Chapter 1
When I asked for a divorce, I slammed the evidence of their ten-year relationship down on the table.
My husband, Richard Grant, stared at the documents in shock.
"So you knew about me and Olivia ten years ago?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied.
After a long pause, he asked, "Then why are you only asking for a divorce now?"
"Because I don't have to endure it anymore."
My daughter Sophie was finally coming of age.
I don't have to endure this anymore.
*****
I ignored Richard's confused and shocked expression, pushing the divorce agreement in front of him.
"We'll split your company shares fifty-fifty. Everything else goes to me," I said.
Richard read through the divorce agreement, his brows furrowing deeper with every word.
He slammed the agreement down on the table.
"No way!" he shouted. "This is basically kicking me out with nothing! I'm not signing this.
"And all these years, you've just stayed at home, never got involved with the company. I'm the one out there busting my ass, drinking with clients, running around to make deals. What makes you think you deserve half the shares?"
I wasn't even mad.
I crossed my arms and lounged back in my chair, totally relaxed.
My voice was as calm as if I were just talking about the weather. "Fine, let's take it to court then.
"Just so you know, with the evidence I've got, I can freeze all our marital assets, including your shares.
"And I can go after Olivia too, demand back every dollar of marital assets you spent on her. If I freeze her assets, her shares get locked up as well.
"The company's about to go public. If both major shareholders have their shares frozen, not only will the IPO be off, the whole company will be in chaos."
Richard's hand was balled into a tight fist on the table.
His forearm veins were popping.
He gritted his teeth as he demanded, "So you waited until now to drop the divorce bomb on purpose?"
I stared at him, my expression unreadable.
"Do you even remember what day it was yesterday?" I asked.
Richard just stared at me, completely clueless.
There was nothing but confusion in his eyes.
I reminded him, "Yesterday was the day of Sophie's SAT exam."
Richard's eyes shot open in surprise.
I let out a mocking laugh.
Of course, he forgot.
But it's not like this is the first time he's forgotten something important.
My birthday.
Our wedding anniversary.
And in the end, he even forgot the most important day in Sophie's life—her SAT exam.
I closed my eyes and let out a deep, weary sigh.
When I opened them again, my eyes were clear, like a weight had finally been lifted.
"Sophie's finished her SAT exam. Now that it's just us, getting divorced won't hurt her anymore," I said.
Still staring at Richard's stunned face, I shoved the divorce agreement right back in front of him.
"We're splitting the shares fifty-fifty. You've got two choices: either transfer your shares to me, which means the other shareholders have to sign off, or just buy me out for their value," I said.
Richard snapped, his voice raw with fury, "Are you crazy? You want to take everything I've got! How am I supposed to pay you?"
I shrugged, totally unfazed.
"So either sign over the shares or we settle this in court. It's your choice."
"You—" Richard choked out, his face red with fury.
The veins on his forehead were throbbing.
But I didn't even flinch. My expression was ice-cold.
He gritted his teeth. "Fine, I'll buy you out."
Just as I expected.
Right now, the company's at a critical stage—about to go public.
If he gave me the shares in the divorce, that would threaten his control over the company.
He'd fought tooth and nail to get this far.
He couldn't afford to let anything go wrong now.
In the end, Richard signed the divorce agreement.
He slammed the papers down in front of me and stormed out without another word.
The moment he opened the door, Sophie was right there in the doorway.
She was rooted to the spot, wide-eyed and clearly startled.
My heart jumped into my throat.
I'd planned to break the news to her gently after the divorce was finalized.
I figured I'd use the time while she was out celebrating after her exam to finalize the divorce with Richard.
But I never expected her to come home so soon.
What should I do now?
How much did she hear?
"Sophie..." I stepped forward, my heart pounding.
But Sophie, her eyes red and brimming with tears, turned to Richard and demanded, "Is what Mom said true?
"Did you really have another woman ten years ago?"
Richard's mouth opened and closed, but he couldn't get a single word out.
He lowered his head, not saying a word.
Sophie's eyes were getting red, on the verge of tears.
She bit her lip, spun around, and bolted out of the room.
"Sophie!" I called out, my voice trembling.
I was about to run after her.
But then someone caught my hand.
I turned around and met Richard's furious glare.
"Emily, do you really have to do this? Do you have to hurt Sophie like this?" he snapped.
I shot him a furious glare.
"Get this straight. You're the one who cheated, who tore our family apart. That's why she's hurting!" I snapped.
Without sparing Richard another glance, I rushed out after Sophie.
After searching everywhere, I finally spotted her in the little park near our neighborhood.
Sophie was sitting on a bench, staring blankly into the distance.
I walked over and sat down beside her.
She finally spoke, her voice shaking. "Mom, I'm sorry."
Tears poured down her face, and she just couldn't stop them.
Panic hit me, and I rushed to pull her into my arms.
I softly patted her back, trying to comfort her.
"You didn't do anything wrong, so why are you apologizing?" I said.
Sophie let out a couple of choked sobs, sniffling hard.
She shook her head hard, her face full of pain.
"But you knew Dad had someone else all along, and you put up with it for ten years. Just for me..." she choked out.
My hand froze on her back.
My eyes stung with tears.
So that was what her apology was for.
She was feeling sorry for me.
"Silly girl, it wasn't about enduring it. It was about weighing the pros and cons, making the best decision I could as an adult.
"I just wanted you to grow up with both your parents around, happy and healthy. That's why I made this decision," I said softly.
Sophie slipped out of my embrace.
Her eyes, brimming with tears, stared straight at me.
She just blinked.
And those big, heavy tears fell again.
"But how many ten years does someone get in their life? If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have had to carry the pain of his betrayal all alone for a whole decade," she replied.
I couldn't help but frown.
Ten years.
That was a lifetime.
I let out a quiet sigh.
Slowly, the tension in my face eased.
I smiled, gently tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ears.
I softly wiped the lingering tears from her cheeks.