All Chapters of 8 Years In An Estranged Marriage: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Thank you for all your guidance over the years, Sam. I'll always remember it."I handed over my resignation letter.Sam Maulner, my supervisor, took it, glanced down, then looked up at me, stunned. "You're quitting?"I nodded, my expression calm. "I'm changing jobs. I don't want to be a legal assistant anymore. And… my baby's father is abroad. I'm going to find him."Sam was silent for a beat, then blurted out, "I thought your baby's father was dead…"He caught himself instantly, an awkward laugh slipping out. "Sorry, that was a slip."Then his face softened, a reluctant look rising to the surface. "It's a shame. You're so good at what you do. Why not stay?"I shook my head and gave her a faint smile.Truth was, my baby's father might as well be dead. And no matter how capable I was, I was still just someone's assistant.After a few more polite exchanges, he agreed to the resignation, and I began handing over my work to my colleagues.In the break room, I saw Nate with his c

Chapter 2

The next day, I went to my daughter's sports day alone.When she didn't see her father in the crowd, tears welled up in her eyes. She cried quietly and stubbornly.From the moment she was born, Nate had never been there—not for her milestones, not for a single parent-child event.Even though I stayed with her through the competition, even though she won first place, it didn't make her smile.For a child, the absence of a father feels like the absence of father's love.On the way home, she kept asking me, "Mommy, does Daddy not like me? Mommy, will Daddy come home tonight for my birthday?"I couldn't answer.I didn't have the heart to let her hope and be disappointed again, so I kept texting Nate. Over and over, I messaged him.Eventually, he replied: [I'll come to the birthday.]The moment I saw it, I lit up.I turned to my daughter, smiling. "Of course. Daddy's coming."She squealed in delight, jumping up and down, nearly trembling with excitement.I let out a quiet breath

Chapter 3

Just as Nate was about to read the document, his phone rang.Selena's panicked voice spilled through the speaker. "Nate, my stomach hurts... can you come get me? Please? I'm really scared…"Without a second thought, he responded, "I'll be right there."He soothed her anxiously, didn't glance back at the page, picked up the pen and scribbled his signature in haste, then rushed out the door without another word.I watched his retreating figure and let out a cold, quiet laugh.'So this is how it ends. This house, this family—finally gone.'That afternoon, Nate sent a message. He'd arranged for a courier to deliver our daughter's birthday present.When I opened the package, I froze. It was a Barbie doll.Last year, during a company retreat, I brought our daughter along.Selena, behind my back, took her into a haunted house. Inside, actors dressed as grotesque Barbie dolls had terrified her so badly, she sobbed uncontrollably.Selena, annoyed, left her there—alone—in the dark for

Chapter 4

"Thank you for taking care of us these past few days, Uncle Nate."I stared at my daughter in disbelief. She held her head high with a quiet pride, even though her eyes were brimming with tears. She refused to let them fall.Eight years of a hidden marriage. Not once had Nate acknowledged our relationship publicly.I had stood by him—helped him build his career from the ground up, fought beside him in the legal world, gave birth to his child. And still, he insisted on keeping our marriage a secret—for the sake of his career, he always said.But what about our daughter? His own flesh and blood? He wouldn't even allow her to call him "Dad." Every time, he corrected her—"Uncle." And now, she was finally calling him what he always wanted."Mom, let's not bother him anymore."She tugged at my arm and started pulling me away.I nodded, following her lead. We were going to leave eventually. Leaving now made no difference. I had already given up on him completely.I took her hand, and

Chapter 5

After completing the resignation paperwork, I left the law firm.I didn't want to see Nate. I didn't want to say goodbye. So I sent the divorce papers by courier. Once he saw them and signed his name, it would all be over.'Goodbye, Nate. I wish you a lifetime of happiness with the one you love.'I was preparing to take Alyssa abroad. Still, I was afraid she might resent me for the decision, so I asked her gently, "Sweetheart, Mommy and Daddy are separating. I'll be taking you to live overseas. Will you be upset?"She shook her head and kissed my cheek with quiet understanding."Mommy, as long as I have you, I'm fine. I want to be with you forever. I just want you to be happy."That undid me.I broke down crying, but in that moment, every ounce of pain disappeared.With my daughter, it felt like I had the whole world.Men? They're like passing clouds—let them drift away.Everything from the past—I let it go.We settled on a small farm abroad and began a new life together. Th

