ll book the Amalfi Coast. Anywhere you want.” The desperation in her voice was almost pathetic. What made her so sure I was waiting around to clean up her mess? “Jessica, you – ” Her phone screen lit up with a blaring siren tone. The hospital was calling. Felix had been in a severe car accident; he was in critical condition in the trauma bay. Jessica went pale. She dropped my hand instantly, turning toward the parking lot. “Hold on, Felix! I’m coming!” She sprinted away so fast she didn’t notice the young woman stepping past her on the courthouse steps. Marina walked up to me, holding a small leather folder. “Enoch, is my ID really all I need?” I watched Jessica’s sports car scream out of the lot, then looked down at Marina. “It’s more than enough.” Three days later, I posted a photo of a brand-new marriage certificate to my social media.
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