Love and Betrayal in Ten Years of Marriage

Eleanor was busy scrolling through her phone, not even noticing what happened to me. She casually brought up a topic, chatting aimlessly. "If you find a good one, get a kid's size for Henry. And maybe a blue shirt, little boys look cute in blue." It suddenly hit me that Daniel was wearing a blue shirt the day he cried at my doorstep. "I don't know what size clothes he wears." I could hardly remember the last time I saw Henry, my son. Back then, Eleanor had convinced me to quit my job to take care of the newborn Henry. But her family was worried my 'poor' vibe would rub off on Henry, so as soon as he was a month old, they took him away. I only got to see Henry at family dinners during the holidays. He was my own son, yet I never even got to hold him. Eleanor's tone carried a hint of annoyance. "Forget it. I'll have Daniel pick out something. His taste is way better than yours. It'd be great if Henry turns out like him." Of course, I didn't have Daniel's kind of taste. Daniel was Eleanor's neighbor, young, handsome, and from a wealthy family. He'd just finished university in the US and joined Eleanor's company to kill time. The Powells didn't welcome me, but they welcomed Daniel with open arms. Even in their family photos, it was Daniel holding Henry instead of me, standing by Eleanor. I rubbed my swollen knee. "You're right, so let's just get this divorce over with quickly so I don't mess up your family time." "Are you enough?" Eleanor was furious, slamming her phone down on the coffee table. "I've been good enough to you, don't push your luck. Remember, without me, you're nothing!" She finally said what was really on her mind. For ten years, in Eleanor's eyes, I was the one who had climbed up, leeching off her. But suddenly, I felt a lot lighter. We no longer had to live like we were acting out a script. "You've been good to me..." I said calmly, "When my mom passed away, I called you, but you didn't pick up. You were probably at a concert with Daniel."

It was kind of ironic. My wife was a billionaire, yet my mom died because she couldn't afford surgery. My parents were harsh to my sisters. After my dad passed away, all five of my sisters ran off and cut ties with us. When mom got sick, I was the only one who took care of her. I may have married into wealth and power, but every penny I spent had to be approved in advance. The day my mom suddenly fell ill, I called Eleanor countless times. The only call that went through, I didn't hear Eleanor's voice, just deafening music. She claimed to be too busy with work to visit my dying mom, yet she had time to go to concerts with her young man. After hearing my words, Eleanor's brow furrowed. "Look at you now, just like your mom." She impatiently retreated to the bedroom as if afraid I'd dwell on it. In the past, no matter who was wrong, as long as Eleanor ignored me, I'd make her seafood noodles to apologize. She eating the noodles meant we made up. But this time, when Eleanor returned to the living room, she wouldn't find steaming noodles waiting. There would be just an empty room. The suitcase was right next to me, and I didn't hesitate any longer. Outside the car window, the twinkling lights flew by like my once dazzling youth. Eleanor and I were each other's first loves, from school uniforms to wedding gowns. I once asked Eleanor why she liked me. She said, "Because you're different from everyone else." She was a privileged princess. Everything in the world was within her reach, except for me. After she was held back due to illness, my name always topped hers on the report card. My honors easily overshadowed her brilliance. So Eleanor began to pursue me wildly, even confessing to me publicly at an awards ceremony. When she found out I was from a poor family, she convinced the principal to set up a scholarship just for me. She gradually filled my life. She was bold and flamboyant, yet always respected my dignity. If it had just been that, I could have suppressed my budding feelings with reason. I completely let down my guard the day my parents divorced. My family was large, and we lived hand to mouth. I found a puppy outside and didn't dare bring it home, so Eleanor and I secretly raised it in the woods nearby. But my dad, in a fit of anger, killed the puppy right in front of me. He skinned it and threatened my mom not to divorce him. I cried my heart out, ready to take my dad down with me. Eleanor arrived just in time, leaving a stack of money for my dad. She took me away, saving my future. A man doesn't easily shed tears unless he's in deep pain. That day, I broke down my tough exterior and poured out years of bitterness. I said I'd never raise a dog again. It was a pain I'd never shake off. I vowed to study and work hard, never to live a life where I was manipulated and had no control. Eleanor held my hand, gentle yet firm. "I'll be with you." That was her promise at eighteen, but after so many years, it had expired. Eleanor turned my most shameful past into a joke for Daniel to laugh at. The salvation I thought I had was actually another abyss.

