My Wife Cheated, So I Ruined Her in Public

I was heading home for the New Year when my wife, Elara, gently supported her one true lovea man with a conveniently broken legand brazenly shoved a standing-room-only ticket in my face.

Here, this is Jasper's ticket. You two should switch.

When I didn't move, she nudged me again.

Corbin, I'm talking to you. Didn't you hear me? Jasper's leg is injured, he can't stand for the whole trip. Give him your first-class seat.

I finally looked up, my gaze cold as I met theirs.

My refusal was blunt.

"This is my ticket. Why the hell would I give it to Jasper Blackwood?"

The phantom pain of being torn apart by a train still radiated through my body.

My fists clenched.

This time, I would not yield.

Elara was stunned by my public refusal, her face flushing with embarrassment.

She immediately launched into a tirade, loud enough for everyone around us to hear.

"Corbin, Jasper is a patient! His leg is at a critical stage of recovery. You're a grown man. Don't you have an ounce of compassion? You're perfectly healthy. Can't you help someone who's clearly struggling?"

Jasper, leaning heavily on Elara's arm, hopped pitifully on his good foot and looked at me with wide, innocent eyes.

"Corbin, man, I'm not trying to steal your seat. It's just look at my leg. I really can't manage on my own. I wouldn't be asking if I had any other choice."

He finished with a sad little smile, a perfect portrait of a victim.

Their perfectly synchronized performance painted me as a heartless monster.

The other passengers, of course, started to chime in.

"Come on, the man's injured. Just give him the seat. It's not going to kill you."

"If he were my friend, I'd give up my seat in a heartbeat."

"Look at him, he's practically begging you. How can you be so cruel?"

I stared coldly at the chorus of self-righteous strangers.

It's always easy to be generous with someone else's property, to solve someone else's problems at another's expense.

In my last life, I caved under their judgment.

Bullied by their words, I swapped my ticket with Jasper's.

He spent the trip comfortably lounging in the first-class seat I had paid for, scrolling through videos on his phone, while I was relegated to standing in a cramped corridor.

I tried to ask him to switch back for just a little while, but Elara shut me down immediately.

"Don't bother him," she'd snapped.

"He needs to rest."

I stood for forty agonizing hours in that crowded train car.

By the time we arrived, I was exhausted, my legs trembling from fatigue. As I stumbled off the train, I lost my balance and bumped into Jasper, who was walking ahead of me.

He cried out, clutching his leg.

"Corbin, what the hell? Just because I sat in your precious seat, you're going to cripple me for life?"

Before I could even explain, Elara shoved me violently.

"You psycho! Get away from him!"

I lost my footing on the slick platform, tumbling onto the tracks below.

The last thing I saw was the blinding light of an oncoming train.

The last thing I felt was my body being crushed beyond recognition.

My death was ruled an accident.

It had no impact on Elara and Jasper's lives whatsoever.

In fact, with me gone, Elara legally inherited my house and all my savings.

She and Jasper moved in together and lived happily ever after.

The memory faded, but the ghost of that unimaginable pain still lingered in my bones.

I looked at Elara, whose entire world seemed to revolve around Jasper, and the disappointment was a chasm inside me. Three years of marriage. I thought my devotion, my endless sacrifices, would one day win her heart.

But all it earned me was escalating demands and entitled orders.

The face I once found beautiful now only filled me with disgust.

I crossed my arms and let out a cold laugh.

"I bought the ticket. I say no, and the answer is no."

My refusal sent Elara into a rage.

"Corbin, can you stop being so childish? Jasper is a patient!"

"Oh," I said, my voice flat.

"He's a patient. So why did he buy a standing-room ticket?"

Jasper's face turned beet red.

But I wasn't done.

"Buying a standing-room ticket when you know you can't stand, then trying to guilt-trip someone in first class If I didn't know any better, I'd think this was some kind of scam. He clearly doesn't care about his own well-being, so why should I?"

I paused, letting my eyes sweep over the crowd.

"You'd think I was his father, the way you all expect me to take care of him. But even if he called me 'Dad,' I wouldn't claim him."

Jasper, flustered, quickly tried to defend himself.

"Corbin, how can you say that? You're the one who bought this ticket for me! How can you turn this around and blame me?"

He raised his voice, playing to the audience.

"I told you I was injured when I asked you to book it, but you bought me a standing ticket anyway! What were you thinking? How is a patient supposed to stand for that long? Were you trying to make my injury worse?"

He swayed dramatically, looking like he was about to collapse.

I had to admit, he was quick on his feet, effortlessly shifting the blame back to me.

Elara, ever the doting nurse, immediately rushed to his side, letting him lean his full weight on her.

"Don't move, you'll aggravate the wound."

Then she shot me a look of pure loathing.

"This is my fault. I asked Corbin to help you, but I never imagined he could be so malicious."

The crowd, which had started to quiet down, was instantly riled up again.

"Hey, buddy, take it easy. Don't hurt yourself."

"Don't worry, we're here. We won't let him bully you."

Then, they turned on me.

