"You're a bastard, George! You're divorcing me just like that? What about my best years? I spent them all on you! You can't just give me nothing! Even an escort costs more than that!"
I almost choked. I thought I couldn't feel any more disappointment for her, but I was wrong. She thought our marriage was just an extended escort service. She dropped all pretenses and put her hands on her hips.
"You're never getting away from me, George! I will never agree to the divorce unless I get the car and house! I will hound you forever! You'll never get a new woman! You're not kicking me out without giving me anything!" she spat.

"I cheated on you, but so what? If you don't give me the house and car, I'll keep cheating on you! You want to tell everyone about it? Do it. Let's see who becomes the butt of the joke!" She lay on the ground.
It was like talking to a stubborn mule. She was no longer the elegant Queenie I knew. Now, she was more like an unreasonable wench. My distaste for her grew. I had proof of her infidelity, so she could throw any tantrum she wanted, and it wouldn't change a thing.
Just when I was about to call my lawyer, Queenie's father grabbed my hand. "George, this must be a misunderstanding. Queenie's a good girl. I think someone must've scammed her."
I took a deep breath and said in a deadpan tone, "I'm getting the divorce one way or another, Mr. Rivera."
That change of form of address alarmed him, and he charged over to his daughter and slapped her. "You slut! You cheating whore! I can't believe I have a daughter like you! How will your mother and I face everyone? You shamed us all!" He slapped her again.
Her mother was bawling, but she tried to break them up. However, her fury got the better of her in the end, and she thumped Queenie as well.

Queenie was so shocked her parents were hitting her that she couldn't react. When she finally did, she denied loudly, "This is fake! This video is all fake! He's slandering me! That's not me! I never cheated on him! Someone must've framed me!"
Her voice got louder, and it was as if she had found something to stand on, so she got confident. Her parents chimed in, "Yeah. Tech is advanced now. They can come up with anything and make it look real! Queenie's a good girl. That woman can't be her. It's fake! She was framed!"
They persuaded me, "George, you can't hurt Queenie just because you want a divorce. She's married to you for years and lost a child halfway through. You can't do this to her!"
I was stunned at how this family was twisting the whole story.

"If this isn't enough to open your eyes, I can hand the evidence over to the court. They'll get a pro to judge if the video's real or not. I'm giving you a chance here. If you insist on taking this all the way to the courthouse, I'll make sure you get nothing from the settlement."
I threatened, "If you know what's best for you, Queenie, you'll come to the city hall with me and get an amicable divorce. Hound me, and I'll make sure your whole campus sees the evidence of your cheating. I'll show them the kind of harlot their lecturer really is."
Queenie was shivering, and her face was streaked with tears. She plopped to the ground. "You can't, George… You can't… You'll go that far? You won't show me any mercy?"
She said, "You're going to kill me, you know that? What good will that do to your reputation?"
I was getting impatient, so I crouched and looked at her with distaste. "Then do the brave thing and take your own life. I'll still spread your video. I'll tell everyone how you couldn't live with the shame after getting caught in the act. I don't think you want to be cursed even after you're dead, though."
I got up and left while Queenie's parents cursed their daughter. I didn't turn back. Instead, I got into my car and lit up a cigarette. It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and it felt great. A few days later, the divorce went through.
It wasn't as if Queenie wanted to give up. She just needed some money to pay back her brother's loan. It had been a month, and the debt collectors came calling. With how things were between me and Queenie, I refused to lift a finger to help.
Her parents forced her to do something. She had no choice but to agree to the divorce as soon as possible. The cash I had given her was used to pay the loans. After all, I had given her enough to tide them over for a few months. If we had taken the divorce to court, she wouldn't have gotten a single cent.
For some reason, my business boomed after the divorce. When I next heard about Queenie, it was at a wine-and-dine. My business partner, a gossipy one, told me that Howard's wife had gotten her hands on the evidence of his infidelity and divorced him on the double.
However, that woman had taken a loan from her parents and spent all the money. Six-figure sum, almost seven figures. Since there was an IOU, it was legally recognized. So, the debt was split in two, with Howard taking half of it after the divorce.
Her family ordered everyone in the industry not to hire Howard. He had no money, and debt collectors called him every day, forcing him to repay his debt. Life was hard on him, and he was leeching off his parents now.
Howard's ex-wife also bribed someone in the university where Queenie worked. During her academic report, instead of her paper, the video Doug recorded was played instead. She lost her job.
Her family depended on her income for survival. With her losing the job she was proud of, there was no way they could repay their 'heir's debt. Not like that was any of my business.
I raised my glass and sauntered down the hall of fame and fortune, exchanging pleasantries and tips with my peers and betters, all so I could build a bigger career.