Who Is His True Love

My husband, Ivan Sanders, found out that his first love, Brenda Waters, had gotten divorced. That very night, I asked for a divorce. Ivan smiled. "Are you sure? I'll call my secretary and have him cancel the custom dress from Butterfly." I blinked. Um... on second thought, maybe I should think it over a little longer. Chapter 1 I was quite surprised, to be honest. Brenda Waters had come back earlier than expected. I was wearing a face mask and soaking in a milk bath when I saw a post from one of Ivan Sanders' friends on social media. In the photo, Ivan stood close to a graceful woman. I could tell from the look in their eyes that they were both overjoyed. I had only gotten to marry him because Brenda had left in the first place. Even though I had known from the start that our marriage would not last, I had gone into it without hesitation. Ivan was rich, after all. Problems money could solve were much easier than matters of the heart. For the past two years, our marriage had been all physical and no love. Still, being with him had its advantages and was quite enjoyable. He was well-endowed, great in bed, handsome, and quite generous with his money, too. Overall, he was a pretty good husband. I had just stepped out of the tub when I heard a car screech to a stop outside. Ivan was home, no doubt in a hurry to divorce me. Ivan was good at everything, and apparently, that included cheating without disappointing either woman. He loosened his tie, slipped his arms around my waist, and pressed a firm kiss to my shoulder. He then asked, "Milk?" I was ticklish, so I instinctively leaned away. The scent of another woman's perfume lingered on him. I cursed my overly sensitive nose. He had just come back from a date with another woman, yet here he was, trying to charm me. He really did have remarkable stamina. "Why did you call?" He looked into me, his eyes filled with burning passion. I quickly pulled my robe closed. Why would I call him for no reason? I had meant to call his secretary. "I just missed my husband," I said sweetly, every word a lie. "Ellena, you've never been a good liar." He looked at me with a faint smile. He was right. For the past two years, I had asked Ivan directly for whatever I wanted. He gave me everything except love. "I just wanted to know when the gown you promised me from Butterfly would arrive." His secretary had handled the order, so who else was I supposed to ask? Ivan narrowed his eyes, looking at me thoughtfully. "Do you need it soon?" Brenda was back, so... I forced down the rest. Forget it. I might as well be direct. "When you've decided how you want to settle things between us, have your secretary call me," I said, leaning against his chest. "What do you mean?" He frowned. I blinked. Love really did make men stupid. Where had all his usual intelligence gone? How could he miss something this obvious? "I should pack." I was done playing along. He was so childish. I turned to leave, but he caught my wrist and pulled me into his arms. Before I could react, his lips crashed against mine. His movements were far rougher than usual as he stripped away my clothes. I knew he was angry, probably because I had seen through him. Who would have guessed that a man who usually seemed to care so little could be such a hypocrite? I turned my face away. Ivan had always been used to getting his way, and he couldn't stand losing, not even once. He seemed intent on teaching me a lesson. When I woke the next morning, everything hurt, just as I had expected, and I could barely lift my arms. I tried to slip out of bed, but a large hand pressed me back down. "You're going to be late for work," I whispered. He simply pulled me into his arms and buried his face against my neck. The position felt almost intimate. So intimate it was laughable. Our relationship was limited to physical pleasure. Anything beyond that was a luxury I could not afford. "I'm not going. I'm taking the day off." He did not even open his eyes as he said those words lazily. So it really was because of Brenda. He wouldn't even take a single day off for our wedding anniversary, yet now that Brenda was back after her divorce, he was already neglecting work to be with her. Chapter 2 It was noon by the time we woke up. Ivan carried me into the bathroom to shower, but we ended up fooling around in the bathtub for a long time instead. I slumped against him, completely drained. His stamina was incredible. He seemed even more energetic than when we first got married. That evening, he took me out to dinner. My legs nearly gave out when I stepped out of the car, but he caught me just in time. Ivan smiled, no longer able to hide the amusement in his eyes. He had invited five close friends to the dinner, though I had only met them once or twice. During our two years of marriage, Ivan and I had spent most of our time in bed, with the occasional trip. Then, what was this supposed to be? I understood him less and less by the minute. However, Brenda arrived less than fifteen minutes later. She was even prettier than in the photo, with a fresh glow around her. Not that I felt inferior. I was beautiful, too. Ivan had said so the night before. But… Was this some kind of ceremony to replace the old wife with the new one? I had not realized Ivan cared so much about formalities. It almost felt like an official handoff. "Brenda, you're staying for good this time, right?" One of his friends asked intentionally. It was quite obvious that that jab was