"What is wrong with you? Buying a standing ticket for an injured man? Do you have a heart?"

"You look like a decent guy, probably went to college and everything. How could you do something so despicable?"

I faced their accusations without flinching.

Watching Elara and Jasper clinging to each other, a small smile played on my lips.

"Oh? So you're saying I'm the one in the wrong here."

My sudden change in tone caught everyone off guard.

"Well, if you know you're wrong, then give the man your seat!"

a passenger insisted.

"Exactly! Just do the right thing!"

I kept my eyes locked on Elara and Jasper, not missing the fleeting look of triumph they exchanged. They thought they had won.

They thought they could take my seat.

Not a chance in hell.

Just as everyone seemed to relax, my voice, lazy and drawling, cut through the air again.

"It's true. Jasper asked me to buy him a ticket."

The crowd looked at me, confused.

"He just forgot one little detail. He sent me a hundred dollars and asked me to buy a five-hundred-dollar first-class ticket. I guess he thinks my credit card is his personal ATM."

I spread my hands, my voice dripping with weary sarcasm.

"So, tell me, folks. Should I just swallow the loss and be his personal charity, or should I be the sucker who pays for his ride?"

The once-furious passengers now stared at me, then shot glances at Jasper.

He immediately turned his head, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.

I sighed dramatically.

"Look, I see you're all very compassionate people, and I'm not a monster. If one of you kind souls would like to offer this patient your seat, I will gladly transfer this one hundred dollars to you right now."

I smiled sweetly.

"He is a patient, after all. I'm sure someone here would be happy to help?"

The car went silent.

The moment their own comfort was on the line, their righteous indignation vanished. No one wanted to get involved in a losing deal.

Only Elara remained steadfastly by Jasper's side.

"Corbin, stop trying to guilt-trip other people. This is your fault. Why should they have to fix your mistake?"

I smiled at her.

So, you do know what guilt-tripping is.

It was fine to do it to me, but not to anyone else. The double standard was breathtaking.

Our argument finally attracted the attention of a train attendant.

"The train is about to depart. Everyone, please return to your seats," she said sternly.

Suddenly, Jasper collapsed to the floor, his face contorted in agony.

"Ow, ow, my leg! It's gone numb! I can't get up!"

The attendant rushed to his side.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

Jasper looked up at her, his brow furrowed.

"I I'm injured. I'm still recovering. And I've I've been standing for so long"

He squeezed out a few beads of sweat, his breathing shallow and panicked.

Elara seized the opportunity, pulling me away from my seat.

Without a moment's hesitation, the attendant helped Jasper into my first-class chair.

But then, as if pricked by a needle, Jasper shot back up, looking at me with a pained expression.

"No, I can't. He he won't let me sit here."

His face showed fear, but his tone was pure tattletale.

It worked perfectly.

The attendant, now fully on his side, physically blocked Jasper from getting up and turned to me with a frown.

"Is this your seat?"

I nodded calmly.

Her frown deepened.

"Sir, helping those in need is a basic human decency. We're taught from a young age to give our seats to the elderly, the sick, and the infirm. How can you be so selfish? This gentleman is a patient. We should be offering him our help, not standing by coldly. It won't kill you to let him sit here. If everyone were as heartless as you, what would be left of our society?"

The crowd nodded in agreement.

"This guy is unbelievably stubborn. He just refuses to help."

"Yeah, we've been trying to talk some sense into him, but he won't budge."

"Thank goodness you're here, ma'am. People with no morals need to be taught a lesson."

Elara added her own fuel to the fire.

"And to think, they're supposed to be friends. He won't even give up his seat."

The attendant looked at me with renewed shock.

"You know each other? That makes it even worse! How can you be so cold-blooded? To watch your own friend suffer and do nothing? What kind of friend are you?"

"I bought the ticket," I stated simply.

Jasper jumped in, playing the noble victim.

"Ma'am, I know you mean well, but if Corbin won't let me, there's nothing I can do. I'll just go to the standing-room car."

That was all it took.

The attendant's protective instincts flared. She firmly pushed the theatrically protesting Jasper back into the seat.

"That's enough. You just sit here and rest. No one is going to make you move."

A triumphant glint flashed in Jasper's eyes as he looked at me.

"Well, thanks, Corbin. I appreciate it."

He held out the standing-room ticket.

The attendant gave my shoulder a sharp pat.

"Go on, back to your car. We're about to leave."

Then she bustled off down the aisle.

Elara immediately sat down next to Jasper and began peeling an orange for him, not forgetting to toss a final command over her shoulder.

"Corbin, if you need anything over there, you can always come back and find us."

Her words were met with murmurs of approval from the nearby passengers, praising what a wonderful woman she was.

I stood in the aisle, the useless ticket clenched in my fist.

Jasper's pained expression had vanished, replaced by a brilliant smile.

"See? Would've been easier if you'd just given it to me from the start. You made me stand for so long my leg went numb."

Elara cooed at him.

"He's sick in the head. Don't waste your energy on a psycho."

Jasper shot me a smug look as he ate a slice of orange directly from Elara's hand.

