Too Late for Regrets I'm Done Being Your Secret Husband

For love, I crossed the Atlantic to be with Victoria Sterling. But for five years, my green card applications were rejected over and over again. Yet, Julian Vance—the foster brother who temporarily moved into our house—obtained his permanent residency in just three months. Victoria had personally hired an elite immigration lawyer to rush his case. Heartbroken and exhausted, I finally proposed returning to London. Victoria panicked, throwing her arms around me, begging through her tears: "Ethan, you’re my husband. Getting your green card is only a matter of time. But Julian is different. He has no one here. If he gets deported, he has nowhere to go." "Please, just do this for me. Stay, okay?" Once again, I let Victoria's tears soften my heart. Until today, when I went to verify my paperwork at the immigration office. The officer frowned, looking at my profile in confusion: "Sir, according to the system, Victoria Sterling’s legal spouse is... Julian Vance." "Are you sure you didn't fill out the wrong form?" It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head. As it turned out, in those five years, I hadn't just been waiting in vain for a green card. Even my title as her "husband" was nothing but a lie. The officer looked at me, waiting for a response. Thinking I hadn't heard her, she repeated: "Sir, you might want to double-check this..." I finally snapped back to reality, sliding the form back into my folder. I forced a polite smile: "No need. Thank you." For a few seconds, I stood frozen. My first instinct was to call Victoria and demand an explanation. But the phone rang for a long time. And when it finally connected, the voice on the other end belonged to Julian. "Ethan, Victoria is in a meeting right now. Is there something you need? You can tell me, and I’ll pass it along. Though, unless it's about groceries, I doubt it's anything important." "We're currently discussing a major corporate merger. You’re just a stay-at-home husband, Ethan. Don’t get in her way." His petty, mocking words pierced through me, leaving me speechless. Then, I faintly heard Victoria’s voice in the background: "Who is it?" Julian chuckled softly into the receiver: "Oh, no one. Just... another spam call. Don't worry about it." "Focus on the contract." And then, the line went dead. I stared at the screen as it faded to black, my heart sinking to the absolute bottom. Actually, looking back, I shouldn't have been surprised. Victoria and Julian grew up together. He was her first love. I knew this when I first started dating her. But back then, Victoria had held my hand, looking into my eyes with utter devotion: "That’s all in the past, Ethan. You’re the one I love now." And like a fool, I believed her. Shortly after I moved to New York with Victoria, Julian followed under the pretext of a new job opportunity. Victoria, worried about his safety in a big city, begged me: "He's all alone. I won't feel at peace if he lives by himself." So, Julian moved into our house. Just like that, he became a constant presence in our lives. Later, he even became her personal assistant at her firm. Anyone with eyes could see something was off. But whenever I brought it up, Victoria would dismiss it with: "He's like a brother to me, Ethan. Stop overthinking." And I believed her. I shut my eyes, blocked my ears, and kept loving her blindly. Before I left London, my mother knew I was throwing my life away for Victoria. She didn't stop me. She just gave me a tired, helpless smile: "You're young, Ethan. I won't stop you, and I probably can't. But you'll understand eventually. The moment you start living on someone else's dime, you give them the power to ruin you. The day they stop giving, you're left with nothing." "Those who believe too much in fairy-tale love never end up with a happy ending." Back then, I was young and stubborn. I didn't believe her. To me, love was worth more than life itself. I didn't take a single penny from my family. With nothing but passion, I followed Victoria to a foreign country, navigating a completely unfamiliar city and language. I spent five long years struggling to adapt. And the moment I finally did, I turned around to find my lover had already betrayed me. Only now did my mother’s words finally click. With a heavy heart, I pulled out my phone and booked the earliest flight back to London. Tonight. Five years. I didn't have another five years to waste on Victoria Sterling. Just as the booking confirmation popped up, Victoria’s name flashed across the top of my screen. She was calling back."Ethan, sorry. I was in a meeting. Is everything okay?" "Are you at the office? I need to talk to you. I'm coming over now." Victoria sounded hesitant. "Right now? That might be difficult. I have a business dinner tonight. If it's nothing urgent, how about we talk when I get home..." "I can't wait." I cut her off. My voice was so cold and sharp that it clearly startled her. Normally, I was always the understanding, patient partner. I never spoke to her like this. She frowned through the line: "Are you still throwing a tantrum about the green card? I told you, you’re my husband. By law, you'll get it sooner or later. Besides, you don't even work. Why