After seven years of marriage, my husband wants an open marriage

Chapter 1

It’s been seven years since I married David, and he’s fallen out of love.

He told me we should see other people, no strings attached.

He found himself a college girl and started putting on this whole lovesick act, all over each other every single day.

Naturally, I wasn’t going to sit around twiddling my thumbs. I had my share of younger guys, one after another.

Things were going smoothly, like a well-oiled machine.

Then, one day, I met a younger guy who genuinely cared for me, and I fell hard.

I decided to divorce David and give my new love a proper title.

He went ballistic, grabbing my neck, backing me against the wall, eyes bloodshot, screaming, “Sarah, you wouldn’t dare!”

It was our seventh anniversary, and I’d cooked dinner myself.

Even if it was just for show, the anniversary had to have some sense of ceremony. After all, seven years is a milestone.

Whether we’d last a lifetime depended on getting past this hurdle.

At our age, love wasn’t really the point anymore. Our intertwined finances were the real reason we hadn’t divorced.

After two hours of work, I looked at the table full of food, almost all of David’s favorites. After all these years, I still remembered what he liked.

Because when I loved him, I really loved him.

Back when things were good, we used to cook together, making each other’s favorite dishes.

Ding-dong, a text message arrived. It was David.

“Not coming home tonight, got stuff to do. Eat without me.”

After all that effort, he didn’t appreciate it one bit. When he loved me, he’d fuss over how hard I’d worked and eat everything I made. Now, he wouldn’t even look at a table full of gourmet food.

Whatever. Since we got married, the housekeeper has done all the cooking. It had been a while since I’d been in the kitchen, so this little bit of work was nothing. If he didn’t want to eat, so be it.

David was probably entangled with his college girl, on our seventh wedding anniversary, no less.

In that case, I was going to find my own toy boy. I didn’t need to feel guilty.

Let the games begin. Everyone deserves some fun.

Our seventh anniversary turned out to be a celebration of our newfound freedom.

I called my best friend, Ashley, and we went to our favorite bar, the one with all the hot younger guys.

If David could have his college girl, I could find my own younger man.

My heart, dormant for so long, could only be awakened by a 6’1″ guy with abs.

We were almost out of drinks, and I was dizzy, but not a single guy had caught my eye.

I was being pretty picky tonight.

When I got the bill, I realized I’d gone on a bit of a spending spree. No big deal, it was David’s card.

He must have gotten the notification; $20,000 in one night, just for drinks. That didn’t even include the… entertainment.

David’s text came right after: “Sarah, are you trying to kill me? $20,000 at a bar? What the hell did you do?”

$20,000 was nothing. David had bought his precious college girl an entire apartment.

He’d practically perfected the art of keeping a mistress.

His questions made me sick to my stomach.

I’d had too much to drink, hadn’t found a guy I liked, and was about to puke.

I went to the restroom and ran into the one guy who had caught my eye, Ethan.

He was wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. The simple outfit accentuated his youthful charm.

My heart pounded.

I didn’t even make it to the stall. I grabbed his arm and pulled him out.

I bumped into the manager, John. “You’re so sneaky, John. Hiding the good stuff like this. What kind of crap have you been showing me?”

“Who do you think you’re dealing with?”

I pulled a wad of cash, a couple thousand dollars, out of my purse.

I was so drunk that night. John kept trying to tell me Ethan wasn’t one of his… employees, but I wasn’t listening. All I could see was Ethan.

Ashley tried to take me home, but I clung to Ethan.

“Come with me. I have money, as much as you want.”

“Hmm? Say yes, please?”

I shoved the cash into his hand. “Here, take it. All of it. I’m loaded.”

Ashley just shook her head. My inner cougar had been unleashed.

Since she couldn’t talk me out of it, she gave up.

Chapter 2

I woke up at noon the next day.

I checked my phone. Good, no missed calls, no messages from David.

He must have had a pleasant night with his college girl. Just one text and then nothing.

