Chapter 2

The diary was like a mirror.

It reflected the love he never stopped feeling for his first love—and the pathetic fantasy I'd spent my life clinging to.

I set the last dish on the table.

The table was loaded.

It used to be filled with Danny and Owen's favorites.

Tonight, every dish was mine.

Danny frowned. "What's all this for? Why'd you make so much?"

I untied my apron.

"Yeah. It's a special day. Our last dinner."

"Our last dinner?" His face darkened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I slid the divorce papers across the table. "After dinner, let's get divorced."

"Divorce?" He looked at me like I'd lost my mind, then let out a mocking laugh. "So I wouldn't let you go to Owen's parent-teacher conference, and now you're throwing a fit?

"If you had a better education and a respectable job, do you think Owen would've been embarrassed to have you there?

"As for this..." He grabbed the papers and ripped them into pieces.

"This kind of threat doesn't work on me."

Without touching his food, he got up, walked into the study, and slammed the door.

Owen acted like nothing had happened and kept eating.

In my last life, whenever Danny got mad, he'd lock himself in the study and ice me out.

Owen would watch without a word. Sometimes he'd even join his dad in mocking me.

Every single time, I was the one who swallowed my pride and made peace.

Not this time.

Danny could refuse all he wanted.

I'd get help filing for divorce.

The outcome wouldn't change.

***

Early the next morning, I zipped up my suitcase.

Danny finally came out of the study, his face still dark. "Where are you going this early? Haven't you seen the news? There was a murder, and they still haven't caught the killer.

"If you're going to your mom's, I'll drive you. Otherwise, once she finds out we're fighting, she'll show up at my university again, saying I still owe your father for saving my life.

"I'm sick of dealing with it."

After my dad died saving Danny, my mom made him her last hope.

She used his guilt over Dad's death to push him into marrying me and promising to take care of me.

She also refused to let me join the PD.

She was terrified I'd die the way my dad did, so she insisted I become a housewife.

I knew Danny never wanted to marry me.

In my last life, I couldn't stand up to my mom either.

So while he was alive, I studied like crazy, desperate for one more look from him.

After he died, I took care of our family and his.

I owed him nothing.

But our marriage had been wrong from the start.

Now that I had another shot, I didn't want revenge.

No more ties.

No more scorekeeping.

No more contact.

That was my choice.

"I'll handle my mom. She won't bother you again. Let go. I need to leave."

Danny kept frowning.

His grip on my arm didn't loosen.

I frowned and started to pull away.

Then a woman's voice came from the doorway.

"Danny, I had a question about your paper..."

Alicia walked in after punching in the passcode, wearing a blue dress.

She froze when she saw us facing off.

"What's going on? Are you two fighting?"

Like she owned the place, she patted Danny's shoulder.

"What did I tell you? A husband should spoil his wife. How can you argue with her? She's already packed her bags to run home to her mom. Hurry up and make up."

Danny pressed his lips into a thin line and let go of my arm.

"Let her go if she wants. The less capable people are, the bigger their temper. That's what ignorance does."