A Love That Faded Too Soon

On the day I had acute heart failure, the hospital issued several critical condition notices in a row. While I was still conscious, my attending physician told me to call my family and say my last words. On instinct, I dialed Julia Mars, but no one picked up for a long time. It wasn't until later that I found a "private arrangement" contract posted on her alt social media account. The terms spelled out her decade-long friends-with-benefits relationship with her childhood friend, Ken Cohen. Her best friend commented under the post with congratulations: [Not bad, Counselor Mars, finally ready to go public with your little childhood buddy. If your husband finds out, you think he'll have a heart attack from the shock?] Julia replied, completely unfazed: [He won't die. And even if he finds out, so what? The doctors didn't dare tell him that his heart is useless. He needs a transplant. That requires a fortune, and he can't get by without me.] I spent a full week in the ICU clawing my way back from death's door. And in those seven short days, every last bit of love I had for her burned away to nothing. Chapter 1 It had been two weeks since I was discharged. When I got home, Julia Mars was sitting on the couch, and I had no idea how long she'd been waiting. Her face was dark. A half-packed suitcase sat at her feet. When she saw me, her sharp features twisted into a sarcastic smirk. "Finally decided to show up? You've got some nerve, Harry. I'm gone for a few days on a business trip, and you pull a disappearing act. The documents I asked you to prepare—this is how you handle it?" Without a second's hesitation, she grabbed a stack of blank papers off the table and flung them in my face. The sharp edges stung as they scraped across my cheek. I looked calmly at the papers scattered on the floor, but my mind kept flashing back to those comments online. The doctors had told me about my heart—I just didn't want Julia to worry. So I played the fool and kept running myself ragged for her career. Because I loved her, I figured I'd do as much as I could, spend as much time with her as I had left. But reality had played one hell of a joke on me. My voice cracked. I closed my eyes and barely managed to force out a single sentence. "I didn't have time to prepare." After all, just making it back alive was already more than I could ask for. Julia was completely set off by my attitude. She shot up from the couch, knocking her suitcase over in the process. Messy clothes spilled out, mixed with a few contraceptive items. She didn't care whether I saw. Her eyes landed on the medical bag in my hand, and her expression turned impatient. "Running to the hospital for more useless pills again? Are you really that fragile? What else are you good for besides sitting around the house?" The medical bag didn't hold pills. It held the critical condition notices that no one had bothered to sign. From the moment I walked in, Julia hadn't said a single word of concern—only mockery about my illness. Ten years of marriage, and it all felt like a joke. "Julia," I said, my eyes burning, "would it even matter to you if I died?" She froze for a second when our eyes met, a flicker of unease crossing her face. "I didn't—" But before she could finish, her phone rang. The moment Julia saw the caller ID, the tension in her brow eased. I didn't need to guess. It was Ken Cohen. I didn't stick around. I turned and walked back to our room. As I closed the door behind me, I caught fragments of their conversation. "Julia, when are you leaving Harry? He's not going to last much longer. Why drag that dead weight around? Just come with me—" "Not yet. He's still useful." I leaned against the door, staring at the wedding photo on the wall, my eyes stinging. Chapter 2 In the photo, Julia was smiling so brightly. It took me back to the day I proposed to her. She'd cheered with joy, saying she was the happiest girl in the world. Ten years had passed. That happy girl had become a top-tier attorney, a legal powerhouse who'd achieved all her dreams. And I—I'd worn out my heart for her, only to be reduced to dead weight in her eyes. I reached up and took the photo down from the wall. Julia's voice came from behind me. "Why are you taking that down?" I glanced sideways at her, then dropped my gaze. "It's dirty. I don't like looking at it." She gave a dismissive hum, then seemed to remember something. She stepped forward and straightened my collar. "Tomorrow is the firm's IPO celebration. Make sure you look presentable." Julia's law firm was something I'd built from the ground up. With the firm going public, I needed to be there myself. I didn't say yes. But I didn't say no, either. Because I noticed