are you so obsessed with a green card anyway?" "Ethan, I provide for you. You don't need to worry about money." Victoria had whispered that sweet promise to me a thousand times. Now, hearing it, every single word felt like a slap in the face. Providing for a man who wasn't legally her husband? Then what was I? A mistress? A secret side-piece? Whatever it was, I was clearly someone she kept in the dark. I didn't confront her over the phone. "I’ll be there in thirty minutes," I said, and hung up. Some things had to be said face-to-face. Because I knew nothing about finance, I rarely visited her office. Victoria was always busy, and I never wanted to be a distraction. Which is why the receptionist had to verify my identity for ten minutes before finally escorting me to Victoria's private office. When I reached the door, I could hear voices laughing inside. "So, Victoria, when are you and Julian actually going to have a real wedding?" "Yeah, you guys have been legally married for five years now. Why the secrecy?" Then came Julian’s soft, mock-modest voice: "Oh, stop it, you guys. Victoria only married me on paper so I could get my residency." "If Ethan hears you talking like this, he’ll misunderstand." The colleagues inside obviously didn't care. Instead, they took it as an opportunity to mock me: "Who cares if he misunderstands? If Victoria wasn't paying for his life, he’d have been deported back to London ages ago. It’s not like he actually helps her business like you do, Julian. All he does is cook and clean. He’s basically a glorified housekeeper." Another voice chuckled, whispering an suggestion to Victoria: "Honestly, Victoria, you should just make it real. Stay married to Julian." "As for the live-in maid at home? Just write him a check and send him back to the UK." My hand froze on the doorknob. Like everyone in that room, I waited for Victoria’s response. She seemed to actually consider it. After a brief silence, she let out a careless laugh: "Alright, that's enough, guys. Julian gets embarrassed easily." "As for the one at home... he’s been a bit moody lately. I’ll just buy him something to quiet him down. If that doesn't work, we'll see." "We'll see." The implication was loud and clear. As soon as she said it, a wave of knowing laughter erupted in the room. I didn't stand there like an idiot anymore. Amidst the laughter, I pushed the door open.The group of people scattered around the office froze, their eyes instantly darting toward me. The laughter died instantly. Victoria turned her head, and the smile on her face shattered. "Ethan? How did you..." She recovered quickly, stepping toward me with a panicked expression. "Why are you here so fast? I told you to call me when you arrived so I could come down and get you." I didn't answer. I just stared at her silently. My silence made her squirm. She tried to test the waters, her voice laced with anxiety: "Did you... hear that?" "We were just joking, Ethan. Don't worry, I promise I'll get your green card sorted out next month." I remained silent. My gaze drifted past her, slowly scanning the other people in the room. Finally, I spoke quietly: "No need. It seems I chose a bad time to drop by. I didn't mean to interrupt your chat." "Since you’re busy, I'll go." I had heard enough. Demanding answers about her marriage in front of all these people would only make me look pathetic. I wasn't going to give them that satisfaction. My flight was booked for tonight. I was leaving Victoria, for good. But as I turned to walk away, Julian grabbed my sleeve, blocking my path. Without a second thought, his eyes welled up with tears. "Ethan, please don't go! It’s not what you think!" "Victoria only married me for the green card. Please, don't be mad at her, okay?" I couldn't comprehend why Julian was the one crying. I was the victim here. I looked at him coldly: "If you're so worried about me being mad, let go of my clothes." Instead, Julian gripped tighter. "No! I won't let go until you forgive Victoria and me!" He actually made a move to drop to his knees in front of me. "Ethan, please forgive us. I swear, the moment my residency status is completely secure, I'll divorce her. I promise!" His pathetic act instantly drew sympathetic looks from the employees, while their glares toward me turned even more hostile. No matter how patient I usually was, facing such a manipulative leech made my blood boil. "Cut the act, Julian," I said, my voice dripping with disgust. "Your mother was a gold-digger who ruined my parents' marriage by sleeping with my father. And you're doing the exact same thing, crawling into Victoria's bed under the guise of being her 'brother.' And you want my forgiveness?" "What, is being a home-wrecker genetic? I’ve seen female gold-diggers, but you're the first male one I've met." Julian gasped, sobbing even harder at my words. The sight of his tears instantly made Victoria's protective instincts kick in. She barked at me: "That is enough!" "Ethan Miller, watch your mouth! If you have something to say, we deal with it at home behind closed doors. Stop acting like a psychopath in my office and making a fool of yourself." Watching Victoria defend him so fiercely was the final nail in the coffin. I completely gave up. I didn't