Twisted Revenge

The year Mark was broke, I dumped him. Years later, successful and wealthy, he manipulated his way into marrying me. Everyone whispered that I was his "one that got away," his cherished wife. But the whispers turned to snickers as he paraded different women through our home every night, shattering my heart and making me the laughingstock of our social circle. I remained stoic, living quietly in the study, never disturbing his "conquests." Frustrated, he'd kiss me forcefully, demanding, "Aren't you jealous?" He didn't know I was dying. Every day, as he enacted his twisted revenge, I silently counted down how many days I had left.

1.

Three years into our marriage, Mark took up with a young, beautiful college student named Chloe. Sweet and innocent-looking, she was exactly his type. He’d kept her around for over six months – longer than any other woman besides me. Friends warned me to be careful; they sensed Mark was developing real feelings for her.

I first met Chloe on my birthday. I'd been having nosebleeds all morning. The doctor’s diagnosis: I had until next spring. I nodded, whispering, "Okay." I wasn't afraid of dying, just the pain. There was a costly medication that could ease my suffering. My bank account was dwindling, so I went to Mark's office.

Chloe, his new secretary, was there. While Mark was in a meeting, I waited. Chloe stared, whispering to her colleagues, "That's his wife? She’s so plain, like she’s already half-dead." Then, louder, "Everyone says I look like her. Where? I’m way prettier."

The glass reflected my image: makeup-free, bundled in a bulky down coat. I wasn't pretty. And I was dying. A colleague pulled Chloe aside. "She’s just not dressed up. With makeup, she’d outshine ten of you. And don’t push her, just because Mark’s infatuated. You have no idea how much he loves her. Mess with her, and he'll destroy you."

2.

Chloe scoffed at the idea of Mark loving me. She brought me tea, her voice sugary. "Mrs. Mitchell, how can Mark leave you waiting like this? It’s so weird. Whenever I came here, no matter how busy he was, he’d always see me first. He said I was the most important.” She smiled sweetly, reminding me of myself years ago. I thought about it. Mark treated Chloe differently. His other affairs were tools to punish me, testing my reaction. He never kept them long, quickly growing bored. But with Chloe, he wined and dined her, showered her with gifts. They were like any ordinary, loving couple. He gave her money, and affection.

Looking at Chloe, I smiled. “If you're so important, why does he keep you as a secret? You should tell him to divorce me and marry you.”

Chloe's face hardened. “The unloved one is the mistress. You're the extra one!” she hissed. “You just got to him a few years earlier. But now you’re old and ugly. What do you have to compete with?” Her colleague, fearing my reaction, pulled her away. But I didn't care. I wouldn't get upset or sad over Mark. I wouldn’t fight another woman for him. He wa...