Chapter 8: Parents-in-law

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Translator: Soafp

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“….Is there any way you could agree to divorce?”

Today is Sunday.

Leaving Maya at home, I headed alone to Maya parents’ house.

It’s to ask for their help.

Coincidentally, Maya’s father works for a company that’s a business partner of mine.

The reason I couldn’t bring myself to decide on divorce is partly because of that.

“Maya must also regret it, and it’s surely just a momentary lapse of judgment. It might also affect the relationship between our companies. Please, can you forgive Maya this time, for my sake? Think of it as saving face for me.”

Such persuasion is cliché, but it makes me think.

If only I hadn’t revealed my marriage to Maya at work. But it’s too late for regrets now. Depending on the decision here, it could affect the company I work for.

I wanted to avoid involving unrelated people in personal grudges.

But I’ve reached my limit.

“Maya and I are no longer husband and wife in anything but name. On one side, I’m living in fear of being betrayed again, unable to trust even words of apology.”

“…”

“On the other, even though she understands that she won’t see a future where she’s forgiven, she can only apologize. A twisted couple like that isn’t a couple at all.”

“…”

“Who’s at fault here? Maya, who cheated, or me, who can’t forgive her? If it’s not my fault, then please, I beg of you, grant me a divorce.”

“…”

“If it’s about the company, I’ll resign.”

My desperate plea is met with sad eyes from Maya’s parents.

“You look worn out, Kazunari-kun.”

And the words from her father contained a hint of sympathy.

“As for me… I love my daughter. You can think of me as a foolish father. Even though I should be scolding my daughter, who deserves it, for causing you pain while I foolishly defend her, I’m the one who should be apologizing.”

“…”

“But… Maya is truly regretful. Almost every day, she calls us, crying sadly, blaming herself for her foolishness and asking how she can get you to forgive her. That’s the only reason she calls her mother and me.”

It’s only natural for a parent to side with their beloved daughter.

But still.

“That’s why, please… I’m truly sorry for causing you so much pain, but please, look at Maya from now on. She has vowed to change her ways and never repeat the same mistake again.”

At this point, my stomach started to ache. Enduring the pain, I countered.

“It’s not about the future, it’s about what has happened until now. That’s the problem. Can a change of heart occur just because the infidelity was exposed? If so, why couldn’t a change of heart happen when we got married? Is infidelity exposure more important as a turning point in life, a moment of rebirth, than marriage?”

“…”

“If stopping infidelity is so easy, then why engage in it in the first place? Won’t it be easy to resume it again?”

“That’s…”

“If I had any fault, I would accept it. But why should I have to endure further when I’ve been betrayed without any fault of my own? Even suggesting that we stay together is absurd. Ultimately, it’s strange for Maya to even consider being with me, especially when she loves her affair partner more than me…”

“That’s not true! I can affirm it, please understand. Without a doubt, you are the most important person to Maya!”

“…Heh. “Then why did you tell your affair partner, ‘You’re the man I love the most’?”

“…”

“Saying something like ‘the person you love the most and the most important person are different’ is not an excuse that holds water, you know?”

Ignoring the intense pain throbbing in my stomach, I strengthened my tone.

My in-laws couldn’t possibly counter.

─I’ve reached my limit.

“After all, I’m just… second best to Maya…”

“! Kazunari-kun! Pull yourself together! Hey, quickly, quickly call an ambulance!!!”

Before I could finish my words, I vomited blood and lost consciousness.