The eighth love–hate entanglement
Chapter 1
My ex–husband, Jack, was about to divorce
me again. This was, I believe, number eight.
I calmly told him, “This is the eighth divorce,
Jack.”
He looked at me with guilt, his eyes pleading.
“Nancy, I have no choice. You know how
Chloe acts; I can’t just leave her.”
“But don’t worry, Nancy. Once I calm Chloe
down, we’ll remarry immediately!”
I remained silent. I’d heard this countless
times.
Eight weddings, eight divorces. Even the
courthouse staff knew me, calling me the
“Eight–Time Divorcee” behind my back.
I held the freshly minted divorce papers in my
hand.
The clerk behind me asked curiously, “When’s
number nine?”
く
number nine?”
I shook my head, “There isn’t going to be a
number nine.”
Walking out, I saw Jack showering Chloe with
affection.
The Chloe who was threatening suicide just
half an hour ago was now laughing and
happy, all thanks to Jack’s soothing words.
Each time I saw this, I felt a disorienting
disbelief. The woman who’d just shattered a
glass bottle and held a shard to her throat,
screaming hysterically, was the same woman?
Today was our third wedding anniversary. A
laughable anniversary, considering we’d been
married and divorced eight times in three
years.
The joke about the “eight–time divorcee” I’d
seen online had become my reality.
Seeing my stunned expression, Chloe
smirked, rubbing salt in the wound.
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“Jack, did you lie? How could you get the
divorce so fast?”
“Did Nancy force you? She wants me dead so
you won’t have anyone else to bother you.”
Jack looked helpless. He no longer defended
- me.
He just gently comforted Chloe, handing her
the divorce papers.
“Here’s the divorce decree. No way I was
lying.”
Chloe happily nodded, but in Jack’s blind
spot, she gave me a triumphant sneer.
Her provocation ignited my simmering
emotions.
Believe it or not, her outburst stemmed from
Jack’s anniversary gift to me, which she’d
seen. Jealousy had exploded.
A month after our last reconciliation, Chloe
had already pushed us back into divorce
court.
The clerk had quipped, “You two visit the
courthouse more often than the grocery
store!”
Mortified, I’d buried my face in my hands.
Almost thirty visits in three years–everyone
knew us.
Jack, however, had exploded, shielding me
and yelling, “Just do your job! My wife and I
enjoy marrying and divorcing; it’s none of
your business!”
Intimidated, the clerk had remained silent.
After that, Chloe counted down our thirty–day
cooling–off period.
This morning, she’d forced Jack to get the
divorce finalized. She’d shattered a glass,
holding a shard to her throat.
“If you don’t divorce today, I’ll kill myself!”
Jack panicked, grabbing my wrist, leaving a
deep red mark. “We have to get divorced,
Nancy! Chloe will hurt herself!”
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In that moment, I realized that even a hundred
marriages wouldn’t matter—his childhood
sweetheart always came first.
“Okay, it’s done. Let’s go home,” Jack said,
pulling Chloe into the car.
I automatically went to the passenger seat,
but Chloe stopped me.
“Nancy, you and Jack aren’t married
anymore. It’s inappropriate to be in his car!”
I looked at Jack. He frowned, trying to pull
Chloe back, but she pushed him away.
“I’m right, Jack. You two are divorced. People
will think it’s weird.”
“And Nancy, you’ll get married again.
eventually. You should keep your distance
from your ex–husband.
وو
Jack could only look at me apologetically.
“Nancy… look…”
Before he finished, I understood. I bit my lip,
tasting blood.
“I’ll walk home.”
Chloe happily took the passenger seat. As
they drove off, Jack gave me a guilty look.
“Nancy, don’t mind Chloe. She’s upset.”
“I’ll calm her down. We’ll remarry soon, I
promise!”
I didn’t reply. I’d believed him seven times
before.