There was a note on the table, from Ethan: “Breakfast is on the table. I didn’t know what you liked, so I just grabbed some stuff. Here’s my number.”

My head was pounding. I couldn’t remember what happened last night, just that I’d been all over Ethan. Younger guys definitely had stamina. No wonder older women loved them.

Emotionally available, full of energy… who wouldn’t?

I got home and found that David had been there last night. There was a pair of high heels by the door.

I laughed to myself. He was playing dirty, bringing someone home.

David and I had made a pact: we could play around, but no bringing anyone home.

And yet, David was the first to break the rules.

In our marital home, in our bed. Didn’t he feel disgusted, making love to another woman in our bed?

I went inside, sprawled on the couch, and turned the TV up full blast. The noise must have woken David. It was already 1 p.m. They must have had a wild night.

“Sarah, where were you last night?”

He started with accusations again. If he could have his fun, why couldn’t I?

I stood up and smiled. “Do I have to tell you where I go?”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. David, let’s get a divorce. It’s been years, and it’s not working anymore.”

I looked at him, my face expressionless.

I could turn a blind eye to so many of his antics, but he had crossed a line.

He really must have liked this college girl, bringing her home, letting her sleep in my bed. I couldn’t tolerate that.

David looked at me and scoffed. “Here we go again. Are we really doing this?”

“You were out all night, and I haven’t said a word. And now you’re playing the victim and asking for a divorce?”

“Fallen for another younger guy?”

He raised an eyebrow, looking nonchalant, as if he was certain I’d stay with him forever because of our shared interests.

This time, he’d miscalculated.

He saw how serious I was, that I wasn’t joking.

“Are you sure you want a divorce?” he asked.

“I’m sure.”

I put the divorce papers I had prepared a long time ago in front of him. I’d already signed them. All that was missing was his signature.

David clearly hadn’t expected me to be serious. He stared at me in disbelief. “Sarah, are you out of your mind?”

He gritted his teeth. “I said we could see other people, but you’re actually serious about this?”

His voice was practically a roar. It woke the college girl, who walked out of the bedroom.

She had a pretty face, a curvy figure, and radiated youthful vitality.

So, this was David’s type: innocent and pure.

“What’s going on?” she asked softly.

David turned around. “Nothing, Jennifer. Go back to your room. I’ll handle this, okay?”

He completely disregarded me, calmly telling her to go back to our room while I was still standing there.

I closed my eyes, my heart aching. We had bought this house with the money from our first successful business venture. Now, he was letting another woman lie in my bed.

He was deliberately humiliating me.

All that love had turned into torture.

He didn’t care that he had crossed my line. He probably didn’t even see me. All he cared about were his assets.

His father had given him an ultimatum: if David divorced me, he’d transfer his 30% share of the company to me. Combined with my existing 10%, I’d be the majority shareholder.

David had worked hard to prove he was capable of inheriting the company. He didn’t want to lose that 30% share, didn’t want me to have the controlling interest.

He seemed to realize this and softened his tone. “You’re just upset that I brought Jennifer home. I’ll ask her to leave, and I’ll have the housekeeper clean the room.”

“And I’ll transfer $200,000 to your account. Spend it however you like, just calm down.”

“I promise, I’ll never bring her back here again.”

He said it with such confidence, like he thought I’d cave like I always did.

“David, I can’t do that anymore. I’m in love with someone else.”

Chapter 3

He’d been lounging on the couch, but he sat up straight, his face hardening.

“Stop being ridiculous, Sarah.”

“You just want me to back down?”

“I am backing down, and you’re still not happy?”

I laughed.

Was there any point in arguing with him at this point? I didn’t need his $200,000. My annual dividends from the company were more than that.

“Back down? Is that even necessary?”

He clenched his fists. “Sarah, don’t push your luck.”

He was the one who said he’d fallen out of love, that we could see other people.

He was the one who broke our agreement first. Now I was the one pushing my luck.

David was smart. He’d stuck around all these years because we were so entangled. A divorce would be a messy affair, dividing up assets, both domestic and international.

