Chapter 5

Silent on the other end of the line.

“Why are you bringing up something that happened thirty-five years ago? What’s in it for you? Whether it’s true or not, what difference does it make? You’ve lived a good life with me, have you not?”

During that brief pause, I heard Richard breath coming in short, rapid gasps—no doubt from anger.

“Margaux has already taken this matter to the police. If you don’t want to get charged and end up in jail, you can try to fight it.” Now his tone dropped, sounding threatening.

“But I’ll tell you one thing. You’re nothing more than a housewife now, while Margaux is a dance professor, and I’ll be on her side. She and I have connections you can’t possibly match. If this goes to court, you won’t stand a chance.”

The call ended.

I stood frozen in the courthouse courtyard. The sun’s heat burned my skin, but inside I felt only cold. He wanted me to apologize for something I didn’t do.

That would never happen.

When I got home, I found my stuff dumped outside, the door lock had changed, too.

I knew this was Richard forcing me to back down. He was counting on how much this family meant to me.

But this time, I refused to lower my head and give in like I always had. Without a word, I pulled my suitcase along and left the apartment complex.

My phone buzzed. I looked down and saw a news alert.

‘Dance Professor Margaux Clarke Targeted by Malicious Defamation; Longtime Friend Richard Sinclair and His Children Publicly Show Their Support.’

I opened it.

A video appeared on the screen.

Richard stood with a solemn expression, our son and daughter behind him, along with our grandson. The whole family stood together in a neat row.

Richard’s expression turned solemn as he addressed the camera.

“Regarding the false claims circulating online about Ms. Clarke, my patient, I’d like to make an official statement. As her treating physician and a longtime friend, I feel responsible for clearing the air. These malicious slanders are nothing other than my wife’s doing.”

Our son then stepped forward.

“My mother has always resented Ms. Clarke for taking her place in the national competition thirty years ago. But the truth is, she simply wasn’t as talented as Ms. Clarke, which is why she had to give up her chance. Ever since then, she’s held a grudge against her.”

“As her children, this whole situation pains us, but we can’t go against our conscience and cover up for her,” he said, his voice heavy with sorrow.

Richard nodded in agreement before continuing

“My wife hasn’t been in a great mental state for the last few years. I’ve tried to have patience and understanding with her, but it doesn’t seem to have yielded any positive results.”

He paused briefly before adding, his expression grave, “She’s spent most of her life being a housewife. I believe it narrowed down her perspective. Whenever she sees Margaux and me conducting perfectly normal psychological therapy sessions, she assumes there’s something improper between us. That’s how things have spiraled to this point.”

I stared at the family I’d spent more than thirty years with, and all I could feel was how tragic my life had become. To them, I was nothing but a narrow-minded housewife who knew only how to get jealous and hurt others.

Compared to Margaux, who stood at the center of the screen as both a victim and a respected dance professor, I was portrayed as someone beneath her in every way.

At that moment, the last tiny piece of hope I’d held on to for this family shattered.

I opened my contacts and called a junior from my old dance school, Caroline Watson.

She also studied law.

She’d shown up to almost every one of my dance competitions back when I was still competing, to cheer me on. We’d grown close over time.

Even now, we occasionally caught up during the holidays, chatting about how things had been going.

“Hi, Anna,” she answered on the first ring.

“I read the news. I’m sorry this is happening to you, but don’t worry. I don’t believe any of it. If you need anything, just let me know. I’m here to help.” A hint of worry in her voice.

Before I knew it, tears had welled up in my eyes.

I was deeply moved. Someone I rarely saw still trusted me without question, while my own child, whom I’d raised with my own hands, and the husband I’d devoted decades of my life to had chosen to believe someone else instead.

“That’s why I called, honestly,” I said. “I need help with some legal paperwork. I want to divorce my husband, Richard. We’ve been married for thirty-five years, but he’s been cheating on me for thirty-three of them. I want him left with nothing, and I want to sue every party who had a hand in this matter.”

“Of course, Anna,” Caroline replied without hesitation. “I’ll send you a flight ticket so we can go through the details in person.”

Caroline wasted no second. I had the flight ticked ready by afternoon. I soon hailed a taxi and headed to the airport.

As I boarded the plane and watched the city gradually shrink in size, I felt nothing but relief.

I never got the marriage that was promised to me, the one I’d been waiting for thirty-five years. And throughout that time, I lost the life that should have been mine.

Today, I’m taking my life back.