He Swore He Hated Seafood, So Why Did His Lips Taste Like Oysters? - Chapter 93: Chapter 93

Collecting evidence of Ryan's affair was ridiculously easy.
The day the court issued the subpoena, I found Ryan waiting outside my apartment.
I was a bit surprised, considering everyone in our social circle knew he was drowning in problems lately.
Not only had his company's reputation taken a massive hit with several deals falling through, but he was also dealing with the threat of asset division from my side.
Thompson Industries was running dangerously low on cash.
His face was bruised—clearly he'd been in a fight.
I remembered a friend mentioning that Maria's husband had somehow gotten wind of the situation a few days ago, rushed back from out of state, and caused a huge scene at Ryan's place.
That's probably where the bruises came from.
Ryan talking to me with half his face swollen was almost comical.
"Elena, do we really have to take this all the way to court?"
"I can explain everything. Maria... she's had a hard life, and since I grew up without a mother, I felt drawn to her maternal side. I made a mistake one night when I was drunk."
"After that, I did a lot of soul-searching and never planned to contact her again, but fate had other plans—"
I waved my hand to cut him off.
"Finding someone who can be both your mother figure and your wife is pretty rare, I get it."
"But adultery during marriage is a fact. No matter how pitiful you are, it doesn't change how despicable the truth is."
He suddenly got emotional, like he was about to cry.
"Elena, you grew up with privileged—loving parents, doting grandparents. You can't understand the pain of someone like me. I fought tooth and nail to get where I am today."
"I admit I made mistakes, but I don't deserve to lose everything! Do you know what I'll face if we divorce? Everything I've worked so hard to build will crumble!"
Looking at his red-rimmed eyes and the resentment burning beneath them, I realized for the first time just how utterly selfish this man was.
"So what, I'm supposed to sacrifice my entire happiness for your career? I'm supposed to put up with you sleeping with trash like her? Even have children for you?"
"Ryan, where do you get the confidence to think you got where you are purely through your own efforts?"
"All the connections the Harrison family quietly made for you, all the networking I carefully arranged, my substantial dowry—was all of that for nothing?!"
His lips moved, and after a long pause, his voice came out hoarse.
"We can't go back, can we?"
Looking at his disheveled appearance, I suddenly noticed his shirt was wrinkled—something the usually pristine Ryan would never allow.
I'd once learned all sorts of skills that wealthy wives didn't really need, just hoping to become part of the perfect family he envisioned.
If he truly loved me, how could he bear to let me suffer even a little?
I never lacked money or love—looking back, I guess I was just too damn naive.
My parents' attempts to interfere in this relationship hit me like a bullet to the forehead at that moment.
But at least I still had a chance to turn back.
"No, we can't."
As I turned to leave, I thought I heard faint crying behind me.
I didn't stop walking.