Chapter 2

In the car, Ryan spoke first.

“You didn’t lose your temper today. That’s a rare sight.”

He was right. In the past, I would have argued, made a scene, and gotten into another fight with him.

I had grown so used to that pattern that I thought it was simply how Ryan and I interacted.

Only after my heart went cold did I realize that true disappointment came quietly and soundlessly.

Over the years I had spent with Ryan, we had countless arguments over the smallest things at home.

But every time, I was the one who gave in, convincing myself to let it go and coming up with countless excuses for Ryan.

I told myself he was tired from work, not used to doing housework, or just a typical guy who did not notice those things.

Yet I had forgotten that I was capable of getting tired as well.

Even more ridiculous was that all the household skills I taught Ryan had ended up being used for another woman and made things easier for her.

I finally understood that when someone did not truly care about you, nothing you did was ever right.

When Ryan noticed me remaining silent, he reached over and tugged at my hand.

“What’s the matter? Are you upset again?”

That one word, “again,” painted me as the unreasonable one.

“Come on, don’t be upset. I’ll mop the floors and hang up the laundry when we get home, okay?”

Ryan even chuckled after saying that.

“Don’t worry. This time, I’ll hang up the pants too. I won’t just hang up the shirts as I did before.”

I froze in surprise.

“So, he knew what he did wrong? He knew exactly why I was upset? I’d thought he was just completely clueless, but he knew all along,” I thought.

“So, you were doing it on purpose, weren’t you?”

“What?” Ryan pressed the horn and repeated himself, “What did you say?”

“You were doing it on purpose all along, weren’t you? You were never actually clueless about housework. It was all deliberate. You did all those things just to make me angry, didn’t you?”

Ryan suddenly burst out laughing.

“You figured me out. Gina, you’re pretty smart, aren’t you?”

He pinched my cheek, looking entirely pleased with himself.

“I just thought the way you completely lost it was funny.”

My mind went blank.

“Funny? Ryan had deliberately pushed my buttons again and again just because he thought watching me lose control was entertaining?” I thought.

My eyes immediately filled with tears. Being treated like a joke hurt more than I could put into words.

Bitterness slowly settled in my chest, and suddenly, I felt like there was no point to any of it anymore.

If that was how things were, then I had made my decision.

“Ryan, let’s get a divorce.”

Ryan slammed on the brakes, and the car jerked to a stop at the side of the road.

He frowned. “What did you say?”

A tear slipped down my cheek as I answered, “I said, let’s get a divorce.”

Ryan froze, and his expression quickly shifted to disbelief. He spread his hands and swallowed hard.

“Just because of what I said?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

Ryan scoffed.

“Gina, can you stop this?

“I’m tired and busy. I don’t have time to keep thinking about every little thing I might’ve said to upset you. Can you try to understand me too? My life isn’t easy either.

“Don’t throw the word divorce around so casually, Gina.”

“I’m not throwing it around. I’ve thought this through carefully,” I replied.

Ryan stared at me in silence for a long time.

After what felt like forever, he suddenly reached over to ruffle my hair.

I used to love it when he did that because it always made me feel safe.

But this time, I pulled away.

Ryan’s hand trembled in midair, and I knew that I had taken away the one opening he had always used to make peace with me.

“Honestly, these are all small things. We don’t need to—”

I cut him off. “Ryan, let’s end this marriage on good terms.”

The moment I finished speaking, Ryan slammed a fist against the steering wheel, and the horn beeped sharply.

He yanked at his tie, his patience clearly gone.

“Get out!”

As I reached for the door handle, Ryan shouted again, even more impatiently.

“Get out!”