“An average man with an average life, with no motivation and no aspirations,” they said.

“I don’t understand what she sees in him. She is too good for someone like him,” her sister said.

“At least try to earn half of what she earns before trying to boss her around,” someone took a dig.

He was numb to such provocation by now. It wasn’t worth reminding them that he had supported her college education. He had burned his golden years, working three jobs and managing his home. He had no life, maybe that’s why he held no value for them.

A few more days, his divorce would be final, and he would be out of this town, away from the toxic company. She had promised to be alone when she begged to give her a chance to explain. He had stopped trusting her a long time ago, and as expected, her entourage had ambushed him. But they leaned towards insulting him rather than pleading her case. The drama played out as she had planned. While he was being cornered, she walked in to save him. She had set the tone right and geared up to play the victim and shift the blame.

He was not interested in her lies and deceit. It was a pretty straightforward case for him. A trusting fool, blinded by his love, had allowed people to walk all over him. He pulled out an envelope, it had mementos of her sexual exploits and attainments. Her face lost its color, and she squirmed in her seat. He had no interest in making her feel guilty, his only question was to know how much of a fool he was.

“What was your body count before our marriage, and what is it now?” He asked her with a straight face. He knew the total would be three digits, but he was not interested in the truth. All he wanted to hear was some number as her confession.

She thought of bluffing, but the stack of photos in front gave her a pause. She tried to downplay, but it would be damaging nonetheless. “Twenty-eight and thirty-two,” she whispered. She had confessed to sixty, and it became his new goal. Fuck sixty different women in two years.

He got up from his seat and walked away, never looking back. Her sobs and shrills had lost their power over him, but he still could not understand her reason. She had already taken everything she could, what more could she want? As for him, he never fought over the terms, and never asked for anything, all he wanted was his freedom.

The divorce had gone through, and he had unleashed his vengeance on her and each one of her fuck buddies. Well, at least as many as he could find. The ensuing drama kept the courts busy and lawyers happy for the upcoming months. His bitch of an ex-wife, being the center of this mayhem, had to leave the town for her safety. The cathartic experience he wanted never happened, though. He wanted them to pay for their actions, but when they did, it just felt plain and dull. There was no pleasure to be found in the suffering and the destruction he had started.

It’s been six months since then. He had gotten a better job, made more money, and gained some muscles, but nothing helped. New friends gave him no joy, and the hobbies never gave him the relaxation he desired. The feeling of being inadequate still haunted him. He tried the therapy but stopped wasting his money when they suggested forgiveness. Alcohol was good but did not stick, but the cigarettes did. He had a new relationship that gave instant gratification, whenever needed.