meant for me. I sat calmly beside Ivan and bit into the steak he held to my lips. I was not trying to put on a show. It was his fault I did not have enough strength left to cut my steak. Brenda looked at me, emotions stirring in her clear eyes. She then asked with a smile, "I'm staying. I want to find a place and settle down. Can anyone recommend a good place for me?" "Doesn't Ivan have an empty house in Southton?" The same friend asked, bringing Ivan into the conversation. Ivan cut another piece of steak as he said, "My wife manages all my properties. I wouldn't know." I blinked. Everyone immediately turned and looked at me. He was certainly good at shirking responsibilities. I understood him less than ever now, though. Was he publicly backing me, or was he trying to make me step aside on my own? He fed me another piece of steak, and I bit down harder than necessary, shredding it. No other woman had any business moving into one of our homes. But... I glanced at Ivan as he cut another piece of steak carefully, looking like a truly devoted husband. The harder he acted, the more stubborn I became. I looked at the friend who had started the conversation and suggested the house. Then, I said calmly, "Sure. It's empty, anyway. Someone might as well live there." My casual answer stunned the table, and the friend choked on his drink. Ivan's hands, which were holding his fork and knife, stopped midway through cutting the steak. Even Brenda stared at me. Was that really necessary? I rolled my eyes but said nothing. They had probably begun plotting my replacement the moment Brenda returned. Their acting was so awful that even my nephew in kindergarten could have done a better job. I had thought my generosity would give the hypocrites an easy way out, but Ivan stuffed a piece of steak into my mouth before I could continue. "Keep looking, Brenda. My wife and I used to live in that house. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to move in there." Before I could finish chewing, he stuffed another piece into my mouth. Ivan, you petty man. If you wanted me to give up my place, then let me. Are you trying to choke me instead? Once the others realized the subject was going nowhere, they moved on to some other topic. The rest of the dinner was just boring chit-chat, and I could not be bothered to listen, so I escaped to the restroom for some peace. Warm water ran over my hands as I stared at the beautiful face in the mirror's reflection, full of confusion. I had met Brenda, and Ivan and I had already slept together for the last time. This was my cue to exit. The stage had been set for a showdown between the first love and the wife. I had delivered my lines exactly as expected, yet Ivan had suddenly refused to play his part. What was he planning? Everything made less sense by the minute, and even I was getting confused. When I returned to my seat, I realized Brenda was gone. As for Ivan's friends, they had arrived eager for a show earlier, but none of them dared meet my eyes now. Chapter 3 My mind was filled with questions, and I had no appetite at all. Unfortunately, Ivan kept playing the role of the devoted husband, serving me food and handing me napkins as if nothing had happened. If we're going to separate, then just get it over with! I had countless things I wanted to say, but all I could do was seethe in silence. - Night had fallen by the time the confusing dinner finally ended. Before we reached the car, I lost patience and grabbed the sleeve of Ivan's tailored suit. "Ivan, don't you have anything to say to me?" He was forced to stop and turned to look at me. He considered the question sincerely before finally giving me his answer. "There's nothing I want to say, but there's plenty I want to do." He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He caught my wrist and pulled me toward him. Before I could react, I was back in the car with him. Fifteen minutes later, we were home. Less than two minutes later, everything felt wonderful once more. "See, Ellena? I always do what I say." Ivan emphasized the word "do". There was nothing else I could say. But please. Please stop talking. - I stretched and finally woke up the next afternoon. As I lay in my whirlpool tub, which had cost me around sixty-nine thousand dollars, I reconsidered everything between Ivan and me. Through the tall windows, I could see the roses outside and the city beyond the river. This house had once been an inn by the beach and was connected to the city by a bridge. Ivan knew I loved the quiet view, so he bought the place and converted it into a private home for me. His company was in the city, but he crossed the bridge every day because he wanted to live here with me. Before long, his wealthy friends began buying oceanfront homes on this side of the bridge as well. Once they moved in, property values soared. More people followed, and restaurants and convenience stores opened around them. Just like that, the city gained a new commercial district. The entire thing was ridiculous. Only then did I finally understand how wise my mother's words had been. Ever since I was young, she had always warned me to think carefully before marrying a poor man. "A rich ex-husband is more useful than a poor husband." My mother had suffered for love, so she wanted me to become a logical woman who put herself first. The winter Ivan and I got together, my mother, who had always been so strong, passed away. It was because of Ivan's financial support that she was able