Chapter 2
It was just an ordinary Friday. When I handed him the divorce agreement. I still had a shred of hope.
I thought maybe he’d at least glance at them, maybe ask why we were ending things.
But Jeremy didn’t even look up from his phone. He signed it in a few quick strokes, like he was replying to some unimportant email.
I stood there frozen, staring at his messy signature. It felt like a knife slicing through my chest–sharp, cold, and shaking me with pain.
I couldn’t help asking, “You read it that fast?”
He frowned, clearly annoyed, still typing messages on his phone.
“It’s something Lilian gave me to sign. What could be wrong with it? Don’t just stand there. Get out.”
My fingers tightened around the papers, knuckles turning white. It felt like an invisible hand was crushing my chest, making it hard to breathe.
So this was how little I mattered to him–not even worth a second of his
attention.
The only one he trusted was Lilian.
I looked down, just in time to see the tension in his brow ease, replaced by a soft smile–the kind you’d see on a teen in love.
I peeked at his phone screen. Even though they were in the same building he was exchanging flirty messages with Lilian.
The texts were filled with intimacy, even planning which bar they’d meet at for drinks tonight.
***
The phone suddenly rang, snapping me out of my thoughts.
It was Jeremy again.
He was probably calling to pressure me into apologizing to Lilian in the group chat.
I didn’t want to answer.
But after seven or eight calls, a coworker handed me the phone and whispered, “Mr. Lewis is looking for you. Sounds urgent.”
I reluctantly picked up and asked coldly, “What is it?”
“Rosie, you’re so bold now, huh? Ignoring my messages and not picking up my calls? Trying to go against me?”
Jeremy started scolding, sounding like he was scolding a disobedient employee.
“What do you want?”
He snorted.
“Someone just called me from the Courthouse and said they’re arranging a divorce mediation for us. You knew about this?”
My breath caught.
“Did he finally remember signing the divorce agreement?” I thought.
But the very next second, his accusations poured down.
“Rosie, I thought you had some class. I can’t believe you’d use such despicable tactics!
“Hiring someone to impersonate a Courthouse official, threatening me with divorce? You’ve shocked me!”
His words left me dumbfounded, and I could hear Lilian’s voice from the
side.
“Forget it, Mr. Lewis. She probably just doesn’t want you working too hard at my house; she just wants you to go home.”
Jeremy sneered.
“Excuse me? If she truly cared, she wouldn’t torment me all night after I’ve had a long, tiring day and finally want to rest!”
I also laughed a laugh that made me feel cold inside.
I remembered that night. He was with Lilian at an art exhibition.
He came home reeking of alcohol, completely oblivious that my allergic asthma had me gasping for air, barely holding onto consciousness.
What he said as “tormenting him all night” was me gasping for breath, struggling to call an ambulance.
But when he heard the knocking, he didn’t even ask what was wrong.
Instead, he stormed out, cussed out the paramedics, and locked the door.
The next day, he found me too sick to get out of bed.
He worried I’d affect his mood, so he packed his bags and moved into Lilian’s apartment “temporarily.”
Left alone, I relied on leftover medication to get through six days until my
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Chapter
condition finally eased, but it left me with chronic chest tightness
whenever it was damp.
Yet, he never remembered any of this.
He only remembered me “disturbing” his peace.
“Rosie, I announced in the group that you’re suspended for half a month. Any objections?”
“Just fire me, or I’ll resign. Either works.”
