The Lie of Marriage: Leave Him Be Me Novel – My childhood friend and husband, Percy Klein, shattered my world on our second wedding anniversary. That evening, he gifted me a stunning blue diamond necklace, On the same day, he had bought an extravagant emerald jewelry set for Selene Hayes, his new secretary. It struck me then. Every blue gift he gave me was nothing but a veil of betrayal, a mask to conceal his deceit. But the lies did not stop there. Selene herself reached out, sending me a proof of her pregnancy and taunting me with threats to leave Percy. “He doesn’t love you,” she said smugly, her words sharp as daggers. Looking back, I realized she was right. From the first day of our marriage, we rarely shared a bed. On our anniversary, I handed him a sealed envelope. “Make sure you open the letter I give you this year,” I said, forcing a smile. Percy smiled back, oblivious. “Of course. Your love letters are the best gifts I’ve ever received. I’ll open it later.”
The moment he finally opened it, expecting poetic words of devotion, he was met with the cold truth—a divorce agreement. [I loved you more than anything, Percy. But you never loved me. I won’t beg. I won’t cry. By the time you read this, I’ll be gone. Forever.] The words struck him like lightning. “No,” he whispered, his voice breaking as he collapsed into a chair, the letter trembling in his hands. “No, Isla, please come back!” he begged, but it was too late. I was gone. —— [Breaking news: Percy Klein, CEO of the Klein Group of Companies, has acquired a ten-carat blue diamond necklace for a staggering 600 million dollars at one of the world’s most prestigious auctions. [Reportedly a part of a former royal collection, the necklace is considered one of the rarest gems in existence. When questioned about the lavish purchase, Mr. Klein stated, ‘My wife adores blue.’] The breaking news was everywhere that morning, painting Percy Klein as the epitome of a romantic husband. As a result, social media was flooded with swooning comments.
“Oh my god! Mr. Klein and Mrs. Klein are living the fairy-tale romance of my dreams!” “Right? Last year he even bought the naming rights to a star for her birthday! It’s like a movie!” “Don’t forget, they’ve been together since childhood! From childhood sweethearts to wedding bliss… Ugh, I’m so jealous. Where can I find a husband like Mr. Klein?” Their giddy adoration felt like sharp thorns in my chest. The irony of it was bitter. Yes, Percy and I had been childhood friends. He had been my protector, my confidant, my constant since I was five years old and he was ten. He used to boast that he had been captivated by me ever since I sang at my seventh birthday party. He waited for me, he said, and when I turned twenty, he proposed. I accepted, basking in the glow of a love I thought was pure and eternal. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would unravel in such a cruel way. That morning, Percy handed me a small velvet box over breakfast, smiling as if the cameras of the world were still watching. Inside was the much-discussed blue diamond necklace. Its brilliance sparkled under the morning light. “Happy anniversary, Isla,” he said with that practiced charm of his. “I hope you like it. Blue diamonds are as rare as you are to me.”
“You may have heard about my gift from the news,” Percy said with a polished smile, holding the velvet box delicately in his hands. “But nothing is more romantic than putting the necklace directly on your neck, right?” I nodded slightly, my throat tightening as he stepped closer. His fingers brushed against my skin as he fastened the blue diamond necklace around my neck. The gem shimmered under the light, a dazzling display of wealth and grandeur. When he finished, he smooched my cheek with such mechanical precision it was almost laughable. It was not the smooch of a man in love but the smooch of someone fulfilling an obligation. I forced a smile, my trembling fingers grazing over the necklace. It was undeniably beautiful, a piece worthy of admiration, but to me, it felt like a chain—a weight heavy with unspoken truths. I knew what it meant.
