STEP ASIDE EX- HUSBAND: The rise of Liana

ad burned with care, the silverware laid out on th

ng down the minutes, or rather not, but praying under my breath we'd finall

en it had felt like magic. The sort of love you read about in books. And so when my marriage had lost its heat

s demure, but I had never been the flashy sort, never hungry for attention. He had like

had grown accustomed to his lateness, his apologies. Sometimes work, sometimes an unexpected meeting, sometimes just... nothing. But tonight

he door cr

hest, a fleeting burst

ooner had Dominic entered the

kind that sets your head aflame and makes you suspicious. She had legs that seemed to stretch on into infinity, lips glossed a deep red to match

was not a friend. She was not an acquaintance. No, she was s

nd easy. The coldness I was accustomed to. No remorse. No remors

moment, as if introducing her was as mundane as ordering din

fully trimmed, the silverware laid out on the table,

at least pretending not to, I had praying under my breath that we'd finally make it togeth

store. I was bent between the rows of shelves, reaching for a book that I could not fi

ike magic then, the sort you read of in those same books. And so, even when the storms came when passio

es. He was a stranger sleeping beside me, a man I no longer knew. He was emotionally unavailable, cruel sometimes, and unapo

eeper than any physical blow ever could. I was his mental punching ba

g he'd come back to the husband I wedde

en the divorce through from my own end but still, still som

rsary gave us a perfect opportunity. I was more than

always loved that I wasn't flashy, that I didn't compete for atten

now. But he never was punctual these days, and his rea

he door cr

hest, a flash of hope.

ic entered the room tha

sn't

ead aflame and makes you suspicious. She had legs that seemed to stretch on into infinity, lips glossed a deep red to match her dress,

ing I had to know. She wasn't a friend. She wasn't some co-wo

t me. His face was blank, co

moment, as if introducing her was as mundane as ordering din

she was too confident, too comfortable in his world. She had a right to be. Sh

oment, my fingers curled into the edge of the dinner plate. I cou

dare

for him. I had worn makeup and dressed up for hi

s self discipline? The anger surged through me wa

d to wail. But above all, I

s tough, that I never let things get the better of me, bu

ot now. Not in front of an outsid

lm voice. I was proud of myself that I hadn't l

Dominic. I didn't want to see the smug expression on his face, or the way he seemed to pretend that noth

f this were a night out with friends, as if noth

ed everything I'd ever thought in my life. He spoke of the

seeing her for a lon

hoed like knives

ence crushing me like an unbearable weight. Dominic and Bella's laughter, their voice

m days ago but I had restrained myself. I had vowed to myself that I would wait, wait f

ched in my hand, standi

ivorce papers in my hand nicely folded in the envelope.

e table. I didn't wan

tootin' sure the words hit. I watched his face intently. He didn't get it initially. He

first. Then angry. As if I was disturbing

but this wasn't the time to cry, not

as

s my last act of