that her wedding ring was gone. In its place, on the faint tan line left behind, someone had left a hickey. As Julia turned to leave, I said, "Julia, let's get a divorce." … I'd expected Julia to explode when I brought up divorce. But by the next morning, she was as composed as ever. "Whatever you said yesterday—I'm pretending I never heard it. We've been married ten years. Nothing's so bad it can't be smoothed over. "Today's a big day for the firm. There'll be heavy hitters at the celebration. Don't go flaking out on me now." Her voice was soft. For once, she was lowering herself to appease me. But I knew better. She was just squeezing the last bit of value out of me. I got into her car, keeping as much distance between us as I could. Julia glanced at me in the rearview mirror, a flicker of impatience in her eyes. "Everyone's going to be there today. Don't start any drama. And I have a surprise for you later." I let out a quiet sigh at her words. My chest ached, and even breathing felt like a struggle. She still thought this was just me being jealous and throwing a tantrum. When we got to the hotel for the celebration, Ken was waiting outside. The moment he saw Julia, his eyes lit up. The way their gazes met was unmistakably intimate. "Took you long enough. I've been waiting forever." Ken took Julia's bag with practiced ease. When he noticed me, he raised an eyebrow, his expression dripping with disdain. I ignored both of them and walked straight inside. The moment I appeared, every pair of eyes in the room turned to me. Just as Julia had said, most of the people here today had come because of me. Before I'd stepped away from the legal world, I'd been the undisputed champion of the bar. Every case I took on, I won. Back then, if anyone needed a defense attorney, I was the first name that came to mind. But I'd given it all up for Julia. I walked away at the peak of my career and vanished from the scene. I was lost in thought when Julia grabbed my arm and pulled me back to the present. I subtly slipped my arm out of hers. Just then, some old law school classmates approached with drinks in hand, their voices full of envy. "Harry, long time no see! You and Julia are still as solid as ever." "No kidding—we were all so jealous back in school. And here you are, years into marriage, still like newlyweds." I listened to their flattery, offered a faint smile, and said nothing. Until someone asked, "But it's been so long—you two still aren't planning to have kids?" Chapter 3 When it came to kids, I knew it had always been a sore spot for Julia. Because of my health, we'd never been able to have children. It was something I'd always felt guilty about. But Julia would just reassure me, saying that as long as I was okay, nothing else mattered. Thinking back on that now, a bitter smile tugged at my lips. I was about to speak when Ken cut in, smoothly sliding between Julia and the crowd of well-wishers. He positioned himself firmly in front of her, shielding her with his body. He flashed a polite smile at the guests and announced, "Sorry, everyone—Julia's pregnant. She can't drink." His gaze flicked casually in my direction, but it hit me like a punch to the chest. My eyes went wide. My pupils shook violently. When Julia met my gaze, a flash of discomfort crossed her face. Then her pleasant voice rang out beside me. "Yes. Two months along." The congratulations that followed cut through me like a blade, each one slicing deeper into my chest. My whole body went cold. The doctors had told me I couldn't handle strenuous activity. That meant Julia and I were never going to have a child together. So this was her big surprise. … Ken ended up taking every drink meant for Julia. People started warming up to him. Little by little, I was forgotten, left to fade into the corner. Once the crowd thinned out, Ken turned to me with open contempt. "Harry, I don't know what Julia has had to put up with being married to you. You're a man—can't you protect her out in the world? "She's pregnant. She can't touch a drop of alcohol. Can you even take a drink for her? You look like you're half-dead as it is—" I let his words wash over me, barely hearing them. My eyes were fixed on Julia—the woman I'd loved for ten years. "The baby is Ken's, isn't it?" I realized my voice was trembling, barely holding together. Julia, already on edge, got defensive at my question. She clicked her tongue in annoyance and pressed herself closer to Ken. "Harry, I just want a child. Is that so wrong? "Ten years of marriage—all I've done is work and drag you from doctor to doctor. And besides, this baby will call you 'Dad.' You'll be his only father. "Why do you have to make such a big deal out of it?" I couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth. Ken, for his part, played the magnanimous one. He placed his hand over Julia's belly. "Whatever Julia decides, I'm behind it a hundred percent. And sure, the child has my blood, but I'm not that petty. I can share. "Harry, Julia hasn't told you yet, has she? She transferred your shares in the firm over to me." That nearly broke me. My heart slammed against my ribs, each breath a stab of pain. I'd poured my soul into building Julia's firm. It was the one thing that had held the ten years of our marriage together. Every day, even when I coughed up blood from exhaustion, I'd pushed forward, dreaming of the day the firm would go public. Julia had promised me that when I got better, I could come back anytime. My place would always be waiting. No one could take it. And now? She'd given my shares to Ken. She was having his baby. I had nothing left. Julia offered no explanation. She just couldn't meet my eyes. "Ken has put in a lot of work too. He's been by my side as my assistant since the early days. He knows the firm inside and out. "Harry, you're running out of time. I can't leave the firm in your hands." With a few casual sentences, she erased ten years of my life's work. I let out a bitter laugh. Chapter 4 Right there in front of everyone, I slapped Julia across the face. She froze, stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. Ken lunged at me and drove his fist into my jaw. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Are you even a man? Hitting a woman?!" I steadied myself, my gaze fixed on Julia—cold, utterly devoid of warmth. "Julia, you disgust me." Under the shocked stares of everyone around, I turned and walked out without a second thought. This place had never been mine to begin with. … After what happened at the celebration, whatever was left between Julia and me was well and truly over. She didn't even bother coming home anymore. I was fine with that. I spent those days in peace, gathering everything I needed for the divorce. Once everything was ready, I went to Julia's firm. The moment I walked in, whispers broke out all around me. Word of our blowup had clearly traveled. Ignoring the stares, I made straight for Julia's office. When I pushed the door open, I saw Ken bent over, pressing his ear to Julia's belly, listening to the baby's heartbeat. Julia's face was soft with tenderness and anticipation for the child she was carrying. The moment she saw me, that warmth vanished, replaced by a rigid frown. "What are you doing here?" I set the divorce papers on her desk and said flatly, "I'm here to end this." Ken's eyes went wide with shock. Julia's brow furrowed even deeper, and she let out an exasperated sigh. "I know you're angry, but I took a slap from you too. Do we really have to keep dragging this out? Didn't the doctors tell you that your— "I transferred the shares to Ken for your own good." I listened to her self-righteous speech with a blank expression. "I don't care who you give the firm to. And I'm not joking about the divorce." Julia's frown tightened. Then she let out a sharp laugh. "I won't agree to a divorce. If you want one so badly, take me to court. But think carefully, Harry. As long as I'm practicing, you won't find a single lawyer in this city who'll take your case. Walk away from me, and you get nothing." After everything I'd seen of her true colors, nothing she said surprised me anymore. I pressed my lips together and let out a quiet laugh. "Julia, you're forgetting something. I'm a lawyer too. I don't need anyone to fight for me. If you want to take this to court, I'm more than happy to oblige." Julia stepped closer, forcing her voice into something softer. "I know you're jealous. But I'm pregnant. Even if the baby isn't yours, we can still raise him together. We've been married ten years. How can you just throw that away?" She was counting on me to be the same man I'd always been—the one who gave everything the moment she lowered herself to ask. But she'd misjudged me. I put some distance between us. My eyes shifted to Ken, standing behind her. "What makes you think I'd raise another man's child? If you want a baby so badly, why not just marry Ken? "Or did your little contract not cover that?" I bit down hard on the word contract. That's when Julia's composure finally cracked. Her eyes blazed with fury as she glared at me. "Harry! What are you going to do without me? Sit around and wait to die?!" But before she could say another word, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. One of her associates burst into the office, clutching a courier envelope. He was flustered, out of breath. "Julia! A court summons just came in—it's about you and Harry's divorce case!"