Divorce

Emile woke up with the first rays of sunlight. She hummed a tune as she busied herself in the kitchen making breakfast. Her steps were lighter with the joy of determination after a torturous night of self-evaluation and reminiscing. She finished her breakfast and left home without waiting for the Daniel to wake up.

Daniel however was already awake. He lifted his eyebrows curiously as he heard the happy humming coming from outside. But he didn’t get up as Michelle was sleeping nestled in his embrace.

Emile first visited her grandfather trusted aide, Lawyer Hee and spent the whole morning discussing and drafting her next steps. In the afternoon she visited grandpa Holston.

“Grandpa, I am here to visit you.” Emile stood at the entrance of the living room after the butler had announced her arrival.

“Come… come….” Grandpa Holston waved his wrinkled hand as he invited her enthusiastically. Emile walked over and sat next to him with a polite smile “How are you feeling, Grandpa?”

“All the more better now that you have come to visit me.” Grandpa Holston laughed as he sized her up but soon stopped laughing. His face turned serious as he looked at the girl in front of him who has lost all her liveliness except for the fake smile which hung on her face. “But I suppose this is the last time I will see you as my grand daughter-in-law, isn’t it?”

He knew… he was not some senile old man. He knew very well what his unscrupulous grandson had been doing…. Aha… he regretted it… he harmed his best friend grandchild.

“Grandpa… I ….” Emile suddenly lost all the courage and determination she had worked up all night.

“Ai… aha…” Grandpa Holston sighed as he held her hand and gently patted “Child, I have wronged you. I thought my grandson would become enlightened…. Aaii… I have wronged you…. I don’t even know what face I have to face my dear Danton… He must be jumping around in his grave…”

“Child, I will support what ever decision you have made.” Grandpa Holston looked into her eyes with determination “That unfilial son of mine doesn’t deserve Danton’s treasure. Forgive this old man’s greed that caused you to suffer.”

“It’s all in the past.” Emile smiled although she couldn’t get rid of the sadness in her eyes.

“Grandpa will be your backer.” Grandpa Holston patted her hand as he promised “I and Danton have always been two bodies and one soul…. You will be my granddaughter from now on.”

Emile smiled neither agreeing nor disagreeing. She didn’t want to break Grandpa Holston’s heart by telling him that she didn’t want anymore contact with any of them. He was the only person in this house who was truly good to her. Both her in-laws didn’t like her…. How could they, when she was the stumbling block in their son’s happily ever after? There was even less of a chance for Daniel’s snobbish vain sister to like her…

Emile spent the afternoon with Grandpa Holston and returned home in the evening. She waited in the living room for Daniel’s arrival. He came around 6pm to change his clothes.

“We need to talk.” Emile opened her mouth as she saw him ignoring her and walking towards the master bedroom.

“I don’t have time.”

Emile’s face fell but it was only for a split second before she regained a calm composure “Then make time. This is the last time you have spend time for me.”

Daniel’s feet paused before he walked into the bedroom. He needed to change and pick Michelle for the banquet.

“Wait.” Emile narrowed her eyes and spoke coldly.

Daniel stopped taken back by her coldness. She had never spoken to him in such a tone, nor had she ever looked at him with such a cold gaze. He didn’t even know why he felt stifled in a corner of his heart.

Daniel sat down rudely to hide losing his composure “Make it quick.”

“Here is the divorce agreement.”

“Huh?”

“Heh” Emile’s lips curled up in a self-deprecating smile “Today is our third wedding anniversary.”

Daniel looked like he was a bit lost but it was only for a moment “I need…..”

“No need.” Emile pursed her lips “If your decision is to divorce, then sign. I have spoken to Grandpa and he has agreed.”

“You sure are capable.” Daniel rebuked as he lifted the pen.

“Daniel, I am someone who never looks back and never goes back on my word.” Emile took a deep breath “This is also why I have never brought this up before no matter how you treated me. I had agreed to three years and that I have kept.”

“But know this… If you sign this paper and leave today, we are strangers from this moment forth and I will never even shed a glance in your direction.”

“He…he…he…” Daniel laughed disdainfully as he snorted “You think too much. I can’t wait to never see you again.” He signed the document without any hesitation.

“Good… good… very well…” Emile nodded as she suppressed the pain in the heart and spoke in a voice devoid of any emotions “That brings me to my next question.”

“You have never taken any protection when you forced me to fulfill my duties as your wife.” Emile struggled to keep her aloof front “What if I get pregnant?”

“Abort.” Daniel didn’t have to think what to do. He frowned as he realized that they had never taken any precautions and looked at her with a measuring gaze. But he couldn’t see anything on her face. It didn’t look like anything more than a hypothetical question.

“And if I don’t?”

“You don’t have a choice. Abort.” Daniel’s lips curled in disdain. Now, he was sure. This was a farce she came up with to stop him from divorcing.

“Do you want to take me to court on that?” Emile challenged as her lips curled in ridicule. “This is my body. I decide what I do.”

“Whether there is a child or not has nothing to do with me.” Daniel smirked as he added “If you insist, he will be a bastard.”

“His father is…. But I will make sure he isn’t.” Emile narrowed her eyes. She saw the fury gathering in Daniel’s eyes and didn’t give him a chance to retort; She opened her mouth again “So you agree that after we sign this divorce, even if there is a child, you have no claim over the child as your decision is to abort the child and his life has nothing to do with you?”

“Yes.” Daniel rolled his eyes “Go and have the abortion if you are pregnant.”

“I will decide what I do with my life and body after today.” Emile smiled slyly as she put another sheet of paper in front of Daniel.

“Please sign this statement as well if you really mean what you said.”

Daniel looked at the paper in confusion but gritted his teeth as he read the contents. It was basically stating what they just said. She was waiting for him here, although he had no idea why.

“Sign” Emile prompted and taunted as she didn’t have any confidence “Or what?? Are you regretting?

Daniel signed the paper in a fit of anger and stomped out of the house with a copy of the divorce agreement.

Emile sunk into the sofa sobbing, shedding the façade she was holding onto … to maintain her last bit of dignity…… Today was the last day she would cry for this man … today was the last day she would shed tears for her youth…. Today was the last day she would reminisce her lost love…. Today was the last day she would grief for this ……