Chapter 7

Frank looked at me. "Besides, keep yourself safe. Don't conflict with Jeremy or do anything crazy. Stick to the legal process."

"I understand," I said.

When I walked out of the law firm, it was already dark. I stood by the curb, watching the cars go by. Suddenly, the whole world felt alien to me.

After three years of marriage, I thought I knew Jeremy well. Now it turned out that I wasn't familiar with him at all.

I wondered when Jeremy started cheating, whether he never loved me from the start or if he fell for someone else during our marriage.

I wanted to know where he was on those nights he said he was working late, and who he was with on those weekends he claimed he was at company dinners.

And I doubted who Emily was, how old she was, what she did, whether she knew Jeremy had a wife, and why she'd be with him if she did.

All these questions caused a piercing pain in my chest. I pulled out my phone and opened up Sweet Emily's Instagram again. This time, I scrolled through every feed I could see.

The earliest one was from three months ago. The photo showed a bouquet of roses. The caption read: [First time getting such a huge bouquet. So happy.] Jeremy liked it.

Three months ago was July. So they'd been together since at least that time.

I kept scrolling.

In August, Emily posted another Instagram feed. [Finally, someone is willing to watch a film with me. So happy.]

There was a photo of two movie tickets. It was Starlight, on August 15th, at 9:30 PM.

I remembered that day. Jeremy said he had to work late and wouldn't be home for dinner.

He didn't get back until after 11 PM. I asked if he was tired, and he said he was exhausted and then crashed into bed.

It turned out that Jeremy was out watching a movie with Emily.

My hands were shaking as I kept scrolling.

In September, Emily posted another feed on Instagram. [Had such a great day today. Thanks, Jeremy, for taking me to the amusement park.]

There was a selfie with a Ferris wheel in the background. Emily was smiling brightly.

I spent the whole day at home, waiting for Jeremy because it was our wedding anniversary. He said there was an emergency at work and he couldn't get away.

I ate the cake, watched the movie, and fell asleep on the couch all alone.

When I woke up in the middle of the night, Jeremy still wasn't home. It turned out that he was out there, giving Emily a day that felt like Valentine's Day.

I turned off my phone and closed my eyes. Tears kept streaming down my face.

I wondered, during the three years, what I was to Jeremy and whether he treated me as a maid, an ATM, or a joke.

I remembered our wedding day, when Jeremy held my hand and told everyone, "I'll always be nice to Sarah."

I thought about our wedding night, when he held me close and said, "Sarah, marrying me is the best decision you'll ever make."

I recalled that after our first quarrel, Jeremy comforted me, "I'm sorry. I'll never make you angry again."

Now, all those words sounded like a joke. And I was the biggest laughingstock.

My phone suddenly buzzed. It was a WhatsApp message from Jeremy. [Submit the marital settlement agreement to the courthouse tomorrow.]

I stared at the text but didn't reply.

Tomorrow was October 25th. There were still 25 days left in the pre-divorce separation period. But I didn't need it to think over everything calmly.

I was clear-headed and well aware that our marriage had been dead for a long time.

But I wasn't going to divorce so easily. I would take back everything that was mine.

I sent Frank a message on WhatsApp. [Frank, I've decided to sue for divorce.]

Frank replied quickly: [Okay. Come by tomorrow, and we'll talk about details.]

[Alright.] I put my phone down and took a deep breath.

Jeremy thought the pre-divorce separation period was his chance to transfer the money and run off with Emily. But he was wrong.

These thirty days weren't his buffer period, but my time to get ready.