Two years later, my parents secured compensation for the demolition of their place. It was worth over ten million. I went to the hospital to visit a colleague who had just given birth. From a distance, I spotted Margaret among the crowd of people waiting to make payments. She looked much older. Her hair was graying, and her back was hunched like Ethan’s. She kept trying to cut in line. After she was called out for it, she cursed at people angrily. She shakily pointed at a pregnant woman in front of her. “What’s so great about being pregnant? I’m way older than you! Can’t you just let me through?” As she spoke, she wiped her tears away. “Do you have any idea how tough it is being a single mother?” The pregnant woman turned red from embarrassment. In the next moment, she started bawling. The people around her complained to Margaret. She stood her ground and argued fiercely. I had heard her use foul language many times before. However, no one indulged her this time. It d
I got up and began to walk away. Ethan scrambled up in a panic and chased after me. The restaurant owner grabbed him by the collar. “Aren’t you going to pay?” Ethan’s face flushed red as he pointed at me. “My wife will pay. I don’t have any money.” I glanced back. “You ordered all the food, so you should pay. By the way, I’ve already filed for divorce. I’m not your wife anymore.” While Ethan was still being held by the owner, I walked to the roadside to flag down a cab. By the time I returned to my apartment, the moving company’s truck had already left. Everything went smoothly. I went upstairs and felt relief as I looked at the empty house. Before I left, I kicked the bedding Ethan had rolled up in the corner. It felt like a huge burden had been lifted from my chest. The divorce went smoothly. All the evidence was right at my fingertips. Ethan could not even defend himself. On the day we finalized the paperwork, he walked behind me with his head hung low. He pant
Ethan’s eyes lit up. He quickly stood up and followed me. I drove him to a restaurant we used to visit frequently. He skillfully pulled out the menu and started ordering. Everything he chose was heavy on oil and salt. After he finished his order, he stared at me eagerly. “I haven’t been eating or sleeping well lately. Honey, we can’t get divorced.” I could not help but sneer. There was no way he had not been sleeping well. He was snoring loudly in the hallway. When he saw that I was quiet, he said, “I’ll find a job. Don’t worry, I’m a changed man now.” I tapped the table as I watched him sweat profusely across from me. After sitting there for just a little while, he was already hot and was fanning himself with his hand. “Didn’t you say that I was too controlling?” He was stunned. He then said in a low voice, “Back then, I didn’t realize how good I had it. You were just looking out for me.” After a brief pause, he brought up Grace. He said, “That woman is def
Margaret spewed every curse she knew. “You messed with Walter, and now, you’re messing with my son?!” Grace sneered. “If you hadn’t called Walter’s kids, I wouldn’t be in this situation, would I?” Walter’s children firmly opposed his marriage to Grace. They moved him out of the neighborhood because they feared that she would pester him again. Grace felt frustrated because she lost both financial support and a potential partner in Walter. So, she directed all her anger at Margaret. At this point, Ethan snapped out of his daze. He trembled as he asked, “Were you just pretending to get close to me?” Grace did not hold back anymore. “I was actually planning to make things work with you, but honestly...” She paused. She sounded amused when she said, “After all our time together, I have to say... you’re just mediocre.” She said regretfully, “Walter was actually a bit better than you. “Plus, he had a pension and a house. What do you even have?” Ethan shook with rage. Gra
Suddenly, it clicked. As expected, Margaret had completely changed her attitude. She called and texted me constantly. She checked on me as if she were my own mother. She yelled at Ethan over the phone. Then, she quickly changed her tone with me. “Chloe, you two already have a bond. You’re married. If Ethan messes up, just yell at him and put him in his place. You don’t need to get a divorce. “My family will never accept that widow.” Her voice was so loud that it made my eardrums ring. My mother lost her patience and snatched the phone from me. “What makes you think you’re so special when you’re nothing?! I’m telling you, whether you like it or not, Ethan and Chloe are getting a divorce!” Margaret could not keep her cool either. “Chloe, you really are a manipulative b*tch! “You’ve just been waiting to dump my son and find someone better, haven’t you?” I had seen people act shamelessly before. But the level to which Ethan and Margaret stooped came as a surprise
I smiled and replied to Grace. Chloe: You can still use that bedsheet after a wash. The place isn’t soundproof, so please keep it down a bit. ... Ethan caused a scene at the company three days after signing the divorce papers. He used my parents’ name and went straight to Henry Cole, one of my father’s former students. Henry was already in a middle management position. He had helped Ethan get a job at the company out of respect for my father. Ethan did not mention anything about the divorce. He shamelessly asked Henry for help again. Henry was a polite and gentle man. He had even tutored me before. Despite Henry’s attempts to persuade Ethan to leave, Ethan stubbornly stood his ground. Henry called me and said helplessly, “He’s demanding the company pay him, but he has missed work more than once.” I calmly said, “Ethan and I are divorced. Handle it however you need to.” After a pause, Henry said, “Alright.” Once Henry got rid of Ethan, the latter could not even