That was not love. It was not devotion. It was guilt cloaked in extravagance. Every shade of blue Percy gave me over the years had become a symbol of his deceit, a mask to cover his growing indifference and betrayal. Yesterday, I discovered everything. The perfectly hidden truths unraveled like threads in a worn fabric, exposing the man I thought I knew. For months, I had ignored the whispers, the strange absences, and the faint perfume that was not mine. I convinced myself that as long as I was his wife, as long as I wore his ring, I would still be the woman he loved. But another woman had stolen his heart or whatever part of it he had left to give. It was Selene, his new secretary. The cruel irony was that Selene had not left it to chance for me to find out. She had made sure I knew. It began subtly, with Selene flaunting photos of the villa Percy had bought her. Then came the gifts far more extravagant than the ones he lavished on me. But the final blow came when Selene sent me a photo of her and Percy, arms entwined, standing on a sunlit balcony overlooking the Los Angeles skyline. When I stared at it, my chest was tightening with each passing second. Percy had claimed he was in Los Angeles last week for a business trip. It turned out that it was not a business trip. It was their honeymoon.
As a result, whatever pride I had in the love story Percy and I had built since childhood crumbled in an instant. Even last night, Selene could not resist rubbing salt into the wound. She sent me another photo. It was an extravagant emerald green jewelry set. She had written smugly, [Your little blue diamond doesn’t even compare. What a pity.] Her words echoed in my mind as I stood there, my forced smile still plastered on my face. Percy stepped back, admiring his handiwork, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. So, I tried to hide the bitterness rising in my throat. “Thank you, Percy,” I murmured, brushing my fingers over the necklace. “You are very welcome. But I am sorry, I’ve got an urgent meeting this morning, so I think I’ll miss breakfast. “However, I’ll make it up to you tonight,” he added. “Dinner, just the two of us.” He smooched my forehead and grabbed his coat. Then, like always, he left. I did not cry right away. I could not. Instead, I sat in silence, eating my breakfast. But, as if Selene did not want to give me a chance to be happy, even on my anniversary with Percy, she sent me a message in the evening. [Selene: He’ll never love you like he loves me. You were just his duty. I’m his choice.] Then, she attached a photo of Percy lying in bed, his face peaceful, a strand of Selene’s hair draped across his cheek like a triumphant banner. [Selene: Even on your anniversary, Percy is warming my bed. You’ll never compare to me.] I had endured so much already—the rumors, the late nights, the loneliness. But that? That was the last straw. I had just learned the truth. Percy was not just inattentive because of work stress, as I had convinced myself.
He was not distant because of a lull in passion. The truth was far simpler and much uglier. He did not want me. He wanted her, Selene Hayes. However, as I clenched my phone on my hand, it rang again. Percy called me, his voice smooth as silk, the same voice that once promised me the world. “Honey, be ready tonight,” he said. “I’ve booked a private box for us. Let’s celebrate our anniversary properly.” I clenched my jaw. So, he still had the audacity to act like the perfect husband after spending the day with her. What a shameless man! “Of course, Percy,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. On the other end of the line, his voice was smooth and composed. “But I can’t pick you up. Come with the driver, okay? I’ve sent the address to him.” “Okay,” I replied curtly, unwilling to draw out the conversation. “I can’t wait to see how beautiful you are tonight. Love you,” he added casually, the words slipping from his mouth like a rehearsed script. I did not bother responding to his declaration. Since when had it mattered anymore? I hung up the phone without another word. I stood in front of the mirror, debating whether I should even bother getting dressed up. No matter what I wore, Percy’s reaction was always the same. “Oh my God, you are so beautiful,” he would say, his expression flat and emotionless, like a mannequin reciting a programmed line. The memory made me laugh bitterly.
