She Abandoned Me After Surgery to Please Another Man

I had just undergone stomach cancer surgery and survived daily immunotherapy.

Then I saw it on social mediamy wife had transferred our house to her old friend.

She said he was just a single father and told me to be more understanding.

But to accompany him on a test drive of his new luxury car,

She not only forgot my birthday,

she also left me alone at the hospital on a rainy night.

That was the day I stopped waiting for her to turn back

and contacted a divorce lawyer instead.

My wife Skylar Anderson's "old friend," Caleb Thompson, posted a photo of a deed on Instagram. The caption read, "Huge thanks to my big sister for signing this house over to me." I looked at the address on the deed, stunned; it was our home. I commented with a single question mark, ?

Moments later, Skylar called, snapping at me, "He's a single dad, drowning in bills and trying to keep a roof over his daughter's head in a good school district. It doesnt affect where we live." Her tone was all reproach. "Can't you show a little compassion?"

From the other end, I could even hear Calebs mumbled complaints.

A half hour later, Caleb posted again, tagging me to make sure Id see it. This time, it was a brand-new, fully paid-for Mercedes-Benz. The caption: "As the saying goes, where a womans money goes, so does her love." I knew it was Skylars gift to pacify him.

But this time, Id made up my mindI was going to file for divorce.

When Skylar got home, I swallowed my daily dose of immunotherapy meds, washing it down with a piece of birthday cake. This was the medication I needed after surgery for stomach cancer. Id bought the cake in advance, hoping to surprise her and share the news about my surgery while shed been away on business. Id been waiting since morning, but she wasnt picking up, not even responding to my messages. It was only when I commented on Calebs post about the deed that she immediately called backangry and accusatory.

Before I could even get a word in, shed hung up and blocked me. My wound reopened from the stress.

She barely glanced at the cake or the medication on the table, wrinkling her nose. "Whose birthday is it? Yours?"

In silence, I put the meds away and tossed the cake in the trash. "Not mineit's for a friend."

A flicker of relief crossed her face. "Good, I thought it was the 28th. Todays only the 8th." Five years married, and she got my birthday wrong every single year. The funny thing? She remembered someone elses perfectly.

She sat down beside me and handed me a toy car. "Caleb asked me to give this to you. He was pretty shaken by your passive-aggressive attitude. You should apologize."

The little car was a Mercedes-Benz keychain, probably one of the trinkets they throw in when you buy the carsmudged with oil, no less.

"No thanks," I said flatly.

Skylars expression turned sour. "Whats with the attitude? He even offered you a peace gesture. Cant you show a bit of grace and apologize?"

When I didnt respond, Skylar grabbed my arm, pulling me up with such force that my injured leg struck the coffee table. It was the same leg that had been burned last week by scalding hot porridge shed accidentally spilled when texting Caleb.

Seeing blood seep from the wound again, she looked worried. "Let me take you to the hospital."

I didnt refuse. "Fine."

As soon as we were in the car, her Bluetooth connected, and Calebs voice filled the silence, playful and warm. "Welcome back, big sister! Keep making money for me to spend, okay?"

Skylars face tightened. "Its just something he left in my car last time. Ill get rid of it."

"Dont bother," I muttered.

Silence filled the car, and she looked at me, surprised. "Youre not angry?"

I pressed my lips together. Caleb used to matter to me. But now? I could hardly even care about Skylar, much less her pet.

"Just drive," I said quietly. "Its late."

The hospital was only a half-mile away, just a straight drive and a U-turn. But Skylars phone rang, and I heard Caleb on the line, asking her to take him for a ride in the new Mercedes.

"Somethings come up with Caleb," she said, pulling over. "You can just walk the last fifty yards, right?"

She was practically itching to go.

"I cant walk," I said, holding her gaze.

Her expression turned frosty. "Are you serious? Youre a grown man, not an invalid!"

She opened the door and practically pushed me out, saying to call her once Id taken care of my bandages. Her tires splashed filthy water over my leg as she sped off. Rain started to fall, soaking through my bandages. I took a few steps before pain shot through my abdomen, and I collapsed on the crosswalk, unable to move.

I barely avoided getting hit, thanks to the hospitals security guard, who rushed over and helped me in.

Back home, barely settled, Skylar stormed in, furious. "I told you to call me once youd changed the bandages! I waited at the hospital for an hour, but your phone was off!"

I stared at her.

Id spent two hours on an IV and eventually had to call a cab when I couldnt take the pain any longer. My phone had only just died, but clearly, shed never been at the hospital.

Once, shed cared so much. When had she turned so cold?

