Divorced and Unbound

The door finally opened with a creak after I had reheated the food for the seventh time. Ricky's voice floated into the house.

"Our birthday is so much nicer with Ingy around! I want Ingy to celebrate every birthday with me after this! No, I want her to be with us every day!"

Micky said in a hushed tone, "Shh! Daddy said that it's a secret among the four of us! But Daddy, why can't we let Ingy come home and stay with us? Ricky and I both want Ingy to be our mommy!"

The bowl of mutton stew in my hands slipped to the floor and broke into pieces. That used to be the twins' favorite food I made.

But even though I had spent two hours slaving over it, it somehow seemed to know that it wasn't needed anymore. I crouched down to clean up the mess, but the sharp ceramic cut open the blisters I had gotten on my hand when I was cooking earlier. It hurt so much that I nearly blacked out.

Corbin brought the twins to the kitchen and frowned in disgust. "You clumsy oaf. Stop being so rowdy."

I stood up despite the pain. I hadn't seen the twins all day, and I missed them.

I thought of hugging them, but Ricky pushed me aside while Micky pinched his nose and hurried away.

"Mommy stinks! Mommy stinks like smoke! I don't want Mommy to hug me! Ingy always smells nice. I want Ingy to hug me instead!"

"Me too!" Ricky cried out. "Mommy stinks! But Ingy smells nice!"

They were my twins—my flesh and blood. I had given up everything I had to raise them for five years. I thought that they would be different from Corbin, but I realized then that it was just wishful thinking on my part.

Corbin handed me a paper bag. "Wash these by hand. Return them to their original state."

I opened the bag curiously. It was a snow-white female blazer, the same one that Ingrid had been wearing that morning. There was no mistake about that.

I chuckled bitterly and returned the bag to Corbin. "I can't. Send it to the dry cleaners instead."

Corbin sounded surprised and angry as he replied, "What kind of tantrum are you throwing again? You're just a housewife. It's your duty to cook, clean, and do the laundry! Skylar Greene, you'd better know where you stand in this household!"

I shook slightly. Corbin had always been cold and sarcastic in every interaction with me. I should've been used to it by now. But why did my chest still hurt every time?

Corbin's phone rang. The ringtone was the song Ingrid had sung during our college prom.

The look in Corbin's eyes softened at once, his expression turning gentle.

"What is it, Ingy?"

Ingrid's voice could be heard from the other end of the line. "The hotel here is full. The staff made a mistake and overlooked my booking. Corbin, can you help me find another hotel?"

Corbin immediately looked anxious. "Don't worry, Ingy! I'm coming for you now!"

After ending the call, Corbin cast me a look and said, "You stink. Go shower now!"

Ricky and Micky were both overjoyed when they heard the call. They asked, "Daddy, was that Ingy? Is she coming to our house?"

Corbin couldn't hide the smile on his face. "That's right! I'm going to bring Ingy home so that she can play with you both!"

Ricky and Micky jumped for joy and urged Corbin to hurry up.

"Daddy! Quickly, go and get Ingy! Go and bring Ingy home!"

"Mommy is such a lazy bum! She doesn't do anything at home all day. She doesn't even want to shower or do the laundry! We're going to sleep with Ingy tonight! Yay!"

The people closest to me kept trampling all over my heart. At that moment, I thought everything through. I looked at the twins jumping and shouting happily, as well as Corbin, who was hurriedly putting on his coat.

I clenched my fists and called out to Corbin, "Wait."

Corbin didn't stop whatever he was doing. "What? We can talk again after I'm back. I'm going to get Ingrid now. Don't cause any more trouble for me."

I felt as if my heart had been torn in two.

"It won't happen anymore, forever. Let's get a divorce, Corbin Stallone."