The kind of laugh born out of desperation, where the only other option was tears. In the end, I chose something simple, nothing too extravagant. Tonight was not worth the effort. When I arrived at the venue, the waiter greeted me with a polite smile. “Let me escort you to your room, Mrs. Klein.” “Thank you,” I said quietly, following him through the opulent corridors. As the door to the private room opened, I froze in my tracks. My heart sank as I took in the scene before me. The room was decorated beautifully, with candles and roses adorning every corner, but what stood out most was the crowd of Percy’s friends gathered inside. Their voices rang out in unison, “Happy Anniversary, Percy and Isla!” The cheer felt hollow, a cruel mockery of the intimacy I had hoped for. My chest tightened as a sad thought crossed my mind, ‘So, we don’t even get to spend our anniversary dinner alone?’ Percy approached me, his smile radiant, as if he expected me to fall to pieces with gratitude. “You’ve finally come,” he said. “How about the surprise? Do you like it?” I glanced around the room. Most of the faces were familiar, but the smiles they gave me were either polite or downright fake. The pretense was suffocating. “Yeah,” I answered simply, my voice void of enthusiasm. “Come on, let’s sit,” he said, pulling me gently toward the long table. “We were just discussing what games to play to liven up the anniversary celebration.”
“Ah, I see,” I replied with a short nod, taking the seat to Percy’s left. As I settled in, I noticed the empty chair on his right, as if it were deliberately left vacant for someone else. My eyes lingered on it, unable to shake the unease creeping up my spine. Before I could dwell on it any longer, Percy pulled out another small box and placed it in front of me. “I have another gift for you,” he said, his eyes lighting up. “I’m sure you’ll love it.” I opened the box to find a stunning blue dress inside. It was flawless, its fabric shimmering under the soft light, a creation no doubt made by the Klein family’s exclusive designer. “Thank you,” I said, my voice calm. I placed the lid back on the box and added with a faint smile, “I have a gift for you too. Make sure to read it.” Percy chuckled, taking a sip of his wine. “This year’s love letter, isn’t it? They’ve always been the best gifts you’ve ever given me since you started writing them fifteen years ago.” His expression softened with nostalgia. “Seventeen years we have known each other and I’ve loved you since you were seven. Wow! I never imagined we’d end up married. I’m so lucky to have you.” His words triggered a chorus of teasing from his friends.
“Look at him, so lovestruck!” “Ah, newlyweds are always like this!” “Wait, they’re not newlyweds anymore, are they?” “Where can I find a husband this romantic?” I smiled politely, nodding along to the chatter. Percy beamed at me, clearly enjoying the spotlight, completely unaware of the truth that lay beneath my silence. He wouldn’t read the letter. He never did. For the past fifteen years, I had written him a love letter every year, just as he claimed he treasured them. The tradition began when I was seven, writing him letters in response to his confessions of love. Back then, I thought they meant something to him. But that morning, I stumbled upon the truth. While searching through Percy’s study drawer for evidence of his affair with Selene, I found something else, my letters. Five of them had been opened and read—those from when I was seven to twelve years old. The rest were untouched, their seals perfectly intact. He had kept them, sure. Perhaps to show off the stack if I ever asked whether he still had them. But he had never bothered to read them.
Not once. I stared at the stack of letters, my heart twisting in disbelief. The realization was a crushing blow, heavier than the weight of his betrayal with Selene. At that moment, a thought settled firmly in my mind. Those letters deserved the same fate as my feelings—a quiet, decisive end. The celebration continued around me, Percy laughing with his friends, raising toasts, and playing the role of a devoted husband. I sat silently at his side, my smile never faltering. But my heart sank as the door to the private room opened once more, and an all-too-familiar voice cut through the chatter. “I’m sorry, I’m late,” Selene said, her tone light and unapologetic. The energy in the room shifted instantly. The indifferent, almost forced smiles Percy’s friends had given me earlier were replaced with genuine delight. “Oh, Selene, come in and sit!” “Yeah, you’re not that late. We were just about to start the game.” “Oh, thank goodness. I was already getting ready, but my boyfriend just made my makeup mess up again,” she said. “Hahaha, your boyfriend must be really crazy about you.” “Look, he even left marks on your neck.” Selene proudly replied, “Right, he wouldn’t let go of me for a minute.”