to live out her final days in peace and comfort. From that perspective, Ivan treated me well. That was why Brenda's return did not bother me all that much. Still, judging by Ivan's behavior the night before, he did not seem eager for me to step aside. With his wealth and influence, he could easily have one woman on each arm. But… It was unfortunate. No matter how comfortable the whirlpool tub was, it could never bring back a heart that had already wandered away. After thinking it over, I still wanted a divorce. I could not sleep beside a man whose heart belonged to someone else. After my bath, I went through my Facebook contacts. Brenda was indeed charming. Ivan was not the only man who wanted her. I quickly found another man who was still quietly devoted to her. From his posts, I found out exactly where Brenda was. There was also another familiar figure with her, along with the beautiful backdrop. Sure enough, that dinner had only been an excuse so that he could be with her. I put on my sunglasses, picked a fast sports car, and left. The restaurant was famous, and it sat just across the bridge, impossible to miss. While I was stuck in traffic on the bridge, a sales associate called me. "Ms. Lane, your gown has arrived. Would you like it delivered, or would you prefer to pick it up?" What perfect timing! I cared far more about the gown I had waited almost a year to receive, compared to Ivan, whose heart I could never have. I had ordered it a year earlier, but due to the customs delays, its arrival had been pushed back by almost eight months. I had been keeping a close eye on the updates over the past few days, waiting for this very call. Chapter 4 Wonderful. My dress and I really were meant for each other. The time had come to say goodbye, and the gown would give me one last grand entrance. Everything was falling into place. Once I caught Ivan cheating in public, I could make a scene and have every reason to demand a divorce. Ivan cared deeply about his reputation. As long as I did not ask for too much, he would certainly agree. Ha! I was even impressed by my own intelligence. - Soft piano music filled the restaurant as couples entered one after another, and I slipped in with them. "Good evening. Do you have a reservation?" A waiter asked. Ivan owned shares in the restaurant and had told me I could charge meals to his account. Even after the restaurant earned a place in the Michelin Guide, I had never come here alone. We had been married for two years, but I still felt awkward telling people I was Ivan's wife. "I don't have a reservation. Give me any table by the window." I was a woman on a mission, so I tried my best to look natural. I had studied the photo from the Facebook post. Ivan had been sitting in the window section. Sure enough, I spotted them nearby. I watched Ivan and Brenda closely with my eagle eyes, scanning their interaction. They were not holding hands. They were not wearing matching clothes. They were not gazing into each other's eyes. They were not even talking! Ivan was staring at his phone while Brenda carefully replied to a message from her devoted admirer. I had come all this way, and this was all they had to show me? No! The dress had already arrived, and there was no reason to wait any longer. It was at this time that Brenda's admirer stood up and left while Brenda called Ivan's name. Then, Ivan handed her something. Their hands had barely touched before I rushed in, seized the moment, and blew everything wildly out of proportion. I recited every tired line from a telenovela. Then, before anyone could react, tears were already streaming down my face. "Ivan, have you been sneaking out to meet her every day? I'm so disappointed with you! I want a divorce!" My voice drew the attention of the other diners, who turned and stared. Brenda looked deeply embarrassed, but before she could explain, Ivan pulled his hand away. Then, he caught my wrist and dragged me outside. "Don't pull me. I can walk by myself..." I took whatever time I had left and continued with my outdated telenovela performance without pause. Ivan had an access card, and he used it to open a private elevator, pulling me inside. The moment the elevator doors closed, I stopped crying. "Keep going. Why did you stop?" Ivan asked as he stepped closer, unfazed by how abruptly my tears had vanished. "I know everything now. I want a divorce, and I have nothing else to say." "Did your cards stop working, or have you finally had enough of my body?" I blinked. This shameless piece of… He spoke so bluntly, too. Was he not concerned that the security cameras would record all of this? "Stop talking nonsense. I don't want anything that belongs to you. All we need is to sign the papers." Even if I had only been his second choice, I had made full use of his resources. I had opened my own dance studio, and it was doing quite well. Ivan had given me plenty over the years. Even without the luxurious house by the beach, I would still have somewhere to live. "Are you sure?" He asked. I nodded. I already had everything I wanted. "Ellena, you must really hate me..." The usually arrogant man stepped back and put some distance between us. He leaned against the opposite wall, lowered his head, and murmured, "Do you hate me enough to give up your tailored gown just to divorce me?" "What are you talking about? The gown has already arrived," I blinked. The moment I argued back, the man standing in the shadows could not help but snicker. Ah, crap. It was a trap!