He Chose a Cruise With His Ex-Wife Over Our Tenth Anniversary — So I Filed for Divorce and Served Him the Papers the Same Day

Three months after I filed for divorce, the process was moving steadily.

Because we had a prenuptial agreement and because most of our major assets were either in my name or protected, the division of property was relatively straightforward. Mark had very little legal ground to stand on, especially after the recording and the messages we had submitted as evidence.

Still, he continued to delay things whenever he could. His lawyer kept requesting extensions and asking for more documentation. It was clear he was hoping I would eventually soften or agree to a quicker, less favorable settlement just to end the process.

I didn’t.

Every time his lawyer pushed, Priya pushed back harder. I had spent too many years being reasonable at my own expense. I wasn’t going to do it anymore.

One afternoon, while I was reviewing documents in my new apartment, I received a call from an unknown number. I almost didn’t answer, but something made me pick up.

It was Mark.

His voice sounded tired.

“Claire,” he said. “Can we please talk? Just the two of us. No lawyers.”

I was quiet for a moment.

“There’s nothing left to talk about, Mark.”

“I know I hurt you,” he said. “I know I made a huge mistake. But we were together for ten years. Doesn’t that mean anything?”

I closed my eyes.

“It meant something to me,” I said. “That’s why I planned the trip. That’s why I tried so hard. But it clearly didn’t mean enough to you.”

He was silent for a few seconds.

Then he said, “I miss you.”

I felt nothing.

Not anger. Not sadness. Just a quiet, distant pity.