Chapter 3
All those years at the Wade Family Home, every day revolved around cooking and chores, from the moment I opened my eyes until I fell asleep.
Whose socks lay on the floor, whose dishes sat unwashed, what everyone wanted for dinner the next day, who had a parent-teacher conference coming up. My mind was always full of such things.
Now that I was alone, I truly did not know what to do with myself.
My phone kept buzzing nonstop.
I didn't answer any of them.
It was not until evening that Michael called.
The first words out of his mouth were blame. "Have you finished making a scene? If you have something to say, say it at home."
I held my phone, my voice steady. "That's not my home anymore. You and Margaret got married, and everyone in the family knew, except me. So tell me, which home do you expect me to go back to now?"
There was a long pause on the other end.
Michael finally said, "Let me explain about the marriage license. That year, Margaret's mom was gravely sick, and she kept stressing over Margaret's marriage.
"Margaret came to me in tears, begging me to get the license to put her mom's mind at ease. I had no choice in the matter.
"Her mom passed away not long after, and that was the end of it. There has never been anything improper between Margaret and me. Susan, you're the one I truly lived my life with."
After hearing him out, I asked, "Then go divorce her right now."
He fell silent.
I asked again. "Will you divorce her, or not?"
Still, he said nothing.
The last flicker of hope in me faded away.
I said, "Look at yourself, Michael. All your fine words mean nothing. If it is truly only a piece of paper as you say, then go and end it now."
His voice dropped, heavy with frustration. "We are past our prime. Why push me like this?"
Right before he hung up, he spoke one line. "I will come see you tomorrow."
And true to his word, he arrived the next morning.
He was neatly dressed, not a hair out of place. Any stranger would have taken him for a proper, gentle old man.
Who would guess he had lied to and deceived a woman for her entire life?
He got straight to the point. "Come back with me. No one has lived here for ages. What if something happens to you in the middle of the night? At least there's someone at home to take care of you."
He reached for my arm.
I stepped back, gripping the doorframe.
I said coldly, "Don't touch me. Let's get a few things straight. First, when did you marry her? Second, when did our kids find out? And third, how long did you plan to keep me in the dark?"
His expression turned cold.
Michael said, "Are you going to go this far?"
I shot back, "That's not all. I'm hiring a lawyer and suing you for bigamy."
The feigned patience in his eyes vanished in an instant, and he struck me across the face.
He said, "You won't listen to reason, so you're forcing me to do it the hard way. You truly think you can win against me in court? Isn't it obvious whose side the kids will take?"
I slowly turned to face him.
My cheek stung from the slap.
Strangely, my heart ached no more.
He took my silence for fear and let out a cold, mocking laugh.
He sneered at me, "I told you long ago you would never have the guts. Susan Wade, without this family, you're nothing."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Right then, my phone buzzed.
It was a text from an unknown number.
There was merely a single line.
[Let's meet. You deserve to hear my side of the story about Michael Wade and me.]