Chapter 3: The Confrontation

June

“Lucas,” I began, my voice trembling despite my efforts to steady it. “We need to talk.”

Lucas was at his desk, his back to me, focused intently on a stack of papers. My heart pounded, my anxiety threatening to overwhelm me. I had reached my breaking point, and I knew I couldn’t wait any longer.

His shoulders stiffened, but he didn’t turn around. Instead, he continued shuffling through the papers with deliberate movements, as if trying to avoid the confrontation. “June, I’m busy right now. Can this wait until later?”

“No, it can’t,” I replied firmly, my voice gaining strength. “This can’t wait any longer. I’m tired of feeling like an afterthought in your life.”

Finally, Lucas leaned forward in his chair, his dark curly hair catching the light as he met my gaze. His water-coloured eyes were cool, almost detached, and I felt a pang of frustration at his lack of visible concern. “What’s this about? I thought we resolved our issues.”

“Resolved?” My frustration boiled over. “Is that what you call it? You’ve been distant, Lucas. You barely acknowledge me at events, and when you do, it’s always overshadowed by Kyra. You didn't even remember my birthday, you had to tell your secretary to inform me about extending your business trip. Is that how you treat someone?” Fighting back the tears, “I feel like I’m invisible.”

His expression hardened. “Kyra is my childhood friend and business partner. She’s important to me, and you should understand that. I’ve tried to balance everything, but it’s not easy.”

“Balance?” I said, disbelief rising in my voice. “You’ve completely neglected me. At the charity gala, it was like I didn’t even exist. I watched you fawn over Kyra, and I felt like a ghost in my own marriage.”

His face reddened slightly, but his tone remained clipped. “I wasn’t fawning over her. We were discussing important business matters that she can relate to. You can't have such conversations.”

I took a deep breath, trying to control my rising anger. “Lucas, you don't even involve me in your life enough to know about these business conversations. You have completely shunned me out.” I paused, catching my breath. “In fact, I don’t care about the business discussions. I care about us. I care about feeling like we’re a team, not just an afterthought in your busy life.”

He rubbed his temples, a sign of frustration or perhaps guilt, though his eyes remained unyielding. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but you have to understand the pressure I’m under. I’m trying my best.”

“I know your work is important, my work is also important but I'm still making time for us.” I said, tears welling in my eyes. “You've totally made it clear that your business comes before our marriage. I’ve tried to be understanding, but this has gone too far.”

His jaw clenched. “So what do you want from me, June? A grand gesture?! An apology?!”

I shook my head, my voice trembling. “I want you to understand the damage you’ve done. I want you to acknowledge that this isn’t just about business; it’s about our relationship. And right now, I’m not sure we have one worth saving.”

Lucas looked away, his gaze shifting to the papers on his desk as if searching for answers there. “You’re being unreasonable. I’m doing the best I can, and if that’s not enough for you, then I don’t know what else I can do.”

My heart ached with a mixture of sadness and anger. I had hoped for a breakthrough, for some sign of remorse or understanding, but instead, I felt like I was talking to a wall. “I don’t want to be unreasonable. I just want to be heard. But it feels like you’re not even willing to listen.”

There was a strained silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I couldn't even bring myself to tell him all that Kyra had said yesterday. I knew there was more to the story but he had completely warded off anything that had concerned me from the way he spoke to me. I left the office feeling empty, my resolve strengthened but my heart heavy. As I walked out of the building, the weight of our argument settled heavily on my shoulders.

*

Back at work, things felt surreal. I tried to focus on my patients, but my mind kept drifting back to the chaos of the night before. Every time I thought about Kyra approaching me at the bar, being in my home, smug and confident, my stomach twisted into knots. It felt like a nightmare coming to play before my very eyes. My marriage was falling apart.

But I pushed through the day, determined to not let it break me. I’d barely made it through half my shift when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, expecting to see some meaningless notification, but what I saw instead froze the blood in my veins.

Photos of Lucas. With Kyra.

