My wife's golden boy's sterility report got leaked on the university's anonymous confession page. To protect his dignity, my wife teamed up with a doctor to forge evidence that I was the one sleeping around and became sterile. She made everyone think that report was mine. People assumed I was living some depraved double life, betraying the professor they all respected. They flooded the forum with hate, demanding I leave the school. I confronted her, desperate. Why would she do this? She just rubbed her temples, looking bored. "Julian is just a kid. He can't handle the rumors. You're a grown man, Ethan. Why are you competing with him?" I stared at her in disbelief. All those sweet nothings, all those late-night promises. Now they were just knives, twisting in my chest. I smiled bitterly. I decided to let myself off the hook. --- When I told her I wanted a divorce, my wife didn't even look up from proofreading Julian's thesis. "What are you throwing a fit about now? Is this because I gave your lab data to Julian?" I didn't answer. Claire shifted into a more comfortable position. "Or is it because I told everyone that sterility report on the confession page was yours?" She sighed, like she was disappointed in me. "Ethan, you're already married. Some trashy rumor won't hurt you. But Julian's different. He's still a student. The gossip could destroy him. Don't be childish." "How is he supposed to live with himself? You want him to lose all his dignity?!" My fingers were cold. I forced myself to stay calm. "Just sign the papers." The door to the Dean's office swung open. Julian walked in with a bright smile that instantly turned nervous when he saw me. "Oh, Professor. I didn't know you'd be here. I came to ask Claire a few questions." I laughed coldly. I'd clearly seen him holding two movie tickets when he walked in. "No problem. Your precious Claire just needs to sign one thing, then I'll be out of your way. Otherwise, I'm stuck here." Claire's face darkened. But she glanced at Julian's expectant expression, then gritted her teeth and signed the divorce papers. "You'd better not regret this." Walking out of the Dean's office, I couldn't help but laugh. Thirty years as childhood sweethearts. Seven years of marriage. Finally over. I called the number I'd had pinned at the top of my contacts. The voice on the other end was clear and bright, just like always. "You're really coming? Ha! You finally came to your senses." "I still need to wait thirty days for the divorce to be finalized." "No problem. As long as you're willing to come, we'll always welcome you!" Just thinking about thirty days until total freedom, I couldn't stop smiling.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd smiled like this. It felt like it had been so long since anyone cared about me. I'd been depressed for too long. I made myself an elaborate dinner that night. Poured a glass of wine. Celebrated my new beginning. My phone buzzed with a message. "I'm coming home tonight. Have my bath ready." Claire loved her aromatherapy soaks. I'd gotten the bath blend custom-made by a holistic practitioner I knew. Calming, soothing. She always slept like a baby after. She just hadn't come home to sleep in a very long time. Before I could block her, another message came through. "Something came up. Lab work. I'll come home in a few days." I laughed coldly as I deleted and blocked her number. Lab work, my ass. Same old excuse. Sure enough, the latest post on social media was from Julian—a candlelit dinner at a five-star hotel. Caption: "Not just dinner together. Breakfast too." Before bed, I got a message from an unknown number. "Still sulking? Fine. Next month on our anniversary, I'll spend it with you." I stared at the message, stunned. Then it hit me. Claire and I hadn't celebrated our anniversary in years. What the hell was this supposed to mean? She was cheating on me, sleeping with her student, and she expected me to be grateful? I blocked every new number she used to contact me. Slept like a rock. I swear my years of depression just evaporated overnight. The next day, Claire looked like she had dark circles under her eyes. The moment Claire saw me, she looked irritated. "Ethan, why did you block me? You're not answering my messages." I looked at her, amused. "Professor Davis, our research project ended a while ago. You removed my name from the authorship and replaced it with Julian's. We won't be collaborating again. I don't see why I can't block you." Claire sighed, putting on that signature look of disappointment. "It's just a byline, Ethan. You're a senior professor. You already have academic standing. What's wrong with letting a young person take credit?" I stared at her, speechless. She acted like it was no big deal. Why didn't she give her own byline to Julian, then? But I'd already lost interest in arguing with her. "That's academic misconduct. I'm being generous by not reporting you. Professionally, we have no reason to stay in touch. Personally, we're divorced. Either way, I don't need your contact info. Please stop harassing me." Claire hadn't expected me to talk to her like that. She was silent for a few seconds. Then she smiled. "Ethan, you've gotten clever. Playing hard to get now, huh?" I rolled my eyes and turned to leave. But Claire grabbed my arm.
"Next month, our anniversary. I'll take you to that diner you love. You always liked their burgers, right?" "Can I get extra cheese?" I asked deliberately. She frowned. "Extra cheese? You didn't used to be so high-maintenance." I thought about the photo Julian had posted last night—dinner at a five-star hotel, probably cost over ten grand. She could drop that kind of money on him without blinking. But for our once-in-several-years anniversary, she'd take me to some greasy spoon where a meal cost less than five bucks. She wouldn't even spring for extra cheese. I smiled bitterly. Didn't say another word. That night, I went home and told my parents I was getting divorced. My father's brow furrowed. He spoke coolly. "Claire Davis is nothing. If you hadn't insisted I introduce her to people in the academic circle, you think she'd be where she is now?" My mother's eyes turned red. "Sweetheart, if you're unhappy, we'll get her removed from her position." I shook my head. "Forget it. Let's just part ways peacefully." I made my parents a pot of coffee. The scent of the coffee calmed my nerves a little. The next day in class, I was at the front of the lecture hall analyzing a case study. Whispers broke out among the students. College students were always distracted. I didn't think much of it and kept teaching. Suddenly, someone shouted. "Professor Reid, is it true you and Professor Davis are getting divorced?" "Did Professor Davis leave you because you're sterile? Can't satisfy her anymore?" "You've been married seven years and still no kids. Is it because you sleep around too much and got some kind of disease? Is that a medical condition?" I forced myself to stay calm. Managed a smile. "We're parting on good terms." "He's lying!" Julian stood up, looking smug. "Professor Davis already told me. Professor Reid was unfaithful. Lost his ability to have kids. That's why she's divorcing him." I couldn't believe he had the audacity to provoke me like this. I'd had enough. "You have the nerve to say that? That sterility report was clearly—" SLAP. The entire classroom went silent. My face snapped to the side. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. I looked up at the person who'd hit me. Claire. I hadn't even noticed her come in. She looked at me pleadingly. "Ethan, if you make a mistake, you admit it. That's what a teacher does!" Before I could respond, she dismissed the entire class. Once we were alone, she looked at me with fake concern and reached for my swollen cheek. I jerked away from her hand, ice-cold. She spoke quickly. "Ethan, you know I'm up for tenure review. I can't have any scandals. If people find out you're the one who asked for the divorce, I won't be able to explain." "The whole sterility thing happened so long ago. Why bring it up again? You can't be that cruel, ruining Julian's life." I was shaking. "What about me? My reputation and dignity don't matter?"
Watch? https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619T87HfEtgaG ? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "Novelix" app ? search for "ni849706", and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix