Chapter 3
We'd already been through two divorce hearings when we once again faced each other with calmness.
My lawyer told me the prenup was legally binding, but the judge would still take circumstances into account. It was unlikely Andrew would leave with nothing, so the best option was to negotiate with him.
This way, we could at least remain civil.
My lawyer could see my reluctance.
He knew I was too soft to crush Andrew.
As a result, in the presence of both our lawyers, Andrew received a 30% share of our marital assets, while I took the rest.
As for the company ownership, after some thought, I declined.
As we signed the documents, not a word passed between us. We just mechanically signed and stamped each one.
Once everything was finalized and both lawyers had left, Andrew turned to me, his eyes narrowing slightly.
It was like a silent appraisal.
"Yvonne, was I the only one at fault in our marriage?"
I scoffed, "Certainly. I never cheated on you."
Andrew shook his head, slightly helpless. "If I were leaving you for some young, pretty thing, you could call me fickle and accuse me however you like. But the woman I chose is Rachel; she's so ordinary, even divorced and with a kid.
"She can't even compare to you in any way, yet I still fell for her. Don't you want to know why?"
Of course.
I was dying to know why.
I'm so accomplished, so admired by everyone.
And yet, how could someone as brilliant as me lose to some ordinary divorced woman?
When Andrew worked late on proposals, I was out drinking myself sick at business dinners for him.
When he disdained corporate politics, I shielded him from anything he didn't want to face.
When he cared about his pride, I bowed and deferred to him before everyone.
When he craved success, I gave him all the credit and paved his way to the top.
So, why did I lose?
Why would he abandon me?
"Rachel is an excellent cook. In the three years we've been together, my stomach problems haven't acted up once.
"She isn't as busy as you. Whenever I came home, the place was always lit up with a hot meal waiting on the table.
"My clothes are always neatly hung in the closet, and the sheets are always clean when I slip into bed."
I froze for a heartbeat.
Andrew continued, his voice trembling with emotion.
"But you? In our ten years of marriage, it's always been me waiting for you to come home.
"The house always felt cold and lifeless. Even when I had a stomachache, I had to swallow my pills with cold water.
"Do you even know my shoe size or my suit measurements? I'm sure you don't because you never cared.
"Rachel may not compare to you in every way, but she truly cares about me. I'm always her priority.
"Yvonne, business is all you ever think about!
"Whenever I needed you, you were always tied up in meetings."
"Tell me, if you had to choose between your career and me, who would you pick?"
I listened in silence, my eyes stinging with unshed tears.
His complaints shocked me. All these years, I thought we lived in peace, yet he was carrying so many grievances.
But still...
It was Andrew who pushed me toward the corporate world.
I could still remember how he begged me. "Yvonne, I'm no good at business negotiations. Dealing with those people scares me."
"Two drinks and I'm done for. Do I really have to drink just to close a deal?"
"I'm so anxious that my stomach's killing me. But Yvonne, I don't want to lose."
"I'm terrified of being poor again. All I want is to give you a better life."
"Yvonne, please... Help me. Will you?"
Those memories from the past remain crystal clear.
But judging from Andrew's disappointed look, it seems he had already left them all behind.
I let out a soft, mirthless laugh.
I couldn't even be bothered to answer him.
As I stood to leave, Andrew suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm. He asked, "Yvonne, just tell me, when did you stop loving me?"
He looked at me with such tenderness, his eyes glistening with tears.
But I wrenched my arm away, my heart colder than ever before.
"Get lost. Don't ever disgust me with your ugly face again.
"You're such an eyesore!"