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Semua Bab Five Years and Countless Loyalty Tests Later: Bab 1 - Bab 10

10 Bab

Chapter 1

When I saw the message, I didn't feel any anger or betrayal. All I felt was exhaustion.Five years of marriage. I'd lost count of how many times this had happened.Her so-called "tests" were just extreme games designed to break me down, so she could stand on moral high ground and lecture me afterward. And every time, I was left to piece my broken heart back together alone, while she proudly bragged about how well she had trained me.This time, I didn't react. I calmly turned off my phone and drove home.I opened the front door.The living room lights were dim. Kathy Bolton was curled up on the couch, casually popping a plump strawberry into her mouth. When she heard the door open, she looked up at me. There was a flicker of anticipation in her eyes, along with a hint of smug confidence.I knew exactly what was going through her mind.She expected me to see the obvious clues she'd left behind and lose my mind—screaming, interrogating her, demanding answers. She expected me to fal

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Chapter 2

When I finished speaking, I turned and headed to the bedroom to pack my things.I didn't want to waste any more words on Kathy. I didn't want to see her fake, manipulative face anymore. The "tests" she disguised as love were never love. They were a slow, drawn-out torture—ripping apart my trust in her piece by piece, draining every last bit of hope I had for this marriage.For five years, I'd told her over and over: I hate being tested. I hate being suspected. I told her that marriage is built on trust and honesty. But she never listened. She only cared about her own feelings. She only cared about keeping me under her thumb."Sean, no!" Kathy suddenly lunged forward and grabbed my wrist.Her hand was cold and trembling."I'm sorry, Sean. I really mean it. I won't test you anymore. I won't act out anymore. Just forgive me this once, okay? Let's not get divorced. Let's just… be normal. Please."Her tears fell onto the back of my hand, ice cold. In the past, seeing her cry would hav

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Chapter 3

Kathy didn't say a word straightforwardly. But her reaction told me everything I needed to know.I was done dragging this out. I shoved her hand away, my voice dripping with disgust."Enough. Save your pathetic act for someone who still believes it. Kathy, you've used the same tricks over and over again. Aren't you tired of it? Because I'm sick of it."With that, I grabbed my suitcase and walked toward the door without looking back. I opened it, stepped through, and pulled it shut behind me.The moment the door closed, I heard her wailing from the other side. Heartbreaking. Desperate. Bitter.But I didn't hesitate. I didn't look back. I just dragged my suitcase into the late-night hallway.The elevator descended slowly. The mirror reflected a face that was exhausted, but calm.When I stepped out of the building, the night breeze hit my face and lifted the weight I'd been carrying for years. I took a deep breath. The air felt cool.For the first time in five years, I felt light.

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Chapter 4

The next morning, I was woken up by my phone buzzing urgently.I picked it up. It was my mom."Sean, what's going on?" Her voice was tense and worried. "Kathy called me in the middle of the night, sobbing, saying you want a divorce. What happened? Why all of a sudden?"I took a deep breath and explained everything to her calmly. I told her about all the tests, the lies, the manipulation. Everything Kathy had put me through over the past five years.My mom was quiet for a long time.Finally, she sighed. "Oh, honey. I had no idea she was like that. I know you've been through a lot, Sean. If you've made up your mind, I'm not going to stop you. Just… divorce is a big deal. Think it through. I just want you to be okay. I want you to be happy.""Mom, I've thought it through," I said. "I really can't do this anymore."After I hung up, I barely had a second before the phone rang again.This time, it was Kathy's mom. My mother-in-law."Sean, have you lost your damn mind?!" Her voice wa

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Chapter 5

But I underestimated just how shameless and obsessive Kathy could be.I thought that after being exposed and rejected, she would give up. I never imagined she would go this far.That afternoon, my lawyer, Steven, called me. His tone was serious."Mr. Cullen, we have a problem. Kathy is refusing to agree to the divorce. She's also hired her own attorney."A lawyer? My stomach tightened. So she was determined to drag this out."What else?" I asked calmly."She's submitted some 'evidence' to the court." He paused. "She claims you had an affair during the marriage and that you physically abused her. She's asking for you to walk away with nothing—no assets, no settlement—plus additional compensation for her emotional distress and lost time."Walk away with nothing?I almost laughed. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Only Kathy could pull something like this."What kind of evidence?" I asked."Nothing substantial," Steven said. "She submitted some photos of you with fema

