Chapter 3

I pointed at the old photo and said to Lilith with some envy, "He's from our hometown. A backwater place like that actually produced an expert sent abroad.

"Studying overseas must've cost a fortune. I saw he did both his bachelor's and master's there. No way he could've done that without some serious family backing."

Lilith barely reacted, but she stared at the photo for a long time. Her eyes shone bright. She was clearly proud.

"True talent shines everywhere. He was born unlucky but lucky to have someone to help him. Comparing yourself to others just makes you bitter. Being jealous won't change anything. You just don't have the talent. When he joins the research institute, you'll still be just an average worker."

Her words hit me hard, and I never expected that the "someone" Lilith mentioned was herself.

"Are you spacing out?" A cold voice snapped me back.

Lilith caught me staring and frowned. "Don't sulk in front of me. If you don't want to sleep, get out."

Perhaps my expression was too grim. Thinking I was throwing a tantrum, Lilith lost her temper instantly.

Normally, whenever she showed signs of anger—no matter who was in the wrong—I'd pacify her and promise to never mess up again.

But now, there was no point in doing that anymore.

I lowered my head and opened WhatsApp. Reuben had sent me a bunch of divorce property division cases.

The text was a little blurry. My phone's screen was cracked like shattered glass from heavy use.

Lilith couldn't stand being ignored. She snatched my phone and threw it to the ground, furious.

"Sean Houghton, do you even want to make this marriage work? It's just two thousand dollars, not two million. That's barely enough for charity. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"

Sadness washed over me.

Even now, Lilith stubbornly thought I wanted a divorce because of the money.

It never crossed her mind, nor did she care to consider that if I were truly materialistic, why would I have tolerated her reckless spending all these years?

My heart bled as I stared into her bloodshot eyes and said firmly, "Lilith, I'm divorcing you for sure!"

At the mention of divorce, her face turned stone cold, and she slapped me hard.

"Aren't you embarrassed? What will the neighbors and friends think? How am I supposed to explain it?

"Maisy's about to get married. The engagement is right around the corner. Are you seriously starting a divorce now? Do you want to ruin her whole life?" she shouted hysterically without a hint of regret or apology.

Her mind was consumed by worry over her reputation and a paralyzing fear of the future.

No one cared about how I felt.

My heart felt like it had a giant hole torn open—empty and hollow.

As I looked at the woman I'd loved for over 30 years, I was overwhelmed with sorrow.

"Lilith, be honest with yourself. Who has really kept this family going all these years?

"I sold my family's house, used every penny I had saved before marriage, and even took on a 100-thousand-dollar loan to cover the 400 thousand dollars for your mom's liver transplant!"

"When Maisy didn't get into high school, the international tuition was 70 thousand dollars. I landed ten big deals, but I gave myself a stomach ulcer, went half a month without sleep, and almost dropped dead at work!

"Do you think money grows on trees? After all these years, haven't I patched every hole you've made with grit and teeth?"

Lilith was speechless. She started crying and woke Maisy up with her yelling.

"Dad, I'm begging you. Enough of this nonsense."

Maisy sighed deeply, her brow furrowed with frustration.

"You're a man. Providing is only natural. Don't use that to guilt-trip Mom. It's not that she's biased. You can't hold a candle to Hayden Even an idiot would know who to choose."

My fury was doused with cold water.

I looked at Maisy's face, which was so much like Lilith's.

The ache from my severed fingers flared up again.