Maybe it was the glare from the streetlights, but everything around me seemed a bit blurry. I closed my eyes, trying to stop thinking, but the past came rushing back like a tidal wave. After that, Eleanor and I became a couple. To gain her family's approval, I gave up my dreams and enrolled in a teaching college. I stubbornly refused any financial help from Eleanor. I supported myself through part-time jobs to prove I had no other intentions towards her. Eleanor also left her luxurious life behind, enduring hardships with me in a cramped rental apartment. When I looked back, those were probably our happiest days - free, busy, and full of hope. And every morning, we woke up to the person we loved beside us... "Hey dude, why are you crying? Did you get in a fight with your wife?" The driver kept glancing back, worried I might do something drastic. "Just the wind." I reached for the medicine box in my bag, only to find it empty. I endured the pain all night and rushed to the hospital early the next morning. While waiting for my turn, I saw Daniel helping Eleanor out of the gynecology department. "Are you following me?" Eleanor's tone was harsh. My gaze flicked over Eleanor's belly. "Congratulations. For the sake of your baby having a noble identity, you better sign those divorce papers soon." Eleanor frowned, but Daniel spoke first. "You've got it wrong. Ella just got her period. Her stomach hurts. You never pay attention to her needs, so I have to take care of her." Eleanor snapped, "Edward, don't go too far." I couldn't be bothered to argue, and just then, the nurse called me in for my appointment. As I was about to leave, Eleanor grabbed my hand. "Psychiatric department? Edward, what kind of stunt are you pulling now?" Daniel chuckled, "Ella, don't you get it? He's jealous because you care about me too much. If I'm not mistaken, he'll claim to have depression." "First, you run away, and then you fake being sick, so what's next? Are you going to threaten suicide?" Eleanor let go of my hand. "You really picked up your mom's knack for making a scene." Look at her, the person I shared a bed with for ten years. The troubles and secrets I confided in her during our intimate moments now turned into daggers she used to stab at my heart.

"He's not feeling well. You should stay with him." Daniel feigned concern. Maybe it was my calmness, or maybe she realized she had gone too far, but Eleanor lowered her voice. "Are you really sick? If so, just stay home. You're a grown man. Don't mind what Daniel said." She constantly reminded me of my age, as if forgetting she was also in her thirties, not getting any younger just because she was with a younger man. I pushed Eleanor away. She seemed a bit worried, wanting to follow and ask what was wrong. However, upon hearing Daniel's 'ouch', she turned back anxiously to tend to him. Since my mom passed away, I've had mild depression. It was not because I was overly sad or attached. I just felt an inexplicable emptiness inside. After getting my medication, the doctor gave me some advice. I realized I needed to cut ties with Eleanor as soon as possible. Leaving the hospital, I went straight to a law firm. Only after entering did I remember this firm belonged to a friend of Eleanor's, and we had dined together. Jennifer Dickens greeted me personally. Upon hearing my intentions, she muttered softly, "You two should have split ages ago." One day, while Jennifer and I were discussing the details of the property division, I suddenly received a call from Eleanor. "Do you even deserve to be a father? Henry's injured, and you don't care at all." Eleanor's cold and resentful tone caught me off guard. I hurriedly stuffed the documents into my bag and drove to Powell Villa. As soon as I arrived at the gate, the butler sprayed disinfectant all over me. Impatiently, I pushed him away. "What happened to Henry?" "Don't you know to change your shoes when you enter? How rude!" Helen Powell, Eleanor's mother, slammed her coffee cup on the table. Daniel held Henry, laughing, "Henry, your dad is a rude person, don't learn from him." I ignored their taunts and rushed to check on Henry. As soon as I reached out, Henry pushed me away. He hid behind Daniel, looking at me with disdain. "Low class, so dirty!" I suppressed the shock and sorrow in my heart, but my eyes couldn't help but redden.