Then she sat comfortably on Percy’s right side, which hit me like a punch to the stomach. I glanced at Percy, expecting shock or at least discomfort, but his expression was unreadable. “I need to freshen up,” I lied, forcing a smile to mask the storm brewing inside me. Percy looked at me curiously, but he did not protest. “Alright, don’t be too long.” I turned and left the room, closing the door behind me. The moment it clicked shut, the suffocating facade I had maintained cracked, and my rage erupted in my chest. My hands trembled as I stormed down the hallway, my mind spiraling with fury. How dare he? How dare Selene? How dare his friends, who clearly knew everything, treat me like an outsider in my own marriage? Their smiles and greetings had been fake, and then, their warmth for Selene betrayed where their loyalties truly lay. The bathroom was mercifully empty. I locked myself in a stall, pressing my back against the cold door as tears streamed down my face. For months, I had endured the humiliation. I had stayed silent, convincing myself that I could salvage the remains of what Percy and I had. But that? That was unbearable. I wiped my tears hastily and washed my face. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I saw the determination harden in my eyes. That would be the last time.
I would not endure another moment of the suffocating situation. I would divorce Percy. I would leave. And I would save what little remained of my heart. However, what shocked me more was, the time I was about to open the door of the private room, I heard someone ask, his deep tone cutting through the noise. “How much longer are you going to keep Isla?” My steps faltered as I heard the words inside, and I pressed myself against the wall to remain unseen. “To think you’ve been dating Damian’s sister all this time,” a voice chuckled mockingly. “I’m sure he’d be furious if he were still around. I can’t believe you even married her.” “Damian really loved his little sister,” another voice chimed in. “Such a shame he got caught in that tragic accident.” A brief silence followed, only to be broken by a whisper, “Some people say Damian’s still alive. Is that true or not?”
The air around me seemed to freeze. My heart thudded painfully in my chest, each beat echoing louder than the last. My brother, Damian Vaughn, could he still be alive? I stood frozen, my breath shallow as the voices inside continued their conversation, oblivious to the storm they had just ignited within me. My mind reeled with the possibility, the faint, flickering hope that refused to be extinguished. One of the reasons I endured the pain Percy inflicted upon me was entirely out of gratitude to the Klein family. They had raised me after the tragedy that befell my family seventeen years ago. I lost my parents and my brother at a fragile age, too young to fully comprehend the extent of the loss. The Klein family, close friends of my parents, had taken me in and given me a home. They told me to move on, to let go of the past and embrace the future. And I did. Or at least, I tried. But at that moment, their words from long ago resurfaced in my mind.
They had always avoided discussing the details of the tragedy, urging me to focus on my new life instead. I had obeyed, burying my questions and memories. Yet the names of my parents and Damian, their faces, their voices, all remained vivid in my mind, etched into my heart. The next conversation inside the room shattered me further. “I don’t think he’s dead yet,” someone said cautiously. “We all know only Isla’s parents were found, right?” “Exactly,” another voice replied. “Our family knows the full story of the Vaughn tragedy, only Isla doesn’t know.” “Well, she’s desperate for love after what happened to her family,” Percy said, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. “All those stories about her family, she believed them so easily since she was only five at the time.” I staggered back, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. The truth struck me like a thunderbolt. All the time, there had been something bigger Percy was hiding from me—something far more significant than his affair with Selene. My thoughts spiraled, and a memory floated to the surface.
A name that I had pushed aside for months resurfaced. It was Damien Blackwell. He was the CEO of Black Company, a client who often commissioned my freelance graphic design services. Because Percy forbade me from working outside, I relied on freelance projects to keep myself busy, utilizing my passion for drawing. The first time I saw Damien’s name, my heart had skipped a beat. The similarity to Damian was uncanny, but I dismissed it as an impossible coincidence. At that moment, with Percy’s conversation echoing in my ears, I felt an urgent need to find out more. Without hesitation, I pushed open the door to the private room. The lively chatter and laughter inside came to an abrupt halt. Percy’s arm, which had been draped around Selene, was hastily withdrawn. Selene, ever the opportunist, gave me a sly, smug smile, as if she knew exactly what I had overheard. I ignored the tension in the room and walked straight to the chair where I had left my purse.
