Chapter 9

Jennie felt her anger ignite all at once.

She turned her head and shot back coldly, “When you’re working, I wait at least two hours every single time. The longest was when you had that meeting. I sat in the car downstairs for six hours. Did I complain even once?”

William let out a short, mocking laugh through his nose.

“How is that the same? Jennie, do you really think your comfortable life, your ability to swipe a card without checking the limit, everything you have… where do you think it all came from?”

There it was again.

Jennie knew no matter what she said, he would always make himself right. She suddenly felt exhausted. She shut her mouth, unwilling to argue anymore.

Her silence, however, only irritated him further.

He suddenly remembered Wendy leaning against his shoulder earlier, whispering, “I felt bad for you. You already work so hard, and you take care of me and Jasmine on top of everything. And now you have to deal with that woman too. I didn’t want to exhaust you.”

The comparison made his frustration spike.

“Jennie, I don’t ask much from you. Can’t you just make things easier for me? Can’t you show me a little concern?”

Jennie let out a small, incredulous laugh.

“If I’m so terrible, why did you marry me in the first place?”

William froze. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

Normally, at this point, no matter who was right or wrong, she would already be apologizing, softening her tone, begging for peace.

But not today.

He didn’t know how to respond.

Jennie’s lips curved in a colder line.

“Was it because my father invested in your failing company?”

William’s voice shot up sharply.

“Jennie, what nonsense are you talking about? Your father invested because he believed in my ability and my potential. Jennie, can you please look at reality?

“If your father had really cared about you back then, things wouldn’t be like this today. You don’t know anything…”

His voice stopped abruptly.

He finally noticed that Jennie had turned her face away at some point. She stared stubbornly out the window as tears slid from the corner of her eye, streaking down her cheek and soaking into her dress, leaving a small, darkened patch.

Seeing her cry, William felt a flicker of guilt.

He loosened his grip on the steering wheel and reached over, a bit stiffly, brushing the tears from her cheek with the back of his hand.

His touch wasn’t gentle.

“Alright. Stop. I won’t say anything else. It’s your birthday. Let’s not ruin it.”

The dry skin of his hand against her wet cheek made Jennie flinch. She turned her head away immediately.

She had been trying so hard to hold her tears back, but his forced tenderness opened something inside her, and the tears only came faster.

Watching her cry harder, William suddenly pulled the wheel sharply and stopped the car on the emergency lane.

“Jennie.” He unbuckled his seat belt and leaned toward her, trying to wipe her tears. “I’ve been exhausted with work lately. The pressure has been insane. Please just listen. Let’s just enjoy your birthday.”

Jennie’s chest hurt with every breath, each pulse of her heartbeat sharp and raw.

It took several deep breaths before she could steady herself. Her voice trembled.

“William, let’s get a divorce.”