Chapter 4

I arrived at the ward early and took my father for his examination.

When I returned, Alma and Tobias were already in the ward.

Alma’s parents’ angry voices could be heard clearly even through the door.

“Clyde has completely lost his mind over nothing! Toby is just a nurse that Al supervises. Clyde had the nerve to embarrass him like that!

“Is Clyde even a man? His job can’t even compare to his wife’s. He’s just living off her!”

I stood at the ward’s entrance with my fists clenched tightly.

My in-laws, whom I had treated with the same respect as my own parents, had always looked down on me.

Tobias flattered them constantly. Even at this time, he tried to calm them down.

“Dr. Northman has had it too easy. Alma has been holding everything together. Even I, an outsider, feel bad for her.

“If I were lucky enough to marry Alma, I’d never let her run herself ragged. Even if I had to beg on the streets, I’d take care of her.”

Alma’s parents were delighted by his flattery. They practically wanted the two of them to get married on the spot.

“Now that’s the kind of man I’m talking about! Someone who actually knows how to treat a woman!

“Al, just leave Clyde. Give Toby a chance.”

Alma, however, seemed stubborn. She cut them off.

“This is between Clyde and me. You guys don’t understand us, so stop saying things like that!”

Seeing that Alma was displeased, her parents stopped teasing her about Tobias.

They then returned to criticizing me in various ways. They even dragged my father into it.

“Clyde is no good, and he doesn’t treat you right. Even his father is clueless! He gets sick and still expects you to be the one taking care of him!”

I felt that the whole thing sounded absurd.

I had supported Alma in getting her promotion. My father had added Alma’s name to the apartment when he bought it. Yet they did not ever give me or my father any credit for anything.

I flung open the ward door. The four people inside had not expected me to show up so suddenly. The atmosphere became awkward.

Tobias stood up and pretended to be polite as he said, “Dr. Northman, you’re here! Your in-laws were just saying such nice things about you!”

I did not bother with politeness and demanded that they leave.

“My dad’s just back after his examination. He needs rest. So, those of you with no business here need to leave. Now!”

Alma shot up from her seat and said harshly, “Clyde, who do you think you are? You were the one begging me to come see your father just a few days ago!

“First, you throw a fit about divorce, then you throw a fit about quitting your job. And now, you’re trying to act like we’re strangers?”

I thought about the divorce agreement she had already signed. I looked at her mockingly.

Alma’s parents saw how rudely I was treating their daughter. They stood up to defend her.

“Clyde, if it weren’t for Al, you would’ve been fired a long time ago!”

“Without her, do you really think your father could’ve gotten his surgery or a private ward in the hospital?”

They grew more agitated as they spoke. They slammed their hands down on the bed rail as they lectured me.

Tobias busied himself by patting their backs to try to calm them down.

“Hmph! You really made a grave mistake this time. You’d better get on your knees and apologize to Al!”

Alma pretended to be magnanimous. She offered me a way out.

“Oh, you don’t have to get on your knees. Same as before, just apologize to me and Tobias in public. I’ll pretend you never mentioned divorce or quitting your job.”

I looked at her coldly.

She was angered by my attitude. Her expression darkened.

“If that’s how you want it to be, then there’s no point in staying married!”

I smiled in relief. I was thankful she had finally revealed her true nature.

Just then, someone knocked at the door. My lawyer walked in holding some documents.

In front of Alma’s stunned parents, he handed a document to me and another to Alma.

“Clyde, your divorce is all set. Here’s the paperwork.”

After that, he took out a small party popper and pulled it open over my head.

“Congratulations on finally getting divorced! Free from the torment at last!”