“I’m not feeling well, so I’m heading home,” I announced, my voice calm but firm. Percy stood, his face plastered with a fake expression of concern. “Want me to drop you off?” he asked, as though he cared. “I’ll take a taxi or call the driver. Don’t worry. Enjoy the rest of your party,” I replied curtly. Percy hesitated for a moment but did not push further. He sat back down, his friends exchanging awkward glances as I turned and left the suffocating room. The drive back to the manor felt endless. My thoughts churned, each revelation crashing into me like a tidal wave. The moment I stepped through the front door, I hurried to my study, pulling out my laptop. My hands trembled as I typed, searching desperately for any information on Damien Blackwell. Could it be him? Could he really be Damian? I was not sure what I was hoping to find, but I knew one thing for certain, I could not rest until I uncovered the truth. I searched tirelessly, my fingers flying across the keyboard as I looked up everything I could.
As a freelance designer, I had collaborated with Black Company for months, but something about Damien’s direct involvement indeed always struck me as odd. CEOs rarely reached out personally, especially for minor projects, yet Damien had done so from the very beginning. Finally, I gathered the courage to email him directly. My hands trembled as I typed out the message. I hesitated, unsure of how to frame my question. But before I could decide, the door opened behind me, and I quickly clicked send, the email reading only, [Are you Damian Vaughn?] I closed the tab, replacing it with the project I had been working on just as Percy walked in. “You said you weren’t feeling well, but here you are glued to your laptop. Are you busy with work again?” he asked, his tone suspicious. I forced a calm smile. “Well, when I got home, my client suddenly wanted to see the progress, so I checked it first. After this, I’m heading straight to bed,” I replied evenly. Percy studied me for a moment, then nodded. “I see. You came home early, so I got worried. In the end, we wrapped up the party because it felt uncomfortable without you there.” “Anyway,” he paused as if wanting to press further, but instead, he simply said, “I’ll take a shower first. Don’t stay in front of your laptop for too long, it’s late.” “Alright,” I agreed. Percy smooched my forehead, then headed toward the bathroom. As soon as the door clicked shut, I exhaled deeply, relieved that he had not suspected anything. Not long after, the doorbell rang. I opened it to find Selene standing there, her expression sweet but undeniably calculated. “I’m really sorry to bother you so late, Mrs. Klein,” she said, her tone dripping with false sincerity.
“When I came to your anniversary party earlier, I also intended to deliver an important document that Mr. Klein forgot, but apparently, he left it again, so I had to deliver it now since it’s needed for tomorrow’s meeting.” Her presence filled me with disgust, but I maintained a neutral expression. “He’s in the shower. You can come in and wait.” I stepped aside to let her enter. “Thank you,” she said, holding up a bag. “I also brought him a night snack since I heard you don’t cook.” The jab stung, but I refused to let her see it. Since there was always a chef coming to cook, I never had the intention to learn to cook. Besides, since I was little, I lost my mother, and Percy’s mother also said that women only need to take care of themselves, so I never thought of it. So, I responded calmly, “Oh, then you’re quite thoughtful.” Selene’s smile widened as she continued, “Since it’s already late, would it be alright if I left the snack and documents in Mr. Klein’s study?” “Sure,” I said, my voice steady as I led her upstairs. As we ascended, she struck again. “It seems you haven’t told Mr. Klein about the messages I sent you.”