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Chapter 6

Inside the folder was a thick stack of photos and receipts.There were photos of her hugging a strange man intimately on the beach. Photos of her feeding another man at a restaurant, their body language clearly flirtatious. Even photos of her holding hands with different men outside hotels, embracing them. On the back of every photo, the date and location were clearly written. And every single date fell after our wedding.Along with the photos were bank transfer records and expense receipts. Records of her buying luxury watches and phones for those men. Records of her transferring money to them. There were even rental agreements and car payments she'd made on their behalf.Kathy's hands started trembling uncontrollably. She was shaking so badly she could barely hold onto the photos.After a long moment, she snapped her head up and looked at me. Her eyes were wide with fear and disbelief."Where… where did you get these?" Her voice quivered, thick with panic.She thought she'd bee

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Chapter 7

The moment the words left my mouth, Kathy broke down.She collapsed over the table, sobbing uncontrollably. Her cries were filled with despair and pleading."No… please, don't take me to court… I'm sorry, Sean. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have tested you. I shouldn't have lied to you. I shouldn't have faked that evidence or accused you of cheating. I just… I love you so much. I was so afraid of losing you. That's why I did all those stupid things. Sean, please forgive me. Just this once. I won't act out anymore. I won't test you anymore. Let's start over. Please.""Love?" I couldn't help but laugh bitterly, my voice dripping with contempt. "Your idea of love is lying to me over and over? Your idea of love is testing me like some kind of experiment? Your idea of love is treating me like an idiot—pushing me around, manipulating me, torturing me?"Kathy, look me in the eye and tell me nothing happened with those men. Tell me those photos were all just acting. When you were half-naked in

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Chapter 8

James and Kathy both froze, clearly caught off guard by my reaction."What are you trying to say, Sean?" James's face darkened."Nothing in particular." I stood up with a cold smile. "I just think this little divorce drama still has some more interesting acts to come.""You—"I didn't give them another chance to respond. I turned and walked out of the restaurant.The moment I stepped outside, the smile vanished from my face, replaced by something cold and hard.'She likes playing games so much? Fine. I'll play a big one with her. I'll make sure she pays a price she can't afford for her cruelty and stupidity.'The next morning, news of Kathy's infidelity, her reckless spending, and her faked domestic abuse evidence spread like wildfire through our shared social circle. Through an "anonymous source," every photo, every receipt, every recording I'd kept landed in the hands of every single person we both knew.Overnight, Kathy became a laughingstock. A pariah. Even her closest frie

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Chapter 9

That night, I got a call from Kathy.Her voice was hoarse, hollow—drenched in despair and venom."Sean. Are you happy now?""Yes," I said calmly. "I'm very happy.""You sick freak! You're insane!" she shrieked, hysterical."I'm insane?" I let out a dry laugh. "Kathy, you're the one who kept testing me, lying to me, over and over again. You created this situation. I just gave you a taste of your own medicine."Kathy completely broke down."I'm sorry, Sean. I'm really sorry… please come back… let's start over…""Kathy, do you really think we can go back to the way things were?" I cut her off. "And let me tell you something—this isn't over yet. You and James owe me. And I'm going to collect every last penny, with interest."I hung up before she could respond and blocked her number.I didn't feel a shred of pity for her anymore.In the days that followed, I methodically worked through my plan.I anonymously tipped off the authorities about James's company—tax evasion, illegal t

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Chapter 10

After everything with Kathy and James was finally over, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The burden that had been crushing me for five years was finally gone.I started rebuilding my life.I moved to a new city. Bought a small apartment. Started my own little company. Life wasn't as luxurious as before, but it came with something I hadn't felt in years: peace and freedom.I started trying new things and meeting new people.I took up snowboarding and even got certified. I went mountain climbing and saw the most beautiful night sky I'd ever laid eyes on, right from the summit.I realized something. After leaving Kathy, my world didn't fall apart. If anything, it became bigger and more exciting than ever.One day, I was lying on the beach, soaking up the sun, when I got a call from an old friend."Sean, guess who I saw today?" There was a hint of smugness in his voice."Who?""Kathy! She's working as a waitress at some bar. Dude, you should see her. She

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