Chapter 5

Andrew really knew how to pull strings.

Now he was even meddling with my job.

Was he trying to use my job against me, or did he want everyone to see me as the difficult, unreasonable wife?

I looked up at Victor, keeping my voice as steady as I could. "Victor, thank you for your concern, but this is my personal business, and I'll handle it myself. It won't affect my work.

"As for my husband, actually, my ex-husband, some of his actions have already crossed the line way past normal marital issues. I've already started the divorce process.

"So if he ever contacts you or anyone else here about his personal drama, please just keep things professional and let him know not to bring it into work."

Victor clearly hadn't expected me to be so blunt. He looked a little embarrassed and said, "Oh, I see. Well, just handle it yourself then.

"The company really shouldn't get involved in personal stuff like this. Alright, you can get back to work."

As I walked out of his office, a cold sweat broke out on my back.

Andrew was the type who never gave up until he got what he wanted. I knew he'd definitely come up with more ways to corner me or try to make me crawl back.

*****

That night, when I got back to my little apartment, exhaustion washed over me like a tidal wave. But inside, I was still tense, every nerve stretched tight.

I knew there was no way to avoid it. This divorce was going to be a long, drawn-out tug-of-war.

I pulled out the new divorce papers; I'd printed several backup copies after that day, just in case.

Staring at the words "Irreconcilable Differences," I picked up a pen and, pressing hard, wrote a small line in the blank space next to it:

Due to Andrew's long-term verbal abuse, emotional manipulation, and public humiliation, our marriage is completely broken.

I pressed so hard that the pen nearly tore through the paper.

I snapped a photo of the revised agreement and sent it to Andrew.

My message: [This is the final version. Sign it, or I'll see you in court. Every time you bother me, that's just one more piece of evidence for my case.]

I hit send, then shut off my phone without a second thought.

After I sent that photo, Andrew's call barrage hit a whole new level of crazy.

My phone kept buzzing on the table, the screen lighting up and going dark over and over; every single call was from him.

I just yanked out the SIM card, and for once, everything was quiet.

But I knew this peace was as fragile as thin ice.

Sure enough, the next evening, as soon as I stepped out of the office building, someone was waiting for me, blocking my path. It wasn't Andrew; it was Emily.

She was dressed in a simple, elegant off-white knit dress, with a light brown trench coat draped over it.

Her hair was loosely pinned up, a few strands falling softly by her cheeks, and her eyes were slightly red, giving her that fragile, almost pitiful look.

She was holding a delicate paper bag, the kind you get from a popular pastry shop.

"Claire," she called out softly.

Her voice was gentle, with just the right amount of hesitation and guilt.

I kept walking, just wanting to get past her.

"Claire, wait!" she called out.

She held out the paper bag. "I know you don't want to see me, and honestly, I'm embarrassed to face you. But it's been weighing on me. I can't keep it bottled up anymore.

"Yesterday, Andrew came to see me and totally lost his temper, saying I was the reason you two are having problems."

Her eyes were misty, looking heartbreakingly vulnerable as she gazed at me. "I really didn't think things would get this bad. It was a regular class reunion, everyone was just messing around, and Andrew was drunk.

"He blurted out some jokes. I never thought it would make you misunderstand and feel so hurt.

"This is just a little gesture, chestnut cake from your favorite bakery. I remember you love it. Please, just forgive Andrew. He really knows he messed up. He hasn't been eating or sleeping well these past few days, and he's lost so much weight.

"You two have been together for so long; don't let everything fall apart just because of something I said without thinking."

Her words were calm and steady, her voice sincere, her expression full of concern.

If I hadn't already learned what she's really like behind that innocent face, I might've actually fallen for it.

A careless comment? Just a normal class reunion?

I stared at her, and honestly, I couldn't help but find it almost laughable.

So that was how it worked for them; public humiliation got wiped away with a flimsy excuse like "just kidding" or "didn't mean it."

And everything I've suffered, all the resolve I've built up, just gets labeled as a "misunderstanding" or me "making a fuss."

"Emily," I said, my voice calm and steady, "there's no one else here. You can drop the act."

Her sad expression froze for a second, then her eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling. "Claire, how could you say that? I really mean it, I'm here to apologize for real"

"Sincere?" I cut her off. "Is that what you call it? You knew Andrew was married, but you still kept picking up his late-night 'concern' calls.

"Every time he made those jokes to put me down, you'd blush at just the right moment, act all shy, or be so 'kind' and always stick up for him.

"And on my thirtieth birthday, you showed up in a dress you carefully picked out, with makeup more perfect than mine, just for a so-called 'normal class reunion'?"

Emily's face went pale, her fingers tightening around the paper bag.

I said, stepping right up to her, "You and Andrew know exactly how many so-called 'harmless words' and 'innocent friendships' you've really had.

"I don't care if it was just emotional cheating or if you two were already hooking up behind my back. I'm done. Lock yourselves away and stop disgusting me. As for forgiveness?"

I saw her face turn ugly and couldn't help but laugh. "You? Not a chance. And him? Even less."