Chapter 2
Now that I'd been given a second chance, some things were crystal clear to me.
David wouldn't change.
That's just who he was, deep down.
Selfish, controlling, a male chauvinist.
Before marriage, he disguised himself well, gentle and considerate to me.
After marriage, especially after I quit my job, his true colors showed.
He thought supporting me was charity.
He thought me staying home with our child was slacking off.
He thought my contributions were a given.
There was no point in continuing such a marriage.
But I couldn't be impulsive.
I wanted a divorce, and I wanted what I rightfully deserved.
The house, the savings, custody of our child.
Not a single thing less.
Thinking of this, I made a call. "Hello, Ms. Taylor? This is Emily Lane.
"I'd like to consult about divorce."
*****
It was already 10 PM when I got home.
David sat on the sofa, his face dark.
Sophie was already asleep.
His parents weren't in the living room.
Seeing me enter, he immediately stood up. "You finally decided to come back?!"
I changed my shoes and said calmly. "David, we need to talk."
"Talk about what? You embarrassed me in front of my parents today. What else is there to talk about?"
His voice was low, but the anger was unmistakable.
I sat down opposite him. "Divorce."
The air froze.
David looked like he'd heard the biggest joke. "Divorce? You think you can just decide that?"
"Yes, I can decide."
I pulled a document from my bag. "This is a list of assets I compiled after consulting a lawyer. The house was bought after marriage, it's joint property, I want half. Your pre-marital savings are yours. My $100,000 pre-marital savings are mine.
"I want custody of Sophie. You need to pay $2,000 per month in child support."
David's face turned green. "Emily, have you lost your mind?!
"Who do you think you are? Just saying 'divorce' means divorce?
"Let me tell you, without me, you are nothing in this family! What can you do out there? How much money can you make?"
Looking at him, I suddenly found it ridiculous.
In my previous life, he crushed and controlled me like this too.
He always told me I couldn't survive without him.
It was only after getting a second chance at life that I realized I could only truly live by leaving him.
"What I can do is none of your concern," I shot back, meeting his eyes.
I stood up. "I'll give you three days to think it over. Agree, and we'll talk properly. Disagree, and I'll file for divorce. The result will be the same either way."
After saying that, I turned and entered the bedroom, locking the door.
Through the door, I heard David smashing things outside.
His parents were woken up too, cursing and complaining in the living room.
"Emily has gone too far!" David's mom shouted.
"She must be seeing someone else. Why else would she suddenly want a divorce?" David's dad snapped.
David's dad continued, "David, you can't get divorced. Where would you find such an obedient wife otherwise?"
I leaned against the door, closing my eyes.
They described me as obedient.
But the obedient Emily was already gone.
She died in that hospital hallway, with blood pouring out and no one to save her.
Over the next three days, David tried every trick in the book.
First, sweet-talking.
Buying me flowers, bags, saying nice things.
"Honey, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things," David said, his voice all soft and apologetic. "That wage system thing, I was just joking, don't take it seriously.
"Can't we just live properly together?"
I watched his performance expressionlessly.
In my previous life, he was like this too.
After hurting me, he'd sweet-talk me.
Then he'd go right back to his old ways.
When sweet-talking didn't work, he started threatening. "Emily, if you dare get a divorce, I'll make sure you leave with nothing.
"And I won't give you Sophie.
"You're just a housewife. What can you use to fight me?"
I sneered, "Oh really? Then we'll see each other in court."
On the third night, David finally couldn't sit still anymore.
He sent his mother to persuade me.
My mother-in-law, with tears and a runny nose, said to me, "Emily, David was just confused for a moment. Can't you forgive him this once?
"If you get divorced, what will happen to Sophie? The poor child."
I looked at her, remembering my previous life.
When my appendicitis had me writhing on the floor in pain, I called her for help.
She said, "Just bear with it, don't make a fuss."
Then hung up.
When I was bleeding in the hospital hallway, her first reaction wasn't concern, but asking, "How much will the insurance pay?"
No way I'd forgive her son.
"Mom, please go back," I said, my voice flat and emotionless. "This is between David and me. Please don't interfere."
My mother-in-law immediately flipped. "Emily, what attitude is that? I am your mother-in-law."
"So what if you're my mother-in-law?"
I stood up, looking down at her. "If you really considered me your daughter-in-law, you wouldn't have agreed to David's wage system in the first place.
"If you truly cared about Sophie, you wouldn't have said 'no need to worry about a little sickness' when she had a high fever.
"If you really had this family's best interests at heart, you wouldn't keep asking me for money for your younger son's house down payment every other day."
My mother-in-law was left speechless.
After a long pause, she glared at me fiercely. "Fine. You're on your own. Hope you won't regret this."
With that, she slammed the door and left.
I breathed a sigh of relief.