“If I may ask, is there a special reason for that?” I stopped briefly, meeting her gaze with a smirk. “Because it doesn’t matter,” I said coolly, though the words felt like acid in my throat. Selene’s mask of innocence did not falter, but I could feel the smugness radiating off her. It burned. Just as we reached the top of the stairs, Percy stepped out of the room, still in his bathrobe. His eyes widened as they landed on Selene. “Selene? What are you doing here?” His voice was sharp, almost panicked. Selene pouted, feigning innocence. Before she could respond, I stepped in. “You didn’t take the document, so she came to deliver it,” I explained matter-of-factly. Selene nodded eagerly. “Yes, it’s for tomorrow’s meeting. It’s very important.” Percy hesitated briefly before turning to her, his tone clipped. “Oh, right. Take the document and come with me to the study.” Selene gave him a short nod. “Then I’ll take a shower first,” I said, walking toward the bedroom. “Good idea,” Percy replied quickly. “Take a rest after your shower. Don’t wait up for me—I’ll walk Selene out myself after we’re done.”
Without another glance, I entered our room, closing the door firmly behind me. But what Percy did not realize was that I had installed a camera in his study long ago. It was not paranoia but self-preservation that led me to do it. For months, I had suspected his late nights weren’t spent on business calls or meetings. The rumors, the subtle signs, and his increasing absences painted a picture I could no longer ignore. And Percy’s study was the perfect hideout for his infidelities. So, in secret, I installed a small camera, one hidden so well that even someone as meticulous as Percy would not find it. I had rarely dared to check the feed, afraid of what I might see. But tonight was different. With Selene’s arrival, my suspicions burned hotter than ever. Once Percy and Selene had gone to the study, I turned on my computer and accessed the live feed from the camera. What I saw made my stomach churn. Percy’s voice was raised, his anger palpable as he pointed at Selene. “Didn’t I tell you not to come to my house?” Selene, undeterred, took a step closer to him, her expression teasing and confident. Without a hint of shame, she reached for the belt of Percy’s bathrobe and gave it a playful tug.
“This is your anniversary, Mr. Klein,” she purred. “You should enjoy yourself. But let’s be honest, she didn’t give you that fluttering excitement tonight, did she?” Percy stared at her, his disbelief and hesitation clear. “Selene, we always do this at your villa. That’s why I bought it for you—to keep things discreet.” His voice was tight, almost pleading, as though trying to reason with her. “I know,” she said, her tone light and mocking. “But from what I’ve heard, you’ve brought plenty of women into this study before. Why can’t I do the same?” She tilted her head, her grin widening. Hearing that, my hand shot into my mouth, suppressing the scream that threatened to escape, not believing that I had been deceived over and over again. “It’s not like that, they are just giving me pleasure, but you, you are special,” Percy answered, almost pleading. Her smirk deepened, her voice dripping with insinuation. “Then, when I bring you a midnight snack at a time like this, you wouldn’t refuse, would you?” Selene paused, feigning thoughtfulness. I felt my heart sink as I watched Percy’s resolve crumble. The camera feed showed him standing there, unmoving, as Selene closed the distance between them. Then, without another word, Percy leaned into her, they hugged and they smooched.
Within seconds, he was lifting her onto his desk, their bodies pressed together as if they could not care less about being caught. Tears blurred my vision, but instead of closing the feed, I found myself clicking through other saved footage. My heart tightened as I scrolled through timestamps, each one marking a different night, a different betrayal. One by one, I watched. Percy with other women, some nameless faces and others familiar—always in his study, always with the same smug confidence that I would never find out. My chest tightened unbearably, but I forced myself to continue. I needed that proof. Something irrefutable to take to court, something that would ensure I could cut ties with him completely.
But the more I watched, the more unbearable it became. The desk that I had once admired as a symbol of his success had been defiled countless times. And our home had been turned into a playground for his selfish. The pain overwhelmed me. I slammed the laptop shut, my chest heaving as sobs wracked my body. That night, I made my decision. I would go directly to the court the next morning. There was no longer anything to salvage, no reason to hesitate. Percy Klein did not deserve my patience or my loyalty any longer.