HIS LOSS. HER REVENGE

Maya set the last candle on the table and took a step back. The table was set for two—white plates, silver cutlery, and a tiny cake with 5 Years written in chocolate icing.

She smiled faintly, maybe tonight would fix things.

Noah had been distant for months. Late nights, short tempers and excuses. Still, she kept telling herself it was just a phase that love could find its way back if she held on long enough.

She checked the time. 9:30 pm

He was over an hour late.

Her phone buzzed. Relief washed over her until she saw the name.

Vanessa.

It wasn't a message for her. It was a notification from Noah’s phone. He'd left his iPad synced to her account. She shouldn't have opened it but her fingers moved before her mind could stop them.

Vanessa; l'm so happy, baby. The scan says it’s a boy! Our first anniversary and now our little Prince….I can’t wait for you to be a dad.

The air left her lungs.

Her husband.

Another woman.

And they are expecting a baby.

Maya stood frozen for a full minute, the phone shaking in her hand. The screen blurred as tears filled her eyes

The front door clicked open

Noah walked in, loosening his tie. “Hey” he muttered, dropping his keys on the table “you are still up?”

She turned to face him "Who's Vanessa?"

His head jerked up “what?”

She held up the iPad "Don't lie to me Noah, she’s pregnant with your child”

Noah’s jaw tightened. He looked away. "You shouldn't be snooping through my messages”

"That's what you're worried about?" Her voice trembled "Not that I found out you have been cheating on me?"

He sighed, rubbing his face "Maya, I'm tired, okay? I don't want to do this right now"

"Tired?" She took a step closer "You're tired of me?"

He finally met her eyes, something cold in his. "Yes, I am"

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

"I can't keep doing this with you," he continued, his tone sharp now "We've been stuck in the same place for years,

Maya. No kids, no spark, nothing to show for this marriage and you just keep smiling like everything's perfect. You pretend it doesn't bother you, like it doesn't even matter to you”

"Noah...." Her voice broke "You think I didn't try? I wanted a family too…”

"Well, Vanessa didn't seem to have a problem giving me one” he said, the words slicing through her like a knife.

A heavy silence settled into the room

She took a shaky breath. "You don't mean that."

He turned away, unbuttoning his cuffs "I do. I want a divorce, Maya”

The ground tilted beneath her feet. She reached for him instinctively "Noah, please don’t say that. I know you don’t mean it. You are just angry right?”

He looked at her hand on his sleeve, then shrugged it off

Before she could say anything, a knock came at the door.

Noah turned and opened the door

It was a lady, dressed in a fitted red coat, makeup flawless, hand resting delicately on her slightly rounded belly.

“Noah” the lady said softly, eyes flicking toward maya “Oh…I didn’t realize your wife was still home”

“And who are you?” Maya said, stepping toward them.

The lady gave a small, mocking smile, she stretched out her hand “I’m Venessa. And I’m carrying your husband’s child. Nice to meet you, maya”

Noah froze “Venessa…”

Disbelief flashed in Maya’s eyes “you shameless whore” she yelled, pointing a shaking finger at Venessa

“How dare you show up here?”

Venessa scoffed then pulled out a brown envelope from her bag “well, Noah here deserves to see the ultrasound result of his child. Right” she said, passing the envelope to Noah

Which he took, then Venessa slowly wrapped her arms around him

Maya’s fist clenched tightly by her side, how could Noah do this to her, how could he let another woman cling to him.

With a sudden burst of anger, she reached out, trying to push Vanessa's hand away from Noah’s arm, but it was barely a touch.

Still, Vanessa gasped dramatically and stumbled backward, dropping to her knees with a cry.

Maya blinked, and was stunned. She hadn’t even touched her. “What…what are you doing?”

"Noah, the baby…" she whimpered

That was all it took.

Noah’s eyes widened. "What the hell, Maya!"

"I didn't hurt her!" Maya said quickly, panicked. "She…she fell on purpose!"

Vanessa groaned again, pretending to be in pain.

"Noah, please, it hurts…"

Noah turned on Maya, eyes blazing.

"Get out. Now!"

"Noah…"

"I said get out!" His voice thundered through the room. "I am done with this misery we call a marriage”

Maya shook her head, crying. “Don’t do this to me, Noah” she said, trying to hold his hand

But he grabbed her hand tightly, anger twisting his face as he dragged her out of the house.

The rain poured heavily, soaking her within seconds.He shoved her, and without balance, Maya fell hard onto the wet ground.

As he turned to walk away, she reached for him, clutching his leg, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Don’t leave me Noah, please. I’m begging you” she pleaded

"Don't come back, Maya," he said coldly. "I will send you the divorce papers"

He jerked his leg free and walked back into the house. She didn't follow him…she just knelt there, shivering under the rain.

Moments later, Noah returned, a

suitcase in one hand and Vanessa right behind him.

He threw the luggage down beside her without a word. With one last glance, he turned away, sliding his arm around Vanessa's waist as they disappeared inside. The door shut behind them.

Maya stared at the closed door, her tears mixing with the rain.

A sudden realization sank in.

She used to believe love was worth fighting for. But tonight, she finally understood—she had been the only one fighting.