An 18-Year Divorce Promise

I had been wrestling with how to explain everything to our daughter, yet the first obstacle came from Elizabeth instead.Gently, I said, "It's alright. You don't need to worry about me. I let go of everything eighteen years ago."Elizabeth froze, as if seeing my true stance for the first time."You don't need to worry about our daughter either. I'll talk to her. You're free now, Elizabeth."I lifted my head and met her eyes. "So… It's time to honor the promise we made eighteen years ago."She sighed, guilt softening her voice. "I'm the one who wronged you. If you or our daughter ever need anything, I'll still take responsibility."Then, almost trembling, she picked up her phone and dialed the long-forgotten number.That night was the first time we ever slept in separate rooms.For eighteen years, even though our hearts weren't aligned, we still fulfilled each other's needs.I always felt guilty—felt like I was stealing another man's woman—but Elizabeth didn't seem to mind. In

Because Destiny was suspected of drug use, the courthouse reported the case to the police.Tests on Destiny did show illegal substances in her system.Elizabeth immediately sent people to investigate everything Destiny had come into contact with recently—including Lucas's home.In the hospital room, our daughter was delirious, muttering "Lucas" over and over.No matter how she treated me, she was still my child. My blood.I glared at Elizabeth, irritation rising in my chest. "This is how you take care of my daughter? You used to play the perfect mother. What happened? Why are you suddenly so careless?"Elizabeth's face filled with guilt and remorse. "I just wanted Destiny to relax. I didn't expect her to get into something like this accidentally when I wasn't watching."Accidentally? I suspected Lucas did it on purpose, but I had no proof, so I couldn't say it outright.Still, if it was intentional, I doubted it came from malice—more likely from how casually he treated these th

"I don't hate you that much," Elizabeth said. "I'm not actually going to throw you both in jail. I just wanted you to understand what's right. Now… do whatever you want."Ignoring our daughter's stunned expression and the jealousy burning in Lucas's eyes, Elizabeth grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the hospital.In the car, she poured out a confession she'd been holding back for a long time."I forgot our promise from eighteen years ago. Maybe I chose to forget it," she said."But I never expected you to remember. My first reaction was panic. How could you be so cold? We lived eighteen years together—how could you say 'let's divorce' so easily? What was I supposed to do without you? "But then I told myself those feelings were fake. I'd loved Lucas for twenty years—how could I suddenly fall for you? That's why I wanted to go abroad, to find the feeling I used to have with him, to prove that I'd been right all along."But the moment I arrived, he dragged me to a party with wome

Lucas dangled that thing in front of her, using it to lure her into calling Elizabeth overseas so the three of them could build a family together.Only then did Elizabeth realize that Lucas had never let go. He had waited eighteen years—only to find that what he got wasn't a love-crazed Elizabeth who would spoil him for a lifetime, but a woman who would never look back.He thought Destiny was her weak spot. He believed in the love she once had for him and clung to it, confident he could use it to get what he wanted.But without the fire of love or hate, Elizabeth abandoned him again just as decisively as before.Lucas lost his mind. He threw Destiny aside, left her to fend for herself on the streets, then turned around and abandoned Elizabeth too—only to marry a rich old lady.I had to admit, I admired the man's ability to let go. I thought he'd return to the country and keep trying to win Elizabeth back. But maybe life was good for him overseas. Maybe that was why he stopped obse