Chapter 4

"If you win, this cologne is yours. But if I win, you pull down your husband's pants right here so we can all get a look, alright?" someone said.

I frowned. Endless humiliation washed over me.

"Jody, I came here to divorce you."

The room went quiet for a second. Then everyone burst out laughing.

"Divorce? Who's going to marry you after this? A nun?"

…

I walked out of the bar, but the mocking laughter still echoed in my ears.

The image of Jody protecting Pete was like a thorn, popping all the beautiful memories I had of us.

Ever since we started dating, Jody had always looked out for me. When someone called me broke, she slapped him across the face. "He's still a hundred times better than you!"

When her parents didn't want her to marry me, she was willing to cut ties with them for my sake.

From that moment on, I swore to myself I would give her a good life.

But later, the more money we made, the more expensive the gifts I gave her, the colder she became toward me.

To make her happy, I stepped back and handed the whole company over to her. I stayed home to take care of our daughter and be a full-time husband. I never expected that once she became the boss, Jody wouldn't focus on the business—she'd go looking for Pete at his fancy university.

The next morning when I woke up, Pete's annoying presence was finally gone from the house.

Jody was wearing the same maternity dress I'd bought her when she was pregnant with Chloe. She set a plate of eggs in front of me, looking a little guilty.

"Honey, I didn't mean what I said at the bar last night. I was drunk. I wasn't thinking. I only drank with those guys because I wanted to win that cologne for you."

She slid the cologne over to me.

I frowned and looked at it. It was nothing like the limited edition one that had been in the display case last night. I didn't eat the breakfast she made. I didn't take the half-hearted gift either. I just calmly pushed the divorce papers toward her.

"Jody, since you like Pete so much, since you want to have his baby and start a family with him, why keep dragging this out with me? Sign it. We'll get divorced today."

Jody's expression slowly turned cold. The smile faded from her face.

"Because Pete fed me a spoonful of soup? Because those guys made a couple of jokes about you? Since when did you get so petty?

"I never said I wanted a divorce. What gives you the right to ask me for one? You really think I'll coddle you forever and protect your pride? You really think I'm afraid to sign?

"Our daughter died because of you. Don't you feel even a little guilty about that?"

I took a deep breath, clenched my fist, and slammed it on the table.

"That's enough! Jody, anyone else can say that to me—but not you! Don't you know how our daughter really died? Do you want to make me call the cops and pull the security footage from that day? Let's end this. Sign the papers."

Jody's pupils shook. She stared at my face in disbelief.

For the first time, she looked panicked. She regretted her immature thoughts.

But she still glared at me stubbornly. "Fine. Just stay home and don't overthink things. I'll forgive you this time. But if there's a next time, I really will sign."

She turned and walked out, got in her car, and drove off.

I collapsed onto the couch, exhausted. After two days of no sleep, I finally drifted off.

I felt like I had a very long dream. In the dream, I finally saw my daughter Chloe again. I'd been missing her so much. She handed me a lollipop and smiled sweetly. "Daddy, I don't blame you."