The night I, Julian Murphy, returned from a business trip, a call came from the regular pharmacy saying my membership card failed to deduct payment during an afternoon purchase and needed a top-up. I looked at my wife, Violet Sterling, who was focused on making dinner in the kitchen, and asked her what she bought. She smiled, took a box of supplements out of her bag, and said, “I’ve been staying up late working overtime these days, and my heart’s feeling a bit off, so I bought something for it.” Seeing my blank expression, she helplessly pulled a card out of her bag. She said, “I know you’re a money-lover. I accidentally used your membership card. How about I compensate you tenfold?” I didn’t take the card like I used to. Instead, I looked at her quietly and said, “Let’s get a divorce.” A trace of astonishment flashed across Violet’s face. Then, she took my hand, smiled helplessly, and said, “What’s wrong? Is this a punishment for losing a game with friends?” “I’m not stopping you from hanging out with them, but such an inappropriate joke really hurts me.” Facing her pitiful and aggrieved gaze, I pulled my hand away. “I’m not playing games, I’m serious.” Her gentle expression cracked slightly, and she frowned. “Serious? Why exactly? Is it because I didn’t pick you up at the airport, and that good friend of yours told you again that I’ve had a change of heart?” “Or is it because I’ve been too busy these days and didn’t video call you to say goodnight? Didn’t I explain already? Stop it, I’ll make it up to you tonight, okay?” As she spoke, she rested her head on my neck, rubbing back and forth. The warm breath brushed against my skin, stirring a ripple of intimacy. I pushed her away forcefully, suppressing the disgust inside. “I said divorce, don’t you understand?” The romantic atmosphere was shattered, and a hint of anger appeared in her eyes. But she quickly suppressed her emotions, her tone turning conciliatory. “What’s wrong with you? You can’t possibly want a divorce just because I used your membership card, right?” I remained expressionless. “Yes, it’s because of this membership card that I want a divorce. Got a problem with that? You spend even a cent of mine, and I feel disgusted.” She stared at me in disbelief. “Do you even know what you’re saying? Over money? You didn’t even care why I bought supplements when you came back, and I didn’t blame you.” “Besides, I already offered ten times the compensation, but you refused! And now you…” I didn’t want to hear her excuses anymore, so I turned around and went to the room to pack my things. I said, “Stop talking. Tomorrow, see you in court.” She stubbornly followed me, but her hand got caught by the force of me slamming the door. “Julian!” she growled in pain, “Explain clearly, why? Why do you want a divorce?” Facing her swollen, tearful eyes from the pain, I slammed the door shut without hesitation. I said, “There’s nothing to say. Just show up on time.” After a long time, a dull pounding on the door came from outside. She shouted, “I don’t agree to the divorce! Don’t even think about it!” Footsteps faded away, accompanied by the heavy sound of a door slamming. After she left, I suppressed the turmoil in my heart and called my lawyer friend. “Help me draft a divorce agreement. The car and house go to me, and the assets are split equally.” Violet didn’t come home all night, but I had a good sleep. The next day at work, I received a message from Violet’s mother, Helen Sterling, asking me to join them for dinner after work. Every time we argued before, when Violet couldn’t win, she’d just go back to her parents’ house feeling aggrieved. Then her mom and her late sister’s husband, Nathan Hayes, would cook a delicious meal, invite me over, and mediate our conflicts. This method worked well; every time after the meal, we would make up. But this time is different; I’ve made up my mind to get a divorce. So when they asked when we were planning to have a child, I didn’t lower my head shyly like before but pushed away the dish Violet handed me. I calmly said, “Having a child might not go as you wish; we’re planning to divorce.”
