1. Divorce

"I want a divorce."

Alice froze. Her eyes twitched as she digested those words. Edmund had just come home from work. Shouldn't he say hello?

“Sorry, Ed. What did you say?” Alice let out a laugh. Her right hand rose to the side of her ear. “There must be something wrong with my hearing.”

"I want a divorce," Edmund said firmly. Tears were visible in his eyes.

Alice's head tilted back. Her eyes flickered with incomprehension.

She was actually keeping a sweet surprise in a box behind her back—the two stripes they had been waiting for for a long time. But her husband asked her to divorce?

After a moment of silence, a small laugh escaped her mouth again. "Your joke is ridiculous, Ed."

"I'm serious. I don't want to continue this marriage." His voice was hoarse and full of pressure.

Her expression became flat again. She knew that tone. Edmund wasn't joking.

“W-why? Aren't we fine?” Alice tried to smile but failed. The wrinkles on her face were even more visible.

"You ask why?"

Edmund snorted in annoyance, looking away. His hands were clenched tightly.

“You know what I hate the most? Being disappointed. I thought you would never disappoint me. But it turns out? I have wasted my life on you.”

"Is it about the child's problem?" Alice stepped forward, reaching for his sleeve.

However, Edmund stepped back and slapped her hand away. His sharp gaze now pierced her heart cruelly.

“Three years, Alice. I thought you were serious about our marriage. Apparently not?" he shook his head faintly.

“If I knew it would turn out like this, I shouldn't have stopped you when you were about to jump on the bridge. Just let you drift in the river as a stranger I didn't know. That way, I wouldn't have to say those promises. I would never fall in love with you, and I wouldn't feel so much pain.”

“Wait, Ed. I really don't understand. Are you disappointed that I haven't given you a child? But why so sudden? You said we could fight for it together.”

Suddenly, Edmund raised his index finger in front of her face. “Enough, Alice. There's nothing more we need to discuss. I don't want to deal with you anymore. Now, sign the papers. Giselle!”

A girl dressed in office style stepped in. Her head was bowed, her hand holding a folder.

Alice looked at her in disbelief. “Giselle, do you support Ed divorcing me?”

The secretary did not answer. Her neck bent deeper.

Before Edmund received the folder from Giselle, Alice quickly grabbed his hand. “Ed, listen to me. If this is a child's problem, you don't need to worry. I—”

"Servants! Pack all her things! I want her to leave this house immediately."

Alice gaped in disbelief. Her throat grew dry. Before feelings eroded logic, she showed the box she had prepared to Edmund.

“Ed, do you see this? Open it! Check what’s inside. You'll definitely change your mind."

Edmund looked up, trying to catch his breath. His eyes closed, trying to maintain patience.

Unfortunately, Alice kept forcing him to accept the box. As his emotions became unbearable, his hand flew to the box.

“Stop persuading me! I won't change my mind. My decision is final. I want to separate!”

Alice gaped as the surprise box landed on the floor. Her breath hitched, her confusion grew thicker. It was like her heart were also in the box, slammed and crushed.

“Ed?” A single tear rolled down her cheek. "What's wrong with you? Don't you love me? Why did you change? Do you know what's in there?"

Edmund looked away. “Stop mentioning love. You don't deserve it."

Alice's eyebrows furrowed. "Why? What did I do wrong?"

Since Edmund refused to answer, Alice turned to her best friend.

“Giselle? What did I do wrong? What made Ed so disappointed and angry?”

“You dare ask what you did wrong?”

A booming voice suddenly came from the door. Seeing her mother-in-law, Alice's chest became tighter.

"What do you mean, Mom?"

Elizabeth stopped in front of Alice. A second later, the sound of a slap echoed.

"Don't call me Mom with that dirty mouth of yours. It disgusts me!"

Alice held her cheek with a broken heart. Her mouth was agape, still not believing what was happening. Her body trembled from the old wounds that had peeled off.

"Did you forget? I never liked you from the start. I let you two get married because Ed kept asking for my blessing. But it turns out, my judgment wasn’t wrong. You are indeed not worthy of my son! Sign this letter and get out of here right now!”

Elizabeth snatched the folder from Gisele then threw it at Alice.

Alice shook her head faintly. Her hands trembled violently as her eyes read the first line of the letter.

"No. I will never sign this letter. I really love Ed. I can't live without him. Besides, what did I do wrong? This morning we were still fine. Even this afternoon, Ed still called me, thanking me for the lunch I prepared for him."

Alice glanced at Edmund. However, her husband was reluctant to see her.

“Ed, can you explain what is going on? Why are you suddenly like this? Have you forgotten all your promises? Our promises? If I did something wrong, we can discuss it carefully. Ed?”

Alice was about to step forward, but her mother-in-law blocked her.

“Save your charade. Quickly sign it and go away!”

Once again, Alice shook her head. She turned to Giselle and the servants who were peeking from the next room. But they were all silent. No one dared to defend her.

"Gosh! Why are you so stupid? Can’t you understand the order?" Elizabeth grabbed Alice's hand roughly, forcing her to grip the pen. “Giselle, help me hold the letter.”

The secretary had no choice other than carrying out order. Seeing her hand drawn towards the letter, Alice rebelled.

"No! Mom, wait. What did I do wrong?"

Having difficulty, Elizabeth glanced at her son. “Edmund, why are you still? Hurry and help me!"

Edmund closed his eyes for a moment. Thousands of needles felt like piercing his heart. When he opened his eyes again, he reluctantly held Alice from behind.

"No! Ed? Please ... I don't want us to divorce. Mom?"

Holding back a smile, Elizabeth moved the pen in her daughter-in-law's hand. Alice's tears intensified when she saw the scratches she had made. Meanwhile, Edmund looked down with his eyes closed. His own heart was confused, his mind was a mess.

Edmund never expected it would happen in his marriage, that he would break his promise. No—it was Alice who broke their promise. That's what he believed.