Anyone watching would have thought they were the married couple.

Thinking back, my marriage to Elara had been nothing but a joke. She married me for my money, but gave her love to Jasper.

What a wife.

I watched their sickeningly sweet display for a moment longer, then turned and left the first-class cabin.

I made my way to the dining car and borrowed a small megaphone.

I switched it on and recorded a short message.

Soon, a looped message echoed through the train cars.

"Attention all passengers, attention all passengers. A traveler in the first-class cabin of train K2809 is suffering from a possible bone fracture. If there is a doctor on board, your assistance is urgently needed. Thank you."

I was only halfway through my second announcement when the attendant rushed over and snatched the megaphone.

"What do you think you're doing?"

she demanded.

I put on my most frantic expression.

"My friend was just crying out in pain! I'm worried something is seriously wrong with his leg! Please, you have to help me!"

Remembering Jasper's earlier performance, her suspicion turned to concern.

She immediately joined my cause, and together, we found five orthopedic doctors within fifteen minutes.

When I led the doctors back to the cabin, Jasper was lounging comfortably in my first-class seat, his leg propped up as he watched a show on his phone. He scowled when he saw me.

"There's no seat for you here. What are you doing back?"

The next second, I rushed to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder, my voice thick with worry.

"Jasper, don't you worry. I brought the doctors. Your leg is going to be just fine."

He stared at me, completely bewildered.

"What what are you talking about?"

Elara, returning with a cup of water, saw my hand on Jasper's shoulder and immediately shoved me away.

"What are you doing now? He's a patient! Can't you stop bullying him?"

This time, the people around us, including the doctors, stared at Elara with strange expressions.

One of the doctors spoke up.

"Ma'am, this gentleman was concerned his friend had a serious fracture, so he came to find us. No one is trying to bully your husband."

At the word "husband," Elara's eyes darted nervously toward me.

I ignored her completely, urging the doctors forward.

"Please, doctors, check on my friend. He was just screaming in pain a minute ago!"

The doctors, all business, moved to examine him.

But before they could even touch him, Jasper flinched away.

"I I'm fine! I don't need an examination!"

I grabbed his arm and pulled him from the seat.

"A small problem can become a big one if you ignore it! This is no time to be stubborn! Come on, let the doctors see if your leg is about to fall off!"

Now, even the other passengers were chiming in.

"You were in so much pain earlier! See, your friend does care about you. He went to all this trouble to find doctors."

"Just let them look. If something is seriously wrong, you could end up a cripple for life!"

Overwhelmed by the pressure, Jasper reluctantly allowed the doctors to examine him.

The five of them took turns, prodding his leg, frowning, and then looking at me. Finally, one of them spoke.

"His leg isn't seriously injured. It's a minor sprain. Nothing to worry about."

A sprain?

Not a fracture?

Interesting.

Before I could say anything, Jasper jumped in.

"Oh, thank goodness! I was so worried all that moving around made it worse."

The doctor nodded.

"As long as you don't run or jump, it'll be fine."

I seized my opening.

"So, standing on it won't be a problem, right?"

The doctor, though confused, answered professionally.

"It's just a sprain. Of course, he can stand."

Jasper opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off.

"You heard him. You've been occupying my first-class seat for half an hour. The doctor says you're fine. Now get the hell out and go back to your own car."

The doctors stood there, stunned. Jasper gripped the armrests, refusing to move.

Elara, silent until now, jumped to his defense.

"The attendant already said this seat was for Jasper! Are you deaf or just stupid?"

I looked at her calmly.

"So even though he's perfectly fine, you're still going to steal my seat for him?"

"Yes! Don't you have any compassion?"

I broke into a wide grin.

That was the line I was waiting for.

I slumped to the floor and started to fake-sob.

"Everyone, you be the judge! How am I supposed to live like this? Is it my fault I have money? Do I deserve to be treated like a walking wallet? Is this my punishment? Is that why you feel so shameless, flaunting your affair with this kept man right in front of your legal husband?"

That last sentence sent a shockwave through the cabin.

You like using the court of public opinion, Elara?

Fine. Let them see you for what you really are.

Everyone in the car had assumed Jasper was her husband.

The revelation that I was the real one was a juicy piece of gossip they couldn't resist.

All eyes turned to Elara.

Even the attendant, standing behind the doctors, was speechless.

"What are you talking about?"

Elara hissed, her face contorted with rage.

I blinked innocently.

"Aren't you my wife?"

She couldn't deny it.

I pointed at the two of them.

"And weren't you just all over him a minute ago? So what part of that was a lie?"

Elara sprang away from Jasper as if she'd been electrocuted.

"Don't you dare twist things! I I was just showing some extra concern for Jasper because he's a patient! Stop making it sound so sordid!"

If I hadn't already died once, I might have believed her.

I now knew they had been sleeping together for a long time. No wonder she'd been

"working late"

so often.

She was on dates with Jasper.

I'd been wearing this crown of thorns for quite a while.

My voice choked with fake emotion.

"I even paid for your first-class ticket. How can you be so brazen, using my money to support your boy toy?"