Chapter 6

The office door was wide open. Everyone had seen what happened, but no one dared say a word. The room was steeped in silence.Nate's expression was grim. He didn't chase after her. Instead, he sank heavily onto the couch and rubbed his forehead, visibly worn out.He was the head of the firm. Selena, as his subordinate, had let her personal emotions bleed into work and shown attitude toward her boss. Of course, he was upset.My former colleague, the one who always shared gossip with me, sent this clip just to complain about Selena's incompetence."She relies too much on connections," she said, "always trying to take shortcuts."She even made a bet: how long could Nate put up with Selena?I didn't respond. Just sent back a smiling emoji and left it at that.Back then, Nate used to scold me all the time. But I knew it was because he wanted me to improve. So I listened, took his criticism seriously, and worked hard to get better.I only made it to high school before my parents pass

Chapter 7

Nate let out a helpless sigh and tried to reason with Selena."The viewers weren't insulting you. They were just pointing things out.""They called me brainless, impulsive, shallow, and selfish—how is that not insulting me?" Selena shot back, voice trembling. "I was just defending myself. Why won't you defend me?"Tears welled up in her eyes as she broke down, throwing a tantrum like a child denied attention.Nate looked exhausted. His face, usually composed, now revealed a trace of open disdain.He couldn't lose his temper, not here—not live. No matter how frustrated he felt, he had to bite it back, swallowing every word like broken glass."Fine. It's my fault."Without another word, he ended the livestream.I couldn't help it. I laughed.A perfectly good stream, derailed by Selena, drowned in chaos. Nate, the ever-composed professional attorney, had been thoroughly humiliated. The fallout from this disaster was inevitable.And sure enough, it came fast.Online threads buzz

Chapter 8

Sam let out a long sigh and continued, "Yeah. I tried to get her to stay, but she was determined. Said she was going to find her husband. I had no reason to stop her."Nate's face darkened like spilled ink, his eyes simmering with rage. The veins stood out starkly on the back of the hand gripping his phone.Then he let out a cold laugh."Oh? And since when does she have another husband?"Sam was speechless."How could you approve her resignation?" Nate snapped, his voice rising. "I'm the boss—resignations need my sign-off—"Before he could finish, a soft, clear child's voice cut in over the line."Daddy, who are you talking to? Why aren't you in bed?"Nate froze."I'm almost done. Be good and go to sleep," Sam replied gently, his tone completely different. In the background, there was the faint sound of him patting his child's back.Nate stood there, stunned.A few seconds passed before he slowly ended the call. Then, as if a light had switched on somewhere inside him, he mu

Chapter 9

Nate's expression was grim, his eyes sharp and cold enough to freeze her in place. He spoke each word like a final verdict."I'm not lying to you. I've fallen in love with her. I'm going to find her."With that, he shoved her aside and walked out.I turned off the surveillance feed. My whole body felt numb, frozen in place—then suddenly, I let out a soft, incredulous laugh.Feelings really are strange things.I never would've guessed that, without realizing it, the one who couldn't let go of me… was him.He was the one leaving for another country. He was the one coming to find me.He didn't treasure me while I was there. Only after I left did he realize what he'd lost.But what good does that do now?I was already in Norway.…One morning, I dropped Alyssa off at school as usual, then returned home to tend the flowers and vegetables in my garden.Honestly, I should thank Nate for being generous with money. Because of that, I now have enough savings to retire early and live

Chapter 10

"So, I've always been a scheming woman in your eyes," I said quietly.But I wasn't disappointed. More than that, I was seeing through it all.He was such a proud man—how could he ever truly bow his head for a woman?"Nate, did it ever occur to you that I was the one who was hurt that night?"He stepped closer, and I stepped back, slowly, until I had nowhere left to retreat.Leaning against the wall, I stopped. He paused too, confused, looking at me."What do you mean?"I said nothing. My mind drifted back to that night.Nate, drunk, was being steadied by me as I helped him to his room.I took off his clothes, tucked him in, then turned to leave.But just as I reached the door, he grabbed my arm, shoved me onto the bed, and lunged at me.His eyes were glazed, his face flushed with desire. I understood instantly—he'd been drugged.I struggled with all my might to get away, but it was useless.What chance did a woman's strength have against a man's?He tore off my clothes an

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