Affair

"Prince Edward, the Queen misses you very much. Her health is also beginning to decline. It is time for you to return to the kingdom and become the successor to the throne of Mars."

"I know, Uncle. But it's not time for me to go home yet. I have important things to accomplish here."

"What if the King gets angry and insists on picking you up?" 

"I will return, but not now. Tell Queen Mother to take care of her health. When the time comes, I will definitely return and accept my destiny as the royal successor."

"But, Prince..."

"Uncle, trust me. I promise to return soon. As for Father, I'll talk about it later when the time is right."

The royal envoy nodded slowly, though he still had a worried look on his face. "Yes, Prince. I will convey your message. But please, if you get the chance, come home for a while to see the Queen Mother. She misses you very much."

Edward smiled slightly. "I understand, Uncle. I will consider it. Now I must leave. My wife is waiting at home."

"Yes, Prince. Be careful on the way. And if possible, bring your wife to the palace. All of us in the kingdom would like to meet our future consort."

"As soon as possible, I will bring her to the palace," Edward replied before walking towards his old car.

Edward left the royal envoy behind, spurring his car away from the meeting place. Despite his identity as the youngest prince and war general to lead the Martian army to victory in a major battle two years ago, Edward chose to live a life of simplicity. After the great victory, he decided to leave the palace, determined to live the life of a commoner.

The reason was simple. Edward wanted to find a wife who loved him not for his status or wealth but for who he truly was. Six months had passed since he married the woman he thought was right for him, the woman who accepted him for who he was without knowing who he really was. Their life was filled with happiness. But now, Edward knew that the time was approaching to reveal the truth about who he really was to his wife.

By this time, Edward had arrived at the house he had lived in with his wife for six months. But he didn't see his wife welcoming him home as usual. 

Edward checked his room. He heard his wife's soft laughter and was relieved. However, that relief turned into suspicion when the laughter of a man he knew well was heard from inside the same room.

Edward's whole body stiffened. His hand, which was about to touch the doorknob, was stuck in the air. Something inside him screamed something was wrong, but his mind refused to believe it. Slowly, he heard the conversation from behind the door.

"Honey, why are you still with your useless husband? Didn't you promise to divorce him after I fulfilled your wish?"

"I know... I'll end it soon. It just takes more time."

Their conversation tightened Edward's chest, and his anger slowly burned. His hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, but he forced himself to listen.

"Why don't we tell her about our relationship?"

"That's ridiculous. I don't want to look bad in other people's eyes. Besides, I want to maintain my image in front of society, including in front of that stupid man."

Stupid man. That was how Elizabeth, the woman who was still Edward's wife, viewed him. Every word that came out of her mouth felt like a dagger piercing his chest. Edward felt the heat in his chest, the anger slowly overwhelming him, yet he remained motionless. Every part of him wanted to break through, wanted to stop this charade. However, he forced himself to stay put.

"I heard he's getting promoted. Really?" Elisabeth's voice came back.

The man laughed sarcastically. "That's not possible. She'll remain a lowly employee. I guarantee she'll never get it."

"Really? Then what about Miss Kyla? She seems to be interested in that stupid guy."

"You're jealous?" The man asked in a teasing tone.

"Jealous? Of course not. How could Miss Kyla like a poor young man like him? Miss Kyla is a beautiful and highly educated woman. She must be looking for a man who is her equal."

Elizabeth chuckled before continuing, "After all, Edward is just a child raised by a poor old woman who used to work at a nightspot. It's disgusting how many men enjoy that old woman's body!"

That sentence was the final straw for Edward. Elizabeth's words that demeaned her foster mother, the woman who took care of her like her own biological daughter, made his anger peak. Elizabeth had been treated with so much respect by her foster mother, and now she dared to insult that noble woman? Edward's breath began to catch as anger consumed him.

Unable to contain himself any longer, in a fit of rage, Edward kicked the door with tremendous force. The door opened with a loud bang, startling Elizabeth and Steve, the handsome man standing with the manager of the company Edward worked for. Both men looked surprised, not expecting Edward to appear in this way.

Edward stood in the doorway, staring at them with sharp, hateful eyes. "You really are a disgusting woman, Elizabeth!" he exclaimed in a voice trembling with anger. "How could you do this to me!?"

"Edward? You... are back?" Elizabeth was stunned; her face instantly paled at the sight of her husband standing in the doorway, who she knew was out of town on a business trip.

"Why do you wish I'd never come back so that you'd be free to commit immorality in our home!"

"Edward, watch your language! This is different from what you think. I... I can explain everything!"

"Explain what? What do you want to explain, Elisabeth?! I've heard everything. You don't have to bother explaining anything to me!"

"Edward, please, I..." Elizabeth tried to grab his hand, but Edward immediately pulled away with a hateful look.

"No! There's nothing more you need to explain. That's enough! It's enough that you treat me like this. From now on, I don't want to see you again. We are done. Tomorrow, I will divorce you!" Edward said firmly. Every word that came out of his lips was an absolute decision.

Elizabeth laughed sarcastically at the word "divorce." 

"Divorce? Go ahead, divorce me! Do you think I'm scared? No, not at all. You've seen everything, right? I have nothing more to explain."

She stepped forward with a tone full of contempt, "After all, I did all this because of you!"

Edward looked at him angrily, "Me? Why me?"

"Yes, because of you! Because you are poor! You can't fulfil all my needs!" 

"Not fulfil all your needs? What are you talking about? I've given you all my salary, and now you're saying I'm not providing for you; what kind of nonsense is this?"

"It's not enough! I want more! I'm tired of being embarrassed in front of my friends. I want them to stop looking down on me, and only Steve can give me that," Elizabeth said emphatically, glancing at Steve, who was watching the argument in silence.

Edward smiled sarcastically, trying to hold back the deepening pain. "If that's the only reason you're having an affair, you're really in big trouble, Elizabeth. If only you could have been more patient and restrained, you could have gotten more than what that man gave you. In fact, everything in this country I could give you!"

"Stop talking nonsense, Edward! Who do you think you are? You're just a poor, useless man. You're nothing more than a disgrace to me and my family!" 

Steve, who had been silent, now spoke up, his voice full of disdain, "Edward, you say you want to give everything in this country? How can you give it if you're just a staff with a small salary? So stop talking nonsense."

Edward gave Steve a cold stare. "You don't know anything about me, Steve. So, don't be a smart ass." He then turned back to Elizabeth, "And you, Elizabeth, tomorrow we will meet at the courthouse to finalize our divorce. This is the end of it." 

After saying that, Edward turned around and walked out but was stopped by Elizabeth.

"Wait! Take it back! I don't need this garbage. Let's end our relationship; we're getting a divorce tomorrow!" Elizabeth took off the pendant necklace around her neck and threw it at Edward.

The necklace fell, and Edward immediately stepped on it. "I don't want to touch it anymore." He said coldly.

Steven, who was sitting next to Elizabeth, raised his eyebrows with a satisfied smile. He hugged Elizabeth gently as if showing her.

"I hope you don't regret that decision, Elisabeth."