The Other Woman Was Me - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

To my complete shock, Oscar actually called the cops.
Before I knew it, Felix and his entire entourage were being hauled away in police cars.
When the station called asking me to come get him, I didn't budge. Instead, I gave them his parents' contact information. So there they were—Felix's mom and dad rushing to the precinct in the middle of the night to bail out their precious son.
By the time he stumbled back home, I was already zipping up my suitcase.
The moment he saw me actually leaving, real panic set in. His voice cracked as he begged, "Baby, I swear I've learned my lesson. I'll cut way back on hanging with those guys. Don't stay mad at me, please? I know you're pissed about the money I spent on Debra—you can take full control of all my accounts. And hey, remember how you've always wanted to visit the Arctic? Let's go together—just you and me."
This was new. The old Felix would've dug his heels in during arguments, never backing down. Now here he was making grand promises, even dangling our Arctic trip like some kind of Hail Mary pass.
He knew exactly why that destination mattered to me.
My parents had died there during a research expedition. The Arctic held this twisted duality for me—part magnetic pull, part paralyzing fear.
Years ago, Felix had made this big romantic vow that during our seventh year of marriage, he'd be my rock as we faced that frozen graveyard together. It wasn't just about the location—it was his promise to stand by me through the emotional storm.
I exhaled slowly. "Felix... I already went last year."
His face went sheet-white. "Sweetheart, give me one more chance! We'll go again—I'll make it right!"
As I studied his panicked expression, an odd calm settled over me. He remembered the trip, but had completely forgotten the meaning behind it—that it was supposed to be our antidote to the "seven-year itch," proof our love could endure.
"Felix," I said quietly, "we both know some things can't be undone."
He wasn't ready to accept reality.
His jaw clenched. "This is about that guy, isn't it? Debra and I have been tight for years and you never threatened divorce! But the second Oscar waltzes in—"
"Stop," I cut him off. "I'm leaving because I'm tired of the lies. Oscar and I are just friends."
Felix's eyes turned feral. "Bullshit! There's no such thing as 'just friends' between men and women! I'm a guy—I know how we think!"
A bitter laugh escaped me. "So you do understand."
All this time I'd thought he was clueless. Turns out he'd been playing dumb while fully aware of his own hypocrisy.
Now the mask was off. "It's different for men! I'm just trying to protect you from being used!"
Disgust rolled through me. "Let me guess—the same way you've been 'protecting' Debra through your little friendship?"
Even flushed with shame, he doubled down. "It was just jokes! I never slept with her, I swear!"
The unspoken admission hung in the air—everything but sex was fair game.
"Tell me, Felix—does betrayal come with tiered pricing in your world?"
Done arguing, I pulled up my phone and forwarded him the chat logs Debra had sent me.
Watching his face as he opened them was almost poetic.
There it all was—the dirty pictures, the explicit messages:
[Felix, my boobs have been so sore lately... any suggestions?]
[Let me give them a massage—might help them grow bigger too ;)]
[Then I should return the favor... wouldn't want certain other parts to feel left out! Hey Felix, what positions do guys really like?]
Then Debra's follow-up with a photo: [Like your birthday gift? I've been wearing it all day.]
His reply: [Hell yes.]
The timestamp? Midnight on our anniversary—right after our fight about the lingerie.
"Sign the papers, Felix. At least leave with some dignity."
I wheeled my suitcase toward the door. As it clicked shut behind me, I heard the heavy thud of him collapsing to the floor.
If he regretted it so much... why had he—