Chapter 2

That night, I was scrolling through my feed when I came across a family photo Summer had posted.

Nathan was standing right next to her, his gaze soft and adoring.

There wasn't the slightest hint of regret or disappointment on his face about not spending the holiday with me.

To prove a point, I uploaded the family pic we'd snapped to my feed.

My friends flooded the post with likes and warm wishes.

But the very next moment, the group chat with Nathan's family popped up on my screen.

Summer started calling me out in the group chat, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Wow, someone's got some nerve coming back to her parents' place for Christmas.

"Guess she thinks her husband isn't treating her well enough, so she's trying to get the whole family to gang up on us."

I frowned, but before I could reply, Nathan's mom chimed in immediately. "No manners, so small-minded. No wonder nobody likes her. Next year, don't bring her back. I don't want her anywhere near me."

Their words hit me like a dousing of ice water, leaving me chilled to the bone.

Before I could process what had happened, Nathan tagged me in the chat. "Lucy, apologize."

His tone was as cold as ice, and all the emotions I'd been holding back these past few days finally broke free.

I gripped my phone tightly, my chest rising and falling with anger. I couldn't hold it in anymore and confronted him. "Nathan, do you have a heart?"

Nathan's parents were sticklers for tradition.

They insisted I stay with Nathan every Christmas.

For seven whole years, I did everything to protect Nathan's reputation and keep up the appearance of a happy family for outsiders.

When he didn't bring me to his family's place, when I spent Christmas all alone, I never once considered returning to my family home.

Every year, I worked so hard to be his perfect wife.

I always put our family first, and Nathan came before everything else.

But in the end, all it took was one visit home, and now his whole family was blaming me, forcing me to apologize, and saying I have no manners.

Turned out, no matter how hard I tried, there were some people and places I couldn't fit into.

The bitterness kept spreading across my lips.

Completely drained, with no fight left in me, I brushed away my tears, typed out one final message in the group chat, and hit leave. [Nathan, let's file for divorce on the eighth.]

After leaving the group chat, Nathan sent me a bunch of messages.

I sat in my old bedroom at my parents' house, surrounded by familiar furniture, gazing at the bright starlight outside the window.

I chose not to open them.

My mom gently placed a plate of strawberries in front of me and took a seat across from me. "Looks like you've lost some weight. Things haven't been easy for you these years, have they?"

My nose started to sting, and before I knew it, the words spilled out. "Seven years, and his whole family still won't accept me. Mom, is it really my fault?"

My mom opened her mouth as if to say something, but stopped herself, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Lucy, it's not your fault. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Her words brought a sudden clarity to my mind.

Yeah, what did I ever do wrong?

I'd tried my absolute best to keep this relationship together.

After seven years of cold treatment, I'd sacrificed enough of myself.

It was not my fault that things turned out this way.

The next morning, I unlocked my phone and saw Nathan's messages covering the whole screen.

He demanded, [Why couldn't you stay home and behave?]

He accused me of turning their whole house upside down, saying I'd ruined their Christmas dinner for everyone.

Then he got nasty, his tone full of spite and sarcasm. [Thirty-seven and getting divorced. Do you really think you'll land a better man?]

Nathan was my first love, the guy who stole my heart and made my teenage years unforgettable.

I never thought I'd hear those words come out of his mouth.

Maybe the man I loved when I was young was long gone.

With a clear resolve, I signed the divorce papers and hopped in a cab, heading straight back to what used to be our home.

My stuff was everywhere, boxes stacked high, all packed with my things.

A lot of the pricey items were things Nathan had bought for me.

No way I could pretend I wasn't feeling bittersweet about it all.

Halfway through packing, Nathan walked in.

Summer followed right behind him, complaining nonstop.

She was spewing nothing but insults at me.

Suddenly, I remembered a few years ago, when I couldn't handle Nathan not taking me to his family for Christmas.

I completely broke down over the phone, arguing and making a scene, crying and yelling.

Nathan had no choice. As soon as the holiday started winding down, he booked the earliest flight back to come find me.

Summer was so pissed, she called me up and went off on me, shouting nonstop.

Back then, I was still crazy about Nathan, lost in my own feelings. I was moved that he didn't hold it against me and came rushing back to find me.

I endured Summer's tirade for a full two hours, sitting there and taking it without a word.

This time, I wasn't having it. With Nathan watching, I gave her a fierce slap right across the face.