Helen looked at me in shock. “Julian, divorce is no joke. What did Violet do wrong? Tell me, and we’ll talk to her for you.” I frowned and put down my fork. “Nothing, we just don’t like each other anymore and don’t want to waste time. Don’t try to persuade me, I’m set on this divorce. I can’t take another minute.” Violet choked up, her eyes instantly turning red. “What did I do wrong? Tell me, and I’ll change. I don’t believe you have no feelings for me. If you don’t want me to spend your money, I won’t touch a penny from now on, okay?” Helen’s face immediately darkened upon hearing it was about money. Nathan quickly pulled me away. As he walked, he said, “Everyone, don’t get upset. Some things are hard to say face-to-face. I’ll take Julian to have a talk and try to reason with him.” After entering his bedroom, he locked the door behind him and turned around, looking at me with a face full of concern. He said, “What’s going on? What can’t you tell me? I know you’re not someone who acts recklessly; you must be facing some trouble.” Nathan and I usually get along quite well. He lost his wife early on and never remarried all these years, living with Violet’s parents ever since. So when I travel or work out, I often invite him along. I was hesitating whether to tell him the truth when my eyes accidentally caught sight of a lifelike toy standing on a chair by the balcony. It still had an unused condom on it, with bodily fluids remaining. Seeing my gaze drawn to it, his face turned red, and he hurriedly stuffed the toy into the bedside cabinet. Perhaps too flustered, he knocked over the clutter in the cabinet. An opened box of condoms rolled out and landed by my feet. He hurriedly picked it up. “Please don’t misunderstand me. You know, my wife passed away too early, and all these years, I haven’t been able to let her go. Although I don’t plan to remarry, I still have physical needs.” “I just bought some better-quality condoms to avoid infections. Please don’t tell them, I don’t want them to think I lack self-control.” I looked at his flushed face, unable to say a word. After a while, I finally squeezed out a sentence. “Got it, let’s go out.” He patted my shoulder and hurriedly asked, “Wait, you haven’t explained it to me yet. Why do you have to get a divorce? Is there something that can’t be resolved?” I glanced at him and said, “It’s nothing, I just don’t love her anymore.” Helen’s sobbing came from outside the door. “How did Violet end up marrying such a greedy person like you? You’re divorcing just for some medicine money?” “All these years, we haven’t treated you badly. You said career comes first, and for five years of marriage, you didn’t have kids—we never said a word against you!” “You go on business trips for half a month at a time, and everything at home, both sets of parents, has been taken care of by Violet alone. All these years, she’s never complained once.” “She hands over her salary and bonuses to you every month. It’s bad enough you don’t care about her health, but now you want a divorce over medical expenses? How can there be such a heartless husband like you in this world?” Violet couldn’t hold back her tears either. She pressed her lips together and knelt in front of me. “I’m sorry, Julian. Is it because the heart supplements I bought are expensive, and you’re afraid my poor health will burden you in the future, that you’re divorcing me?” “Please don’t do this. I promise to take good care of my health, work hard to earn money, and never be a burden to you. I’m begging you, please don’t divorce me, okay?” She wept bitterly, holding my hand and bowing her head in plea. Nathan was shocked upon hearing this. “Julian, you’re divorcing her over this? She’s your wife! Not caring about her health is one thing, but now you see her as a burden?”
He looked at me in disappointment. “How expensive can heart supplements be? You’re a couple, meant to spend the rest of your lives together. How did you become so petty?” Looking at their grief-stricken and shocked expressions, I sneered and said, “Family? You’re the family. What does it have to do with me? I’m just an outsider!” “Don’t go, Julian, please don’t go!” Violet suddenly seemed to wake up, lunging forward and gripping my leg tightly. “Is it because I haven’t cared enough about you that you want a divorce? I’ll change! From now on, I’ll put you first. Please don’t leave me. I really can’t live without you.” Helen saw this and clutched her chest in distress. I kicked Violet away without hesitation. “Instead of begging me, you’d better take your parents to the hospital quickly. Don’t let them get angered to death by you.” I no longer looked at their pale faces and turned to leave. Before stepping out, I grabbed the supplements I originally brought for them and, along with the trash bag by the door, threw them into the garbage bin. Just as I walked out of the community gate, I received a call from my friend. He said, “The divorce agreement is ready. When can you come to pick it up?” “I really don’t understand. You two have been doing well all these years. Why suddenly get a divorce?” I tiredly rubbed my temples and said, “No particular reason, it’s just too exhausting living with their family. I want to be free.” My friend was silent for a moment and ultimately said nothing more. I immediately went to him to retrieve the divorce agreement and signed my name without hesitation. In the evening, I went home and quickly packed my belongings. I just waited for Violet to come back and sign, then I would leave for good. But I waited until past nine at night, and she still hadn’t replied to my messages. Helpless, I called her, wanting to have a proper talk about this matter. But just as I took out my phone, I received a call from Violet’s colleague. The voice on the other end was urgent and noisy. “Julian, come quickly and check on Violet. She’s been out of it all afternoon, looking pale, and she just fainted after work.” “The doctor said she was shocked, her heart’s in trouble, and she’s being resuscitated right now. Hurry over!” I immediately drove to the hospital. As soon as I entered the ward, a crowd of people was gathered around the bedside. Besides Helen and Nathan, there was a group of Violet’s colleagues I had seen before but wasn’t familiar with, gathered around the bed. Finally, I saw my parents, Charlie Murphy and Lucia Murphy, glaring at me with anger. Before I could speak, Charlie slapped me so hard that I hit the door, my ears ringing. Violet on the bed struggled to sit up, her tone filled with concern. “Charlie, talk it out properly, don’t hit him.” Charlie’s eyes turned red. “Look at her, she’s hospitalized because of you, yet she’s still worried about you. “She’s been so good to you, why are you filing for divorce for no reason? Just for that bit of money? Are you starving? Is it worth divorcing over such a small amount?” “I think you’ve been living too comfortably all these years, that’s why you’re so arrogant!” Even Lucia, who has always loved me the most, looked at me with disappointment. “This time, you’ve really gone too far.” Charlie let out a cold snort and pointed at me, commanding, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and apologize to Helen and Nathan! You really upset them yesterday.” I swallowed my grievances and met their angry gazes. “This is my own business, it has nothing to do with you. Please stay out of it.” After speaking, I walked straight to the doctor, borrowed a pen, and handed the already-signed divorce agreement to Violet. I said, “I came here today for one purpose only, divorce.” Those who thought I would change my mind after being lectured by my parents all looked at me in astonishment.
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