Chapter 4

The next day, at 11:50 AM, I took the day off and headed home early. Jeremy said he'd be here at noon, so I was waiting for him.

I sat on the couch, staring at the door.

At 11:58 AM, the lock clicked. Jeremy walked in, and behind him was a young woman: Sweet Emily on Instagram.

She looked younger and prettier than in her photos. She had on a pink dress and white leather shoes, carrying an LV bag in her hand.

I knew that bag. It was over $25,000 and the latest release this year. I saw it at the mall last month and wanted to buy it, but in the end, I couldn't bring myself to spend that much.

My monthly salary was $5,000. After paying $1,700 for the mortgage, $1,000 for Jeremy's parents, $700 for my own parents, and another $700 for utilities and property fees, I was left with about $1,000.

I had to put that money away, in case something happened. $25,000 was five months of my salary.

And there Emily was, swinging that bag around, smiling like it was nothing.

"What are you doing here?" Jeremy looked obviously stunned when he saw me.

"I live here," I said calmly. "This is my home."

"I mean, shouldn't you be at work?"

"I took the day off." I stood up and looked at the young woman. "Who is this?"

She and Jeremy exchanged a glance.

The young woman smiled, her voice sweet. "Hello, Mrs. Carter. I'm Emily, Jeremy's friend."

She stood next to my husband, carrying a $25,000 bag, and called me Mrs. Carter.

"A friend?" I looked at Jeremy.

Jeremy avoided my gaze. "A coworker."

"Since when do coworkers need a $25,000 bag?"

Emily glanced down at her bag, a flicker of embarrassment crossing her face. But she quickly smiled again. "I bought it myself. Jeremy only came with me to help pick it out."

"Oh, really?" I looked at Jeremy. "You went with Emily to buy a bag?"

Jeremy frowned. "Sarah, can you stop this? Emily is my friend. It's normal to help her shop."

"Normal?" I laughed. "On the fifth day of our pre-divorce separation period, you're out buying a $25,000 bag with another woman and introducing her to your parents? That's normal?"

"You—" Jeremy's expression changed. "Are you stalking me?"

"I'm not." I pointed at the bag in Emily's hand. "That bag was released on the 28th last month. Only fifty nationwide. I remember it clearly because I wanted one too."

Emily's smile froze.

Jeremy paused for a few seconds and then said, "So what? I spent my own money. Is anything wrong?"

"Nope." I nodded. "It's alright that you spent $25,000 of your own money on a bag for your so-called friend."

I walked over to the TV stand and grabbed a folder. "I sorted out all our spending records from when we were married."

I opened the folder and pulled out a sheet. "Three years and eight months. I gave your parents $41,000 in living expenses. You gave mine zero.

"We paid $170,000 total toward the mortgage together. I put in $95,000, and you put in $75,000. I covered every household bill, including utilities and property fees."

I looked up at Jeremy. "And you dropped $25,000 on a bag for Emily."

Jeremy's face darkened.

Emily stood off to the side, head down, and silent.

"Sarah, can you stop?" Jeremy suddenly raised his voice. "It's merely a bag. Is it worth making such a fuss? If you want one, I'll buy you one too."

"I don't want it." I put the sheet back into the folder. "I only want you to know how much I've given over the past three years."

"Given?" Jeremy sneered. "Don't act like you're doing something great. Isn't that what you're supposed to do? You're my wife. Isn't it your job to support my parents and pay the mortgage together?"

I looked at him, and suddenly, he felt like a stranger. I wondered whether Jeremy was really the one I'd been married to for three years.

"Supposed to?" I repeated. "So you think it's also your job to take Emily shopping and spend $25,000 on a bag for her?"

"She is different," Jeremy blurted out. He froze as soon as the words slipped out.

The room suddenly went silent.