And most importantly, he wanted that 30% share.

“Sarah, you better think this through. What do you gain from a divorce? Let’s not force each other’s hand.”

“If you want a divorce, you better make sure you can handle the consequences.”

He ripped the divorce papers to shreds and threw them in my face.

Before I could react, he turned around, went back to the bedroom, and took his precious college girl with him, leaving me standing alone amidst the confetti of our marriage.

I didn’t know how we’d gotten to this point. We had been so in love, willing to do anything for each other. Now we were just exhausted. I didn’t know where we’d gone wrong.

Back in college, I was the belle of the ball. I had guys lining up to date me, literally lining up outside the building.

But only David was persistent. Every day, without fail, he’d bring me breakfast, walk me to class, and even save me a seat at the library before finals.

Day after day, his persistence wore me down. I wasn’t made of stone. It’s the little things that win a girl’s heart.

Plus, David was handsome, tall, and on the basketball team.

For years, I’d never even thought of anyone else. I was always a one-man woman. Once I committed to someone or something, I didn’t change easily.

I didn’t know what it was that made me fall for someone else so suddenly.

Maybe it was a broken heart.

Maybe I saw a reflection of our younger selves in Ethan’s innocent eyes.

Or maybe I just fell in love with Ethan.

I just didn’t understand why David had fallen out of love so easily.

Looking at the shredded paper, I suddenly remembered the note Ethan had left me.

I added his contact information.

His WeChat username was also Ethan.

They said people who used their real names online were supremely confident.

“Let’s grab dinner.”

I messaged Ethan. I couldn’t forget our night together, his youthful energy, his handsome face. I was hooked.

“Sure, come to my place.”

Later, I found out Ethan wasn’t a college student, and he didn’t work at the bar. He owned a fried chicken restaurant.

He’d graduated recently and started his own business. It was doing pretty well.

He’d been at the bar that night because someone had ordered delivery. It was his last order, so he closed up and delivered it himself.

And by chance, I ran into him.

He blushed when he saw me.

“Um, about the other night, I was really drunk. I’m so sorry. I’m not usually like that…”

“Let me make it up to you. Name your price.”

I’d meant to apologize, but somehow, I ended up asking him to name his price.

I laughed at myself. I guess I’d picked up David’s habit of throwing money at problems.

He looked at me seriously. “Don’t worry about it. We’re both adults. It was consensual.”

His words caught me off guard.

Luckily, I liked fried chicken, and his restaurant had a flavor I loved: sweet and savory.

I started going to his restaurant regularly, and we became familiar.

I admitted to myself that I was attracted to him, drawn to his youthful energy. It wasn’t a stretch to call it love at first sight.

I confessed my feelings.

“I like you, but I’m married.”

“But I’m getting divorced soon. Maybe we could give it a try?”

He didn’t reply.

A married woman, out getting drunk, picking up a random guy… it was a wild story.

If he agreed to give it a try, it would be even crazier.

Luckily, WeChat didn’t have read receipts. Otherwise, I would have died of embarrassment.

I figured he’d just ignore me.

The next day, he replied.

“Let’s give it a try.”

“Come to the restaurant today. I have your favorite flavor.”

I had assumed it was over, that we’d just move on. I was starting to feel disappointed.

Then, a message popped up, making my heart skip a beat.

I hadn’t even figured out how to navigate this new “relationship” when I received an unexpected call in the middle of the night.

I picked up the phone, and Ethan’s eager voice filled my ear. “Sarah, I miss you. I’m downstairs. Can you come down?”

I peered out the window, searching for him. He was standing there, bathed in the warm yellow glow of the streetlight.

I quickly changed and headed downstairs.

David, surprisingly, was home. He saw me leaving and asked, “Where are you going?”

“To see a friend,” I replied.

“A friend? Is this ‘friend’ the pretty boy waiting downstairs?”

I glared at him without turning around. “So what if he is?”

He suddenly lost control, grabbing my arm and pulling me back. “Sarah, you dare go see him!”