It turned out she was afraid I’d found out
something that would affect the cooperation
between our families.
But why? When she and I got married, my
family saved hers from bankruptcy.
Out of love for her, I always gave favorable
terms to their family business.
What did I get? A wife who only gave me a
good face when she felt like it, and a child
who wasn’t mine.
She treated me like a fool?
I didn’t reply, and contacted a lawyer to draft
a divorce agreement.
The lawyer was efficient; he sent me the
agreement the next day. I skimmed it, saw no
problems, and sent it to Jessica.
<
Soon, her call came. Ironically, in five years,
she initiated contact fewer times than in
these past two days.
“Henry, are you serious?!”
Jessica sounded angry. She hadn’t expected
me to actually go through with the divorce.
“As you can see, I’m not joking.”
“…Let me tell you, once you divorce, there’s
no turning back.”
Her tone was confident, as if I would regret
the divorce. Even though I’d decided to end it,
her tone made me sad.
Her confidence showed she knew I loved her.
But knowing this, she still trampled my
feelings.
I tilted my head and blinked:
“Jessica, I’m giving way to Greg, isn’t that
good?”
‘…You’re talking nonsense! It’s annoying!”
She angrily hung up.
く
I thought she’d sign the agreement quickly.
But Jessica didn’t respond.
On the weekend, my parents surprisingly
invited me for dinner.
I figured I should tell them about the divorce,
so I went home.
Upon entering, I saw Jessica’s parents
chatting amicably with my parents.
Jessica was unusually busy in the kitchen
with the housekeeper. Lily was playing with
her toys, and when she saw me, her face lit
up, and she called, “Daddy.”
I stopped.
Lily’s “Daddy” broke the conversation. My parents and Jessica’s parents looked at me.
I understood. Jessica must have told them
about the divorce and brought both sets of
parents to intervene.
Sure enough, as soon as I changed my shoes,
my dad told the housekeeper to take Lily
away.
“Jessica said you want a divorce? You’re
grown, you have a child, why bring this up?”
My dad spoke first, his tone severe, probably
thinking I was messing around outside.
The Wilsons couldn’t bring this up directly;
they’d relied on the Howards for years.
But my dad opened the door, and Jessica’s
mother followed suit:
“Henry, we entrusted Jessica to you, we were
relieved, we haven’t heard of any problems,
why suddenly bring up divorce? Did
you…meet someone else?”
“Henry, as men, I understand, but yours and
Jessica’s marriage isn’t simple, dating is
dating, marriage involves two families, let’s
talk it through, divorce isn’t a small matter,
for the sake of the child, you shouldn’t be so
rash.”
Mr. Wilson chimed in, claiming understanding
<
but showing displeasure. My mother remained
silent but gave me a disapproving look.
Jessica must have told them something; both
sets of parents thought I was in the wrong.
Dinner was canceled.
I wanted a clean break with Jessica.
But now, I didn’t want to give her face.
What confidence did my past actions give
her?
To dare to bring both sets of parents here.
Wasn’t she afraid I would expose her?
“Tell Jessica to stop; let’s all come out and
hear why I insist on divorce.”
Soon, Jessica came out, wiping her hands.
She wore a mustard yellow dress; I bought it
when we first got married.
She didn’t like the color then.
She never wore it all these years. But she put
it on today, a weak attempt at appeasement.
She knew how to make me happy.
But Jessica hadn’t done any of these things
in five years.
Only when I mentioned divorce did she put on
the dress, trying to give herself an out.
I felt helpless and frustrated. Did she really
think I was that naive and spineless?
I chuckled wryly, and placed the paternity test
report on the coffee table.
“This is why I want a divorce.”
Chapter 2
Words are less convincing than a paternity
test. The moment Jessica saw “Paternity
Test” on the document, her face drained of
all color.
She looked up at me incredulously, her lips
trembling:
“You… when did you…”
Both sets of parents‘ faces changed. My
mother was the first to pick up the report.
She quickly flipped to the last page, saw the
results, and slumped onto the Sota, clutching
her chest.
