Finally, he admitted, “Yes, I did have an affair with Madison. But that doesn’t mean I can forgive you, Christine, for lying to me. Why did you pretend to be paralyzed?”
I smiled slightly and replied, “It wasn’t a lie exactly. Do you remember the accident I mentioned? When it happened, this prototype I was working on also got damaged.”
I reached into my bag and pulled out a small mechanical doll.
“This is a project I’ve been working on since I joined my company. It’s a robot, and I had just finished its prototype when the accident happened. The doll’s left side stopped working. In a way, this doll now has hemiplegia, just like I said, and no amount of rehabilitation can fix it.”
Both Logan and Madison were speechless as they looked at the broken doll in my hands.
“I’ll be busy fixing the robot for a while, and I won’t be able to join you for the outdoor activities and festivals you love. That’s why I said we should break up,” I explained calmly.
Logan’s face turned red with anger.
“That’s nonsense. I don’t believe you. You must have been cheating on me in secret and lied about the accident just to get a divorce. You were probably scared of paying compensation if your affair was exposed, isn’t that right?”
I sighed and said, “Yes, I lied about having hemiplegia, but it wasn’t to cover up an affair or avoid paying anything. I knew you wouldn’t agree to divorce otherwise, so I had to find a way to separate from you.”
“Why would I refuse a divorce?” he snapped.
Though his expression told a different story. My words had hit a hidden nerve. His face flushed, and he looked defensive, but he wasn’t convincing.
Without saying another word, I pulled out a folder from my bag.
“Take a look at this,” I said, holding up several documents. “These are our pay slips since we got married. It’s clear from these that you can’t afford to live on your own. Someone in your position wouldn’t agree to a divorce with someone like me, who earns much more, without putting up a fight.”
“Stop it!” Logan shouted, trying to grab the documents from my hands.
But before he could, Madison leaned in, curiosity getting the better of her.
“Wait a minute,” Madison said, grabbing one of the papers.
Her face twisted in confusion as she read.
“What is this, Logan? You always bragged about having a high income and getting big executive bonuses. That’s why we had those fancy dates and nice presents. Was all of that a lie? Were you using Christine’s money all along?”
Logan stammered, “No, it’s not like that. Okay, yes, my salary is low, but together with both of our incomes, it was manageable. Sure, I might have exaggerated a bit, but isn’t that normal? Just a little embellishment.”
Madison interrupted him with a glare.
“A little embellishment? You lied to me about everything. You made me believe you were rich, and now I find out you were living off Christine’s salary? This is unbelievable. Without money, you’re worthless to me. Let’s break up.”
“Wait, Madison, no,” Logan begged.
But she turned away from him. Right in front of me, she dumped him on the spot.
Watching him get rejected so miserably calmed me a little, but it wasn’t enough.
“Well, Logan,” I said firmly, “you lied to both of us, so this is your own fault. But don’t think your punishment ends here.”
“What do you mean, Christine? I’ve already been dumped. I’m your ex-husband. Can’t you show me a little sympathy?” he whined.
Ignoring his complaints, I grabbed Madison, who was trying to storm out, and signaled to the lawyer I had waiting nearby.
“Who’s that?” Logan sneered. “Oh, I get it. You’re having an affair, aren’t you?”
“No, Logan,” I said calmly. “This has nothing to do with an affair. It’s just justice catching up with you.”