Silent spring snow
Chapter 1
Every anniversary, Gary would bring a woman
home, claiming it was for my “training.”
This tenth anniversary, he brought a girl from
a karaoke bar, dressed in a bunny costume.
“She doesn’t have a gown, so give her your
wedding dress. And that jewelry I gave you,
too. As for shoes, yours will do just fine.”
“She’s young, she doesn’t know much. Teach
her a few things, especially the bedroom
stuff.”
Everyone was waiting to see me fail, and I
didn’t disappoint. I said I wanted a divorce.
Gary chuckled, a sneer on his face.
“Sarah, when haven’t you said that? I’m so
tired of hearing it, even more than your
moans in bed!”
“If you really want a divorce, I’ll give you a
hundred million dollars!”
く
The room erupted in laughter. They all
thought I was playing games, being dramatic.
But they didn’t know this
o as the hundredth
time I’d said it, and the only time I truly meant
- it.
All eyes were on me, even the karaoke girl,
who giggled and covered her mouth. “Alright, let’s place our bets! I bet she’ll
regret walking out that door.”
“I’ll bet a million she won’t leave!”
“I’ll match that with thirty thousand!”
The bets on whether I’d leave had become an
annual tradition.
Many people hated me for costing them
money; those who won didn’t exactly like me
either.
I chuckled, silently cursing my own weakness. Ten years, and only now did I find the
courage to leave.
“I bet she leaves.”
<
“I bet she leaves.”
A low voice cut through the room. Others
tried to dissuade him, but I couldn’t see who
it was.
“Gary, I’ll send the divorce papers to your
office. Sign them when you get them.”
I’d said “divorce” hundreds of times, but this
was the first time I mentioned actual papers.
Gary stiffened, his cigarette shaking, dropping
ashes on the floor.
I ignored it, knelt down, and took off my
heels, placing them beside the girl.
Her name was Lily, barely twenty, beautiful.
“These shoes are a bit tight, you’ll get used
to them.”
“Gary said something about a dress and
jewelry, I’ll have the housekeeper get them for
you.”
“He’s brought home nine other girls before
you, ask them if you have any questions.
く
They’re on the third floor, your room’s at the
end of the hall, on the right.”
Ten years of marriage, and Gary had enough
women for a harem.
Tall, short, fat, thin, innocent, sultry, cold,
bubbly–he had them all.
Rumors said he was trying to build a harem,
like the Jade Emperor.
But I wasn’t one of the lucky ones.
I brushed the unseen dust off my shoes, and
started to walk barefoot toward the door.
But before I could reach it, a strong hand
pulled me back.
“Sarah, if you’re leaving, leave clean.
Everything you own was bought with my
money.”
My bare feet felt like they were on ice, my
breath hitched.
“You want me to strip?”
Gary raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing.
<
“Your family went bankrupt, your mother
practically stripped you naked and put you in
my bed, remember? You came to me like
that, you leave like that!”
“Or are you regretting it? Fine, kneel down
and put her shoes on, and I’ll forgive you.”
The crowd roared with laughter.
وو
When we were dating, my family’s business
collapsed, my father jumped off a building
and became a vegetable.
My mother, fearing Gary’s family wouldn’t
help, drugged me and Gary, then made a big
fuss to force them to take responsibility.
That night marked the beginning of my
humiliation.
It also ended our youthful romance.
Gary was forced to marry me. On our
wedding night, he brought a woman home to
humiliate me.
He did everything in front of me Leven tore
く
open the condom and handed it to him.
I cleaned the mess, on my hands and knees.
I lived like this for ten years.
Now, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“I’ll strip.”
Before anyone could react, I unfastened my
shawl.
It was winter, but the room was warm.
But I was by the door, the cold wind whipping
up my skirt, goosebumps rising on my
exposed arms and shoulders.
I unclasped my dress, the thin fabric slipped
down.
My shoulder and cleavage were exposed.
“Oh my God!”
A few women covered their eyes.
The men were captivated.
Only Gary’s eyes were dark, his lips tight, only
the trembling cigarette in his hand betrayed
his unease.
<
The dress fell, and I stood almost naked
before them.
