Chapter 1
At the company's annual gala, I had just picked up a shrimp when the lazy Susan on the dining table spun suddenly.
The one who spun it was my husband's secretary, Daisy Wallace. She flashed me an innocent smile. "Sorry, Ashlyn, I wanted to eat this."
I looked at my husband, Todd Ferguson, waiting for him to say something.
Instead, he frowned and said to me, "Daisy's new to the company and doesn't know any better. Cut her some slack."
All my colleagues at the table stared at me, their eyes filled with amusement as if they were watching a funny show.
I smiled.
Then, in front of everyone, I took off the diamond ring he had given me for our first anniversary and threw it directly in his face.
I said, "Let's get a divorce. I don't want this ring, and I don't want you anymore."
*****
The annual party was in full swing, the lights blazing brightly.
On my plate sat a shrimp, glistening with golden sauce.
I reached out, my fork just touching the shrimp.
But then the lazy Susan on the dining table spun.
The shrimp ended up right in front of Daisy.
She picked it up with her fork and popped it into her mouth.
She flashed me a sweet smile.
"Sorry, Ashlyn, I didn't even notice. I just really wanted this one," Daisy said.
Daisy was Todd's distant cousin. She had only joined the company three months ago, all thanks to Todd pulling some strings.
Everyone at the table was staring at me, like they were waiting for a show.
I looked at Todd.
He was my husband.
He frowned at me.
"Ashlyn, Daisy's new here and doesn't know any better. Cut her some slack," he said.
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone at the table heard him.
The air around us went still.
I smiled.
I set my fork down, my voice barely above a whisper.
I wore a diamond ring on my left ring finger.
It was a one-carat diamond ring, a gift from Todd for our first anniversary.
I slipped it off.
The metal felt icy.
I stood up and raised my hand.
The ring flew through the air and struck Todd right in the face.
There was a dull thud.
A red mark appeared on Todd's cheek.
The ring hit the floor and rolled under the table.
Everyone froze.
Todd clutched his face, his eyes wide with shock.
"Are you crazy?" he blurted out.
I looked at him, enunciating every word. "Todd, let's get a divorce."
As soon as the words left my mouth, it felt like a weight had finally been lifted off my chest.
I grabbed my bag and turned to leave.
Behind me, the room was dead silent.
Then I heard the chairs clattering as Todd rushed after me.
He caught up to me in the hallway and grabbed my wrist.
His grip was almost painful.
"Ashlyn, are you done making a scene? Don't you feel ashamed?" Todd snapped.
I didn't look back.
"Let go," I said.
"Come back and apologize. Apologize to Daisy!" he barked.
I yanked my wrist free.
I turned to look at him.
His face was half in shadow, half lit by the hallway lights.
"Todd, you want me to apologize to her?" I asked.
"She's just a kid; she didn't mean it. You embarrassed me in front of everyone, and you think you're in the right?" he shot back.
I looked at him, and suddenly he felt like a stranger.
I had known Todd for five years, and we had been married for one.
My voice was cold and flat.
I asked, "So, Todd, who matters more to you? Me or her?"
He froze.
He avoided my gaze.
"That's not the point. Stop making a fuss," Todd shot back.
That was all the answer I needed.
I stayed silent.
I turned and headed for the elevator.
He didn't follow.
I could feel his stare and the curious glances from the colleagues around me, boring into my back.
The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped inside.
The numbers started counting down.
I looked at myself in the mirror, my makeup immaculate and my eyes hollow.
My phone rang.
It was Todd calling.
I hung up.
He called again.
I hung up again.
My phone buzzed with WhatsApp messages.
Todd messaged: [Ashlyn, what do you actually want from me? Stop pushing me.
[You're making a fuss over a bit of food? Is it really worth all this drama?
[Just come home now, and I'll act like none of this ever happened.]
I turned off my phone screen.
The elevator reached the first floor.
I stepped out of the building, the cold wind brushing against my face.
I hailed a cab.
It wasn't Todd's and my home that I was heading back to.
It was my own place. My premarital assets.