“I saw you cry when I woke up.”
“Daddy never visits, he’s a bad guy!”
I thought she knew nothing, but she saw
everything. She was too young to comfort me.
Lily was asleep.
I called Jeff; it went to voicemail. Then, Summer answered. “Jeff’s at a company
dinner.”
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“Let Jeff answer.”
“”
“He’s drunk.”
“Unless he’s dead, let him answer.”
Summer stammered, then Jeff took the
phone. “Honey, don’t misunderstand, it’s a
big company dinner.‘
99
“No need to explain. The divorce papers are
in your email. Sign them.”
He was stunned, then furious. “Katherine, are
you serious? Again? You think you can just
leave? I won’t give you Lily, you’ll never see her again!”
Chapter 2
.
I didn’t know if Jeff had seen the divorce
papers.
The next day, after dropping Lily off at
preschool, I found him home.
He looked haggard, his eyes bloodshot.
“Honey, I came back after your call. It wasn’t
く
like you think, I…‘
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“Let’s go to the courthouse.”
I coldly cut him off, grabbing our marriage
certificate and IDs.
Jeff grabbed my arm, pushing me against the wall, eyes blazing. “Katherine, I’m giving you
one last chance. Are you sure about this?”
“Yes.”
“Fine!” He threw me off, sitting on the couch.
“If you insist, you get nothing. Lily stays with
- me. Leave with nothing, and I’ll agree to the
divorce!”
I almost laughed.
“Why? You cheated, and I get nothing?”
“Who says I cheated? Do you have proof?”
I leaned in, staring at the man I loved for ten
years.
Ten years… and he didn’t know me at all.
My heart still ached, but reason prevailed.
I said softly, “Jeff, you underestimated me. I
く
Jeff froze, then exploded. “You were
following me? Impossible! You take care of
Lily every day!”
He knew I cared for Lily.
He knew how tired I was.
His claims of being busy were lies.
When Jeff learned I had proof, he became
enraged.
“Even if you prove it, so what? Cheating
means I can’t have custody? I can give Lily a
better life! You’re just a dependent
housewife!”
Six months ago, I was dependent.
But if he could stop loving me, why couldn’t I
become financially independent?
Once you decide, your overcome obstacles.
I was lucky; after the betrayal, I found a new
career opportunity.
They gave me flexibility, even allowing me to
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work from home, as long as the work was
done.
After three months, we worked well together.
I just felt sorry for Lily.
If it went to court, if Lily had to choose… I
didn’t want to think about it.
“Jeff, don’t you care about Lily?”
He sneered, closing in. “It’s not me, it’s you
wanting a divorce! You’re ungrateful!”
He blamed me, then stormed out.
I watched from the window. Summer waited
in the car.
No wonder he got back so quickly after being
“drunk.” She was his chauffeur.