The first picture was of them kissing, her arms wrapped around his neck, his hand on the small of her back. The others were just as intimate—laughing together, holding hands, walking side by side like they were already a couple.

My hands shook, and I could barely breathe. I wanted to scream, to throw my phone across the room, but all I could do was stare at the images, my heart shattering with every new slide. How long had this been going on? How many times had Lucas lied to me, looked me in the eyes and told me he loved me, while he was with her? I shooky head, telling myself not to jump into conclusions. Then the signs were there and I just couldn't ignore it. It tore my heart to pieces, seeing them like that. Everything we've shared turned to ashes in my hands and it seems there was no way of removing it.

I felt the weight of betrayal crush me, and I couldn’t keep the tears from spilling over. I quickly wiped them away, but the ache was too deep, too raw to ignore.

“June?” Marissa’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I hadn’t even noticed her standing there. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I tried to smile, but it felt like my face was breaking in two. “I’m fine. I just… I need a minute.”

She gave me a sympathetic look, but thankfully, she didn’t pressure me to speak. I made my way down the hall, trying to pull myself together, but it felt impossible. Everything felt impossible.

*

I threw up as soon as I got home.

Few minutes later, the doorbell rang, interrupting my thoughts. My heart sank as I opened the door to find Khloe standing there, concern etched on her face.

“Hey, June,” she said softly, stepping inside. “I was worried about you. How’s everything?”

I forced a smile, though it felt strained. “It’s been a rough day. Lucas and I had a big argument. He’s been so distant lately.”

Khloe’s eyes narrowed with concern. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Kyra. Ever since you saw her at the bar, then I knew something was wrong.”

“What's going on?”

I know she told you that she has been in your home but that isn't the first time. I thought you knew all along, She has been over here a lot lately.”

My breath caught in my throat. “That was my fear.” I sighed, not knowing what to say. I saw photos of them both. It was an anonymous message. I confronted Lucas about her stance in our marriage, didn't give him the details though but he brushed me off.”

Khloe’s face darkened. “June, I don’t want to add to your stress, but Kyra’s is determined to ruin your marriage and she can't be doing this alone.”

Sinking in my own fears I didn't know what to do.

Khloe placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You need to stay strong. And if you need anything, I’m here for you.”

I nodded, grateful for Khloe’s support but overwhelmed by the mounting pressure. “Thank you. I just… I don’t know how much more I can take.”

As Khloe left, I sank into the sofa, feeling more alone than ever. The thought of Kyra’s manipulative schemes and Lucas’s indifference weighed heavily on me. The final straw came when I found myself alone, staring at the evidence of Lucas’s betrayal. I felt a profound sense of loss.

The following day, my emotions were a mess. Lucas had been away since the confrontation and he had refused to tell me where he had been. I knew the obvious answer but I couldn't help but think he was with Kyra after the photos I had seen of them.

That night, I went home after work, surprised to see he was home. I was determined to talk to Lucas. To fight for my marriage, for the life I thought we had. But when I walked through the door, I was met with cold indifference. He gave me a cold shoulder like I had already disappeared.

Lucas was there, sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone like nothing had happened. Like the pictures didn’t exist, like Kyra wasn’t slowly taking over my entire life.

“I saw the photos,” I said, my voice trembling.

He didn’t even look at me. “It’s not what you think.”

“Not what I think?” I could hear the anger rising in my voice. “Lucas, you were kissing her! You were with her—”

“I don't know why you have an issue with her but she’s pregnant, June,” he cut me off, his voice flat, emotionless. “I don’t need you stressing her out. It’s bad for the baby.”

I stared at him, my heart breaking all over again. “She’s pregnant?”

He nodded, finally looking up at me with a cold gaze. “Yeah. So don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

Something inside me snapped. “I want a divorce.”

For the first time in months, I saw a flicker of emotion on his face—surprise, maybe even anger—but I didn’t care anymore. I couldn’t keep doing this. I couldn’t keep pretending like everything was okay.

I took off my wedding ring and threw it at him. “I’m done, Lucas.