Chapter 4

The photo hit me like a knife.

The thick gold necklace around Wade's neck and the matching solid gold chain around Dobie's neck made my eyes sting.

I had been desperately trying to scrape together 3,000 dollars for Anna's funeral. Meanwhile, Sophie had spent a fortune buying a gold chain for Wade and his dog.

I stared at the photo until I laughed. Then, the laughter turned into tears.

At that moment, whatever feelings I still had for Sophie died completely. For the first time, I truly decided to leave her.

After that, I used the last two dollars I had to print out divorce papers.

Holding Anna's urn tightly in my arms, I returned home to pack my belongings and cut all ties with Sophie forever.

Before I even opened the front door, I heard laughter spilling out from inside. The moment I stepped through the doorway, I froze.

My clothes and Anna's had been tossed carelessly into a pile by the entrance. Anna's bedroom had been completely transformed into a dog room. Her beautiful princess bed belonged to Dobie now. Her favorite stuffed animals had become chew toys.

Dog urine and feces covered the floor, and the foul stench hit me like a wall.

As I stood there in shock, Wade walked over wearing my pajamas. A smug smile spread across his face. "Elliot, Dobie just had surgery and needs a quiet place to recover. I thought Anna's room was perfect, so Sophie turned it into Dobie's room. You aren't upset... are you?"

Before I could answer, Sophie came out after hearing the commotion.

"What does he have to be upset about? I still haven't dealt with him over the way he used Anna to get attention by pretending she's dying. Besides, this isn't his house. He can't make any decisions."

If she had said those words before, they would have shattered my heart. However, I felt nothing now.

"Don't worry," I said calmly. "I won't be angry anymore."

Seeing how calm I was, Sophie seemed to think I had finally come to my senses. A trace of approval appeared in her eyes.

Before she could say another word, I looked straight at her. "Sophie, let's get a divorce."

She stared at me for a moment before anger took over. "Divorce? Have you lost your mind?"

Wade's eyes sparkled with satisfaction, but he pretended to look heartbroken. "Sophie, I knew Elliot would be upset that we turned Anna's room into Dobie's room. But I never imagined he'd want a divorce over it. If he really can't accept Dobie and me… I'll leave. I'll take Dobie and go."

As Wade sniffled dramatically and started to walk away, Sophie immediately grabbed his arm.

"It's okay," she said gently. "You're not going anywhere."

Then, she turned to me, her expression icy. "Elliot, are you done making a scene? Anna is perfectly fine. It's only one room. Is it really worth making such a big deal over this?"

In the past, I would have argued with her, demanding to know why she always treated us so unfairly. This time, I simply took out the divorce papers I had prepared. "Sign them. It'll be better for both of us."

She blinked in surprise. Then, she pulled me aside, reached into her pocket, and placed a pink hair clip in my hand. "I know you're upset because I saved Dobie before Anna. However, I didn't have a choice. You and Anna have been angry long enough. Look, I bought this hair clip for Anna. Think of it as my way of making it up to her.

"Come on, don't be mad. In a little while, I'll take both of you to Golden Shore Beach to see the ocean. I'll make up for the family trip I promised before."

Sophie had always used the same trick. After hurting me, she would offer a small act of kindness, expecting everything to be forgiven. However, this time, her promises meant nothing. I glanced at the pink hair clip she had forced into my hand, then tossed it aside without a second thought.

Anna was dead. What good was a hair clip now? I pushed the divorce papers toward Sophie again.

Her expression darkened instantly. "Elliot, that's enough. Are you really going to divorce me over something this insignificant?"

Wade quickly stepped in, pretending to play peacemaker. "Come on, Elliot. Anna's still so young. Are you really going to let her grow up without her mother?"

The moment they mentioned Anna, every ounce of grief, guilt, and fury I had been holding back exploded. "You don't deserve to say her name! If it weren't for the two of you, Anna wouldn't be dead!"

The words had barely left my mouth before Sophie's eyes widened in shock.