Chapter 3

He dragged me back to his office.

"How long are you going to keep making a scene? You've been giving me attitude all this time just because I didn't eat the food you brought?"

I wrenched myself free and shoved the baby outfit in front of him, my eyes burning.

"They didn't know what this was. But you did, didn't you?

"If you don't want anything my mom makes, fine. I'll take it all back. But you knew she knitted this for our baby, and you just stood there while someone used it to wipe their shoes?"

Richard froze. His gaze shifted away, and his voice dropped. "Daisy's cousin grabbed it before I could stop her. I didn't react in time. No one meant to ruin it."

"And what about the sweater my mom knitted for you? You donated that. Were you too late to stop yourself then, too?"

He hadn't expected me to know about that.

My mom had knitted him a sweater once. He'd turned around and dropped it straight into the hospital's clothing donation bin.

My mom had found out on her own. When she told me, she sounded almost apologetic. Maybe he hadn't liked the style, she said. Next time, she'd make him a nicer one.

Richard was silent for a moment, then rubbed the spot between his eyebrows, looking exhausted.

"The collar on that sweater was too tight, and the fabric was itchy. I couldn't wear it. I was afraid your mom would be hurt if she saw it just sitting there, so I donated it. I thought you'd understand."

When he looked up at me, his eyes were a little red.

"You're making this big a deal over two pieces of clothing? I'm just looking after Daisy. There's nothing going on between us.

"You always blow everything out of proportion. And now you're taking it out on Daisy's family."

I gave a humorless laugh. "Isn't that exactly how you treat my parents?"

Richard fell silent.

"Your dad never complained. Why are you still hung up on it?"

"Daisy's relatives are just resting here today. Go on home. When I'm done, I'll come home and make you that tomato-and-burrata salad you love."

I laughed without humor. "I'll go home, all right. And I'm never setting foot in here again."

Richard just stood there looking at me like he didn't know what to do with me. Then he heard Daisy coughing in the lounge. "Suit yourself."

He slammed the door behind him.

Daisy's relatives settled into the lounge like it was theirs, without a shred of guilt.

Richard thought I was just acting out of anger. When I handed him the divorce papers that night, he didn't take them seriously.

I didn't stop. I kept packing my personal belongings into a suitcase.

On the other side of the bed, Richard tossed and turned. More than once he seemed about to say something, but he never did.

Early the next morning, I took my suitcase with me to my prenatal checkup. In the hospital lobby, I saw Daisy leaning on Richard. The two of them were about to go for a walk in the garden.

When Daisy saw me with my suitcase, she looked surprised, and a little awkward.

"Angela, where are you going? Richard just promised he'd take us to the hot springs resort outside the city today, and he's already planned the whole trip."

I paused. I remembered the folder on Richard's computer desktop called "Hot Springs Resort." He'd been planning it for over a month.

I had actually thought he'd finally remembered the wish my father had once mentioned.

Maybe he was planning to take all of us to the resort for a few days.

Now, I wondered if he'd ever even heard my father mention it.

I shook my head, almost amused by my own foolishness.

Daisy was visibly relieved.

"I was worried you'd get jealous if you came along. The resort's almost fully booked, and Richard only reserved one suite for the two of us.

"But Angela, don't get the wrong idea—"

"I won't. We're getting divorced."

I cut off her fake-innocent act, my voice flat and emotionless.

She was clearly stunned.

Richard's face darkened with anger. "It's a suite with two separate rooms."

Just then, Daisy's parents walked over. Carol immediately stepped in to defend her daughter, glaring at me.

"How can you be so vicious? What kind of woman threatens her husband with divorce every time she gets upset?"

"Daisy has always seen Richard as an older brother. How did your parents raise you to be this petty and jealous?"