"You blocked me, Skylar," I said. "I couldnt call you even if Id wanted to."

Her face softened slightly, and she pulled out a takeout container. "I figured youd be hungry. Brought you some porridge."

I looked at the bowl. It was plain, just a sprinkle of scallionsno meat, no eggs, as if it were someones leftovers.

An hour ago, Calebs Instagram Story had shown Skylar cooking in the kitchen. "Who says good women dont exist? She not only took me for a midnight ride in her new Mercedes, but when I got hungry, she whipped me up some porridge, too."

I stirred the bowl, feeling a wave of nausea. "I dont want it."

Skylars expression turned dark. "Whats wrong with you? I brought this for you, and youre throwing a tantrum?"

"So what if I signed the house over to Caleb? You still get to live here. All he did was say thank you. And you embarrassed us both by commenting. Have I even gotten mad about that?"

With fresh stitches in my stomach and an injured leg, I barely had the strength to speak. "I was just shocked it was our address on his post"

But Skylar cut me off. "Shocked? Calebs rightyoure just that kind of person. Always quick to anger, no empathy, no tolerance. Anytime I speak to a man, you get all paranoid. Youre the one with issues!"

In the past, I wouldve tried to reason with her. But this time, I just stared, letting her rant until she was breathless. When she was done, I said, "You finished? Mind turning off the light?"

She shot me a cold glare before slamming the door.

After she left, I slept soundly for the first time in a long time.

The next day, I contacted a friend for a divorce lawyer. Shed been gone for three days since that argument, but when I saw a new photo Samantha posted from their beach trip, there was Skylar in matching clothes with Caleb, beaming by his side.

I liked the photo without a second thought.

Skylar called back immediately. "Ill pick you up later. My friends are meeting us at the beach."

She paused, adding, "I wasnt planning on inviting you. Consider it a reward for good behavior."

"Sure," I replied, hiding the ongoing divorce process.

When Skylar arrived, it surprised me that Caleb wasnt in the car, too.

At the beach, Samantha greeted me with an apology. "I planned that meet-up last timeI shouldve given you a heads up. Ill make up for it later."

I forced a smile. "Been swamped with work."

"Word is, youre planning to open a branch in Aspen Ridge. Congratulations!" Samantha said, laying it on thick.

I nodded. "Its still in the works. Not sure if itll pan out."

Skylar walked over, face taut. "Youre moving to Aspen Ridge? Since when? Did I say you could go?"

I met her furious gaze, unflinching.

She continued to rant while Samantha tried to smooth things over, ushering us toward the cookout. As we sat by the grill, Skylar whispered, almost nervous, "Caleb and I agreed. After his daughter finishes elementary school, hell sign the house back over. Dont get so worked upits my property. I didnt even have to explain."

"Alright," I said, nodding calmly.

As I replied, I noticed a familiar figure approaching. A young woman with them shouted, "Caleb! Skylars over here!"

Everyone froze.

Samantha kicked the girl, cursing her for being so tactless.

I stood and excused myself, heading toward the restroom to gather my composure. When I returned, they were playing games by the fire.

Caleb and Skylar sat close, laughing. I found a spot farther away, watching quietly.

"Alright, truth or dare!" Samantha suggested, trying to revive the mood.

Skylar won the first round, and Caleb chose truth.

"Whats made you happiest recently?" Skylar asked, giving him a pass.

Caleb smiled, staring meaningfully at her. "I met an incredible woman who gave me a house and a car. She even took me on a midnight ride in her new Mercedes."

He glanced at me with a triumphant smirk.

Everyone knew the house and car were Skylars doing, but theyd kept quiet out of politeness. But here, laid bare, the tension was thick.

Samantha cleared her throat. "Alright, round two! Lets see what weve got next."

This time, Caleb chose me. "Truth," I said.

Caleb stepped up with a grin. "How about a dare, Nathan?"

I shook my head. "Truth."

He looked put out, his gaze drifting to Skylar. "Didnt Skylar say youre an amazing swimmer? Why not show us?"

I refused, "Im not feeling well."

Caleb glanced at Skylar with a hurt look, and she pressed, "Its your specialty! Why not just swim a lap? It wont kill you."

Ignoring my protests, they pulled me to the waters edge, taunting me with every step. My abdomen throbbed from recent surgery, but they kept pushing.

Finally, Skylar shoved me into the freezing water. I coughed as salt stung my throat and lungs, waves crashing over my head. I barely surfaced, gasping for air.

As I struggled to shore, Skylar smiled at Caleb, whispering assurances. Then, she turned to me with a sneer. "Apologize to Caleb and take a drinkor else."

