I stared at him, trying to comprehend his words.
He was trying to fit another woman into our lives, like it was no big deal. And he wanted me to appreciate his honesty? Really, Jack?
Meanwhile, Claire stood behind him, trying to avoid my gaze. I could tell she wanted to be anywhere but there.
While I stood there, Jack kept talking about how it was the ‘best solution’ for everyone. And then an evil idea popped into my head.
I folded my arms and waited for him to finish. When he finally stopped talking, I smiled sweetly.
‘Okay,’ I said. ‘You can have a second wife. But I’ll make one rule.’
His face lit up. ‘Of course! Anything you want! What’s the rule?’
‘She can’t go near my second husband,’ I announced. ‘Deal?’
Jack stared at me as if I’d just said the most extraordinary thing he’d ever heard.
‘S-second husband?’ – He stammered. ‘What does that mean?’
‘If you’re allowed to have a second spouse, why shouldn’t I? Think about it, Jack. Two incomes. Someone to take me out when you’re busy or don’t want to. A man who actually buys me flowers. That’s fair, isn’t it?’
‘So… it doesn’t work that way!’ – he muttered. ‘You’re ridiculous, Amelia!’
‘Oh, I’m the ridiculous one?’ I replied, raising an eyebrow. ‘You come in here with a stranger and expect me to welcome her with open arms, but the idea that I have the same freedom is absurd? Interesting logic, Jack.’
Claire froze, her gaze darting between us as if she’d accidentally wandered into the wrong room. If she’d been nervous before, now she looked like she was seconds away from popping out the door.
Jack’s face flushed as he tried to justify his idea.
‘That’s a different matter,’ he said. ‘A man having two wives…in some cultures that’s acceptable. But for a woman to have two husbands? No one’s ever heard of such a thing.’
I snorted. ‘Oh, so you’re a cultural expert now? Funny, I don’t remember you suddenly accepting any other traditions. Why only THIS SPECIFIC tradition?’
‘Amelia, be serious,’ he said, his voice rising. ‘You can’t have a second husband. It doesn’t work that way!’
‘Well, Jack, if you want to live ‘traditionally’ then I guess I’ll accept some of my traditions,’ I said with a shrug. ‘But let me be clear. You can’t have a second wife until I have a second husband. That’s my rule. Accept it or not.’
He stared at me wide-eyed. I knew he wanted to shout at me, but even he realised that he was the one being unreasonable.
Then, without another word, he turned to Claire. ‘Go on home. We’ll deal with this later.’
Claire didn’t argue. She grabbed her purse and practically ran out the door without even saying goodbye to the man she thought would marry her.
That night, Jack tried his best to convince me that I was being unreasonable. ‘You don’t mean it,’ he said, strutting around the living room. ‘You’re just trying to prove a point. Let’s talk about this like adults.’
‘We will,’ I said coldly. ‘I’ve made my position clear. If you want Claire, I want another husband. Fair enough, Jack.’
By morning, his mood had changed. He walked into the kitchen with a downcast look.
‘I’ve been thinking,’ he said embarrassed. ‘Maybe this whole thing with the second wife wasn’t such a good idea.’
‘Maybe?’ I replied, raising an eyebrow.
‘Great. It was a terrible idea. Let’s just forget it even happened, okay?’
Forget about it? Haha! Nice try, Jack.
‘It’s too late to forget everything,’ I told him. ‘I created a profile on a dating app last night and I’ve already received dozens of messages from men who seem far more interested in becoming my second husband than I would have guessed.’
‘What do you mean?’ – He asked in a trembling voice.
‘I’m done, Jack. It’s over,’ I said.
The next day, I packed my things and moved into my friend’s house.
Jack kept calling me, but I didn’t answer. He even sent messages begging me for forgiveness.
Soon I filed for divorce, and from what I heard, even Claire stopped returning Jack’s calls.
I guess he should have thought twice before suggesting such a ‘practical’ solution.