99 Divorce Agreements

[Ms. Carmine, this divorce agreement is valid. Once you sign it, your marriage will be automatically dissolved in a month.]Looking at the confirmation, I exhaled in relief and turned toward the torn-open package on the floor.It was a birthday gift from my seven-year-old son for my twenty-seventh birthday—a box filled with used condoms and a photograph of a happy family of three.In the photo, Finn Chapman was holding a woman tightly, his face softened with a tenderness I had never seen before.Our mischievous son rested obediently against the woman's chest, his expression full of adoration.But the woman in the picture wasn't me. It was Finn's first love—the one who had just divorced and returned to the country.Even the condoms weren't the kind I used. They were the cheese-scented ones Lisa adored.Today was my twenty-eighth birthday. Early in the morning, Finn lost his temper because I'd stepped into the living room with my left foot first. He stormed off with our son, saying

I couldn't be bothered to answer Finn. My voice was flat and empty."Sorry," I said. "I don't know how to be a mother. Let Lisa do it."I meant it.But for some reason, my honesty extinguished whatever anger he'd been holding onto.He looked at me several times before setting a box of cold seafood soup on the table."Don't talk nonsense in front of the kid," he said. "I made this myself. Thought I'd bring you some."My hand froze mid-pour. A faint, bitter smile tugged at my lips.I'd seen Lisa's post on social media the night before—a photo of her in an apron, standing in a dimly lit kitchen, stirring a pot of soup.The caption read: [Everyone likes skinny girls, but you're the one who feeds me properly.]The lighting was dark, but I'd recognized Finn instantly, standing behind her.On his left hand, the ring finger still wore our wedding band.Now, it was gone.He caught me staring and glanced down at his own bare hand, his expression flickering for a moment."I lent it to

When I finished speaking, I turned and walked away.Finn froze for a moment, then instinctively tried to follow, but Lisa caught his hand. She held onto him, feigning innocence."But it's Michael's birthday today," she said softly. "Why would Heather leave so suddenly? Did she forget? Or… maybe she never planned to celebrate with him at all."She gave a little sigh. "As a mother, that's really irresponsible, isn't it?"At that, Michael stepped in front of Finn, his small voice sharp and trembling."Dad, don't bother with her! She doesn't even remember my birthday!"Though his words were angry, his eyes were already red—like a child betrayed by the person he trusted most.Finn looked at him, torn, and after a long pause finally pulled the boy into his arms."Don't be mad," he murmured. "Dad and Lisa will celebrate your birthday with you."They sat down. The restaurant had a warm, easy atmosphere, the cake was perfect—sweet, soft, expensive.But all the while, Finn couldn't sha

"Did you need something?" Finn asked.The little boy rubbed his cheek shyly."Last night, Heather gave me a limited-edition toy," he said. "My mom said it was too expensive, and I have to thank her properly."He blinked his wide eyes, full of innocent curiosity. "Is Heather home?"Finn's smile froze. "The toy she gave you last night?"The boy nodded eagerly."Yeah. It was wrapped really nicely. Heather said she meant to give it to someone else, but that person probably wouldn't like it, so she gave it to me instead.""I never said I didn't want it!" Michael's voice rang out, sharp and loud. "That's my birthday present from Mom! You can't have it!"Before anyone could react, he snatched the flowers from the neighbor boy's hands and threw them to the ground. "My mom doesn't even like your stupid flowers!"Finn's pupils contracted. He grabbed Michael's arm, voice hard. "What are you doing?"The neighbor boy flinched, lips trembling, eyes filling with tears.Realizing how it loo

"Mom's a leech," Michael said. "All she knows is get mad and waste your money."The car came to a hard stop.Finn's face darkened as he turned to stare at his son, who was still muttering under his breath.Who could have imagined that such ugly words could come from the mouth of a seven-year-old child?Michael froze, frightened.Finn drew in a deep breath. "Who taught you to say that?"He remembered his son as a gentle, well-behaved boy. When had Michael turned into this?There was a time when Michael adored his mother—when he would follow her everywhere, calling out "Mom" in that sweet, sing-song voice that filled the house with warmth.He didn't know when that changed.At some point, Michael had grown sharp-tongued, defiant—demanding a new mother, showing open disgust toward the mother who had raised him.Back then, Finn had assumed it was because Michael had seen too many of his mother's emotional outbursts.But now… now he realized that once upon a time, she had been the