Chapter 3

The next morning, I went to Hugh’s office and set the divorce papers on his desk.

He looked surprised, but spoke with confidence. "You’re agreeing that easily?"

"Maya, you’ve been a housewife for seven years. Won’t you regret leaving me?"

Hugh thought I’d cry, make a scene, and beg him to take me back.

I didn’t.

I simply set a pen in front of him. "Sign. I don’t want custody of Joey. I only want $2 million and an apartment downtown."

Hugh froze.

Then he let out two mocking chuckles and looked at me with contempt. "You think you deserve that? All you’ve done these past few years is housework and childcare."

"Meanwhile, I worked to support the family, paid for your cancer treatment, supported both our parents, and never even cheated on you."

"Whose side do you think the law will take?"

I took a deep breath.

Hugh had always kept up a spotless image. Everyone praised him for staying devoted to his family even after he’d made his fortune.

Even with Mina, he’d planned to wait until after the divorce before pursuing her.

The next moment, I took a document from my bag.

"If you don’t agree, I don’t mind making this public. The woman you love, Mina Parker, will be branded a homewrecker."

Hugh’s eyes turned cold and dangerous.

"She’s only twenty. If you lay a finger on her, I’ll make you wish you were dead!"

Back when I’d attended business events on Hugh’s behalf, people had groped and harassed me.

He’d once grabbed one of them by the collar and beaten him, warning him to stay away from me, even though it cost him a hard-won business deal.

I smiled calmly and motioned for Hugh to look at the document.

It contained evidence my lawyer had gathered showing Hugh had transferred marital assets during our marriage.

Hugh looked at me in disbelief, then let out a startled, mocking laugh. "I thought being a housewife all these years had made you stupid. I see you’re still as cunning as ever."

He leaned back in his chair with a lazy smile, tapping his fingers on the desk. "But don’t forget, I haven’t done anything wrong. You’ve depended on me all these years. The most you’ll get is $400,000 and an apartment."

I swallowed my bitterness and scoffed. "I won’t accept that, Hugh. I’m giving you three days."

After I left the office, Mina came to pick me up.

At the café, she answered Hugh’s call.

His deep, tender voice came through the phone. "Mina, she agreed to the divorce."

"She doesn’t want custody of Joey, but she demanded a lot of money and property. She’s so calculating, making up an agreement full of schemes. She’s nothing like you—nothing near your innocence."

I clenched my fists.

How laughable. To preserve his image, he’d painted me as a greedy, scheming woman.

At my signal, Mina asked him, "What are you planning to do now? Are you going to get divorced?"

Hugh answered tenderly, "I will. Once I’m free of her, I’ll officially pursue you. Mina, I love you."

The phone felt scorching in Mina’s hand, and she hung up at once.

When she’d recovered, she asked me, "If you divorce Hugh, are you really giving up custody of Joey?"

I shook my head bitterly. I couldn’t afford Joey’s expensive tuition and extracurricular activities right now.

If he stayed with Hugh, Joey wouldn’t have to give up the standard of living he had now.

Besides, Joey had never once stood up for me in front of Hugh.

I loved him, but I was tired too.

Mina folded her arms and thought for a long moment before texting Hugh:

[I’ll agree to date you.]

[But I have one condition: divorce your ex-wife immediately. I don’t want people calling me the other woman who broke up your marriage.]

A minute after she sent the message,

Hugh replied:

[Meet me at the courthouse tomorrow at nine.]

How bitterly ironic that he favored the twenty-year-old me!

When I was sick, Hugh had immediately begun dividing up and transferring our assets.

Now, for the twenty-year-old me, he was willing to let go of any concern over who got what.

Mina looked at the messages on my phone and gave a cold laugh. "Just wait. We’ll give him a big surprise together!"

The next day, at nine, Hugh and I walked out of the courthouse divorced. As I looked at the divorce papers in my hand, I suddenly started to cry.

I was crying because I was finally free.

Hugh looked at me, his expression unreadable. "I know you love me. You can’t bear to divorce me."

"But I’m tired of you. You have stretch marks and a C-section scar, and you’ve been seriously ill. I can’t spend my life with someone who does nothing all day."

After he finished speaking, Hugh glanced at his phone, and tenderness filled his eyes.

Then he turned to me. "A week from now, I’m going to propose to Mina."