Chapter 1

That night, Andrew came home late, just like always. When he saw Emily sitting on the couch, he paused for a second. He said, "I had to work overtime, so I got home late."

Overtime? More like working overtime in someone else's bed.

Emily kept her voice calm as she replied, "Yeah, I know."

Andrew thought her attitude was a bit off tonight, but he didn't dwell on it. Just like every night for the past six months, he headed straight for the bathroom to shower.

Emily couldn't help but find it ridiculous: Did he really take her for a fool, thinking a quick shower would hide another woman's perfume as if she wouldn't know he was cheating?

Just then, her phone buzzed with a new message.

Emily tapped her phone and saw it was a video.

In the video, a young woman with flawless makeup was straddling Andrew. She took the ring off his finger, gave it a quick look, then tossed it into a glass of champagne without a second thought.

Andrew just gazed at her with that doting smile. He didn't even lift a finger to stop her, as if the ring he'd worn for seven years was just another pebble on the sidewalk.

Then, with everyone egging them on, they began making out as if there was no tomorrow.

The woman texted: [Andrew doesn't love you anymore. Do yourself a favor and get lost.]

Those words stabbed straight into Emily's heart.

Her lips curved into a sarcastic smile. But as she laughed, tears spilled down her cheeks, the agony clawing at her from the inside out.

Eyes red and hands shaking, she punched in the number of her lawyer. She said, "Peter, I need you to draft the divorce agreement as soon as possible.

"Split the assets however you see fit. I don't care about the money. I just want out, fast."

*****

"Mom, you should divorce Dad," Stella said.

Emily was stunned. She never expected her six-year-old daughter to say something like that. It took her a moment to find her voice. She asked, "Stella, do you even know what divorce means?"

"Yeah, it means you and Dad won't live together anymore," Stella replied brightly.

Emily gently coaxed her, "Can you tell me why you want me to get a divorce?"

Stella whispered, "Because you've been crying a lot lately, and your eyes are all red. I don't want you to be sad anymore."

Emily's tears spilled over before she could stop them.

Stella was indeed Andrew's daughter; she even said the same things.

Emily remembered the first time she cried in front of Andrew. He kept kissing the tears from the corners of her eyes, promising he'd never let her be sad again.

But he'd forgotten that promise. For the past six months, she'd been crying because of him.

And now he couldn't care less about her tears, or about her at all.

Emily leaned down and kissed Stella on the forehead. She said, "You don't need to worry about any of this, honey. Just be happy and grow up. That's all you need to do."

That night, Andrew came home late, just like always. When he saw Emily sitting on the couch, he paused for a second. He said, "I had to work overtime, so I got home late."

Overtime? More like working overtime in someone else's bed.

Emily kept her voice calm as she replied, "Yeah, I know."

Andrew thought her attitude was a bit off tonight, but he didn't dwell on it. Just like every night for the past six months, he headed straight for the bathroom to shower.

Emily couldn't help but find it ridiculous: Did he really take her for a fool, thinking a quick shower would hide another woman's perfume as if she wouldn't know he was cheating?

Just then, her phone buzzed with a new message.

Emily tapped her phone and saw it was a video.

In the video, a young woman with flawless makeup was straddling Andrew. She took the ring off his finger, gave it a quick look, then tossed it into a glass of champagne without a second thought.

Andrew just gazed at her with that doting smile. He didn't even lift a finger to stop her, as if the ring he'd worn for seven years was just another pebble on the sidewalk.

Then, with everyone egging them on, they began making out as if there was no tomorrow.

The woman texted: [Andrew doesn't love you anymore. Do yourself a favor and get out of here.]

Those words stabbed straight into Emily's heart.

Emily's lips curled into a sarcastic smile as her fingers flew over the keyboard. She texted back: [As long as we're not divorced, I'm still the rightful Mrs. Frost, and you're just the side chick who can't even show her face in public.]

The girl replied: [You old hag, just wait. Sooner or later, I'll make you see who's really worthy of Andrew.]

The bathroom door swung open, and Andrew came out, rubbing his hair with a towel. He smelled of the orange body wash Emily had picked out for him.

Emily asked, trying to sound casual, "Where's your ring?"

"Must've fallen off," Andrew replied, acting like it was no big deal. He said, "We can just buy a new set sometime. We've worn them for so many years already."

Emily never used to care about little things like this. Andrew wondered why she was bringing it up tonight.

Emily stared at his empty finger and just laughed. She said, "Yeah, whatever."

For some reason, that response really ticked Andrew off.

He snapped, "Emily, what's up with you lately? You're always so damn passive-aggressive."

Emily sneered, "Passive-aggressive? Me?"

Andrew ran his fingers through his hair, clearly annoyed. He said, "Look at you. You are always with that sour face. It's so draining just trying to talk to you, you know?"

Emily scoffed, "Draining? So I'm the one making your life so hard, huh?"

Andrew's tone was frosty as he said, "I'm not arguing with you. I'm sleeping in the study tonight."

Emily watched him leave, his back rigid with determination. Suddenly, she laughed, the sound harsh and out of place in the empty room.

But as she laughed, tears spilled down her cheeks, the agony clawing at her from the inside out.

Eyes red and hands shaking, she punched in the number. She said, "Peter, I need you to draft the divorce agreement as soon as possible.

"Split the assets however you see fit. I don't care about the money. I just want out, fast."