want to waste my breath arguing with her in front of a crowd. I yanked my arm, trying to tear my sleeve from Julian's grip. But before I could even apply any real force— "Ah—!" Julian let out a sharp cry and threw himself backward onto the sofa, deliberately slamming his side against the sharp edge of the wooden armrest. His face went pale as he clutched his stomach, groaning weakly: "Ow... it hurts so bad!" Before I could even process what had happened, Victoria shoved me aside with immense force, screaming in my face: "Ethan, you’re a lunatic!" "Julian was just trying to make peace, and you physically assault him?!" I stumbled back, looking at her in utter disbelief. "You were standing right next to me, Victoria. You know damn well I barely touched him!" "You married him behind my back. How do you have the nerve to stand there and lecture me?" Victoria was furious. And when she was angry, she knew exactly where to cut me deepest. "So what if I did? Ethan, let's not forget one thing." "For the last five years, I’m the one who paid for your entire life!""Starting right now, I’m freezing your credit cards and revoking your access to the house keys. Without my money, you’re nothing but a stray dog in this country!" With those final words, Victoria didn't look at me again. She rushed to help Julian up. She screamed at the stunned employees standing around: "What are you waiting for? Call an ambulance!" "No, forget it, we'll take my car to the hospital. Hurry!" The crowd quickly swarmed out of the office, leaving me alone. I stood there, rubbing my bruised shoulder where Victoria had shoved me, and let out a self-deprecating laugh. Look at yourself, Ethan. This is what five years of devotion and crossing the ocean got you. But it was fine. This made leaving so much easier. I knew Victoria was a woman of her word. She would definitely lock me out. I didn't even bother going back to the villa to pack. Since she claimed she "provided" for me, anything bought with her money would only disgust me now. Fortunately, since I had gone to the immigration office earlier, I had my passport and ID on me. That was all I needed. I hailed a cab and went straight to JFK airport. Deep down, Victoria probably knew Julian was faking his injury. But she still wanted to test my limits. Just like her friends said, she had supported me for five years, giving me a luxurious life. She assumed I would always be obedient, no matter what. Even if she cheated or lied, she expected me to accept a quick apology and move on. After all, she was the breadwinner. Thinking of this, Victoria pursed her lips and went ahead to freeze my credit cards and lock me out of the villa's smart system. She sent me a text on Snapchat: "Have you learned your lesson yet?" "Come to the hospital and apologize to Julian. I might consider letting this go." But Victoria forgot one thing. Back in London, I had a family, a career, and friends waiting for me. I never begged her to support me. I only gave up my life because I loved her. So when I saw the message, I only found it hilarious. I glanced at it and cleared the notification. Three hours passed. The sun went down, and the sky turned pitch black. I still hadn't replied. This was unusual. Without a green card, I couldn't open a US bank account, meaning I had no personal savings. New York wasn't the safest place at night, and I rarely carried more than a hundred dollars in cash. I couldn't even afford a decent motel. Victoria figured that even if I was angry, I wouldn't risk my safety. Uncomfortable with the silence, she sent another message five hours later: "I've unblocked your card and the house keys. Just go home." "Don't wander the streets. It's not safe. We can talk about this when I get back." I still didn't reply. Another hour passed, and Victoria was starting to lose her mind. She checked the bank statements; my card hadn't been used once. She checked the security cameras at the villa; I hadn't returned. With no car, no money, and nowhere to go, wandering the streets of New York alone at night was incredibly dangerous. Victoria's heart raced with panic. She couldn't sit still. She paced the hospital hallway, her thumb hovering over the screen. After typing and erasing several times, she sent one last text: "Stop playing games. Come home." Still, no response. I was currently standing at the boarding gate, scanning my ticket. I calmly read her message, blocked her number, deleted her from Snapchat, and turned off my phone. I walked down the jet bridge without looking back. As the plane accelerated down the runway, I watched the glittering skyline of New York grow smaller and smaller until it completely vanished into the clouds. There were no tears, no regrets. Only absolute relief. Goodbye, Victoria. We will never see each other again. Meanwhile, back at the hospital, my complete silence was driving Victoria insane. Just as she was about to swallow her pride and call me, her phone rang. It was her close friend, Chloe. "Hey Victoria, I just landed! I wanted to surprise you, so I didn't ask for a ride. Didn't you say you and Ethan would show me around once I got here?" "But hey, I think I just saw Ethan at the airport. He was boarding a direct flight to London." "Did he go back home?"