I looked at her, heart pounding with exhaustion and anger. "Skylar, Ive already contacted my lawyer. Were getting divorced."

She stared at me, eyes wide with shock.

I stumbled back to the road. Before I could make it across, everything went black. I heard someone yell, "Hes bleedingcall an ambulance!"

I dont know how much time passed before I regained consciousness, but the first thing I heard was Lucas Mitchells furious voice by my bedside. "Skylar, are you out of your mind? Forcing him to swim? He just had surgery to remove a stomach tumor! You didnt know that?"

"He he just had surgery? Why didnt he tell me?" Skylars voice sounded shocked, laced with a pang of regret.

Lucas was fuming. "Are you blind? Havent you noticed how pale hes been? Or have your eyes been glued to Caleb the whole time?"

If it werent for the hospital setting, I could imagine Lucas slapping her right then. "I I really didnt know"

He scoffed. "Oh, but you knew about signing the house over to that wannabe hero and buying him a car, didnt you? You think its a mystery why hes so drained? Its because you stressed him out so much his stitches tore open!"

"I"

"Enough. Just seeing you is annoying. Leave."

As the room fell silent again, I opened my eyes slowly. Lucas sat next to me, eyebrows furrowed with worry. "You awake? Are you in any pain?"

I managed a weak smile. "You know everything, dont you?"

Lucas sighed, looking disappointed. "Didnt I tell you from the start not to marry her? Now look where its gotten you. Too little, too late."

Thinking back, I felt a pang of regret myself. If I hadnt been so infatuated, my parents would have never allowed this marriage, despite Skylars familys wealth.

I remembered overhearing Skylars mother in the restroom during a family dinner before the wedding. She was on the phone, saying, "Oh, the wedding costs? Sure, theyre being reasonable. But her fiancs family... let's just say their contribution isnt quite what we hoped. Well match their energy, thats all."

That night, I couldnt help but tell Skylar what her mother had said. It wasnt about the money; it was the contempt in her mothers voice. Skylar promised to talk to her mother and settle the matter, but it was never mentioned again.

Three years into our marriage, Skylar drunkenly confessed, "Of course I knew about scaling back the contribution. My mom asked me first. Nathan, youre just so gullibleno wonder they say devoted men are the easiest to fool."

Seeing her in that cold light now, I realized how shallow she truly was.

At some point, Skylar walked back into the hospital room, staring at me with a hint of sorrow. "Im sorry, I didnt know youd just had surgery"

I looked at her, a chill running through me, and interrupted her coldly, "I know you like Caleb. Lets just get divorced so you can be with him. I wish you two all the best."

"I dont want a divorce!" Skylars voice rose, and she stammered, "He and I theres nothing going on. I married you because I wanted to be with you, not him."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Really? Skylar, youre the one who said that night youd be with Caleb if you could. You even said you regretted accepting my proposal and would marry him if we divorced."

That night, Skylar had come home drunk, with Caleb practically carrying her in. Id been sleeping in the guest room, but I heard everything clearly. Skylar clung to Calebs waist, whispering, "I regret it How did I let myself say yes to him?"

Caleb glanced towards the guest room, smirking as he replied, "And if you got divorced? Who would you marry then?"

"You, of course. If I got divorced, Id marry you in a heartbeat. Stay with me tonight, please?"

That night, Caleb left, disgusted by the mess Skylar had made all over herself.

Now, looking back, I knew that the fact I hadnt burst into the room to fight him meant Id already lost hope in Skylar. The time we spent together after that was just a process of slowly letting go.

Lucas finally managed to get Skylar to leave the room. But soon after, my phone buzzed nonstop as Skylar pulled me off her blocklist.

Message after message appeared on my screen: "I asked around, and chicken soup is good for recovery. Ill make some for you later." "You shouldnt eat cold stuff; I ordered some supplements for you." "I know I messed up. Can we just start over?"

I set her messages to Do Not Disturb and asked the nurse to transfer me to a VIP suite, making it clear I didnt want any visitors.

When Skylar called to say she wanted to see me, I finally answered, irritation evident in my tone. "Skylar, I dont want to see you right now. Lets finalize the divorce after Ive recovered, okay?"

There was silence on the other end before she responded softly, "Ill just look at you from afar; I wont bother you." I ended the call and turned off my phone.

Three days later, as I was discharged, Skylar was already waiting at the hospital entrance, a smile lighting up her face. "Leaving already? Let me take you home."

I didnt argue, climbing into her car. As soon as she started the engine, the Bluetooth connected, and Calebs voice filled the car. "Welcome back, big sister! Keep working hard and making that money for me!"