It wasn’t until three days after I was hospitalized that Tyler finally arrived from his film set.
The severe burns I suffered left permanent damage, including to my uterus. Tyler stayed to take care of me for a week before returning to his production schedule.
Overwhelmed with guilt, Rachel moved back to her rural hometown.
For the next two years, every time I gently hinted at trying for another child, Tyler brushed me off, claiming he was too tired.
I knew the truth.
He was repulsed by the scars on my stomach. So, he found comfort with other women.
Tyler’s earlier words played in my mind. His denial of me as his wife felt like a sharp bone lodged in my throat.
Before I realized it, tears silently spilled from the corners of my eyes.
Just then, my phone buzzed with a text.
It was from Tyler.
[I couldn’t find you, so I left first.
[I’ve got a surprise waiting at home. Don’t be mad, okay?
[Oh, and Mom says she misses us. Let’s visit her when we get the chance.]
A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. Wiping away my tears, I straightened myself and stepped out.
I’d tried confronting Tyler about his affairs before, catching him red-handed, yelling, and crying. However, it never worked. He kept doing what he wanted, refusing to divorce me.
Even my parents sided with him, insisting that a man’s infidelity was normal.
With pressure coming from all sides, I eventually gave up.
Today, though, Tyler had crossed a line.
I called my lawyer to discuss filing for divorce, forwarding all the evidence I’d gathered of his infidelity.
This time, the proof was undeniable. The lawyer agreed to take the case immediately.
However, he reminded me about the mandatory ten-day cooling-off period which I could reconsider about divorcing.
