The night I, Joyce Sterling, returned from a business trip, my regular pharmacy called, saying my membership card failed to deduct payment during an afternoon purchase and needed a top-up. I looked at my husband, Ian Blackwood, who was focused on making dinner in the kitchen, and asked him what he bought. He smiled, took a box of supplements out of the bag, and said, “I’ve been staying up late working overtime these days. My heart’s been feeling a bit off, so I got something for it.” Seeing my expressionless face, he helplessly pulled out another card. He 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 quietly looked at him and said, “Let’s get a divorce.” ***** A trace of astonishment flashed across Ian’s face. Then he 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.” Meeting his pitiful and aggrieved gaze, I pulled my hand away. “I’m not playing games, I’m serious.” His gentle expression cracked slightly, and he frowned. “Serious? Why exactly? Is it because I didn’t pick you up at the airport, so that good friend of yours told you I had a change of heart again?” “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 he spoke, he rested his head on my neck, rubbing back and forth. The warm breath brushed against my skin, stirring a ripple of ambiguity. I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. “I said divorce, don’t you understand?” The romantic atmosphere was shattered, and a hint of anger appeared in his eyes. But he quickly suppressed his emotions, his 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. Is there a problem? Every cent you spend of mine disgusts me.” He stared at me in disbelief. “Do you even know what you’re saying? Over money? You didn’t even care to ask why I bought supplements when you got 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 his excuses anymore, so I turned around and went back to the room to pack my things. I said, “Stop talking. Tomorrow, see you in court.” He caught up, but his hand got caught by the force of me slamming the door. “Joyce!” he growled in pain, “Explain clearly, why? Why do you want a divorce?” Facing his swollen, tear-filled eyes from the pain, I slammed the door shut without hesitation. I said, “There’s nothing to talk about. Just show up on time.” After a long while, a dull banging on the door came from outside. He 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 he 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.” Ian didn’t come home all night, but I had a good sleep. The next day at work, I received a message from Ian’s parents, Alistair and Victoria Blackwood, asking me to join them for dinner after work. Every time we argued before, when Ian couldn’t win, he’d sulkily go back to stay at his parents’ house. Then his parents would cook a table full of delicious dishes, invite me over for dinner, and mediate our conflicts. This method worked well; every time after eating, we’d make up. But this time is different; I’ve made up my mind to divorce. So when they asked when we were planning to have a child, I didn’t lower my head shyly as usual but pushed away the dish Ian handed me. I calmly said, “Having a child might not go as you wish; we’re planning to divorce.”
Victoria looked at me in shock. “Divorce is no joke. What did Ian do wrong? Tell me, and we’ll teach him a lesson 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 determined to divorce. I can’t take it for another minute.” Ian’s throat tightened, and his eyes instantly turned red. “What did I do wrong? Tell me. I don’t believe you have no feelings for me anymore. Whatever you say, I’ll change! If you don’t want me to spend your money, I won’t touch a single cent from now on, okay?” Alistair and Victoria’s faces instantly darkened at the mention of money. Ian’s elder brother’s wife, Celia Blackwood, immediately stood up, grabbed my wrist, and led me to the room. As she walked, she said, “Everyone, don’t get upset. Some things are hard to say in front of everyone. I’ll take Joyce to have a chat and talk some sense into her.” After entering her bedroom, she locked the door behind her, turned around, and looked at me with a face full of concern. She said, “What’s going on? Is there something you can’t tell me? I know you’re not someone who acts recklessly; you must be facing some difficulties.” Celia and I usually have a fairly good relationship. Ian’s eldest brother, Aaron Blackwood, passed away years ago. Celia has remained unmarried since and has been living with Alistair and Victoria over the years. Thinking she might feel lonely, I often invited her to travel, shop, and do beauty treatments together, just to cheer her up. At this moment, I was hesitating whether to tell her the truth, but my eyes accidentally caught a lifelike toy standing on a chair by the balcony. It still had an unused condom on it, with traces of bodily fluids remaining. Noticing my gaze, her face flushed red, and she hurriedly stuffed the toy into the bedside cabinet. Perhaps she was too flustered, causing the clutter in the cabinet to topple over. An opened box of condoms rolled out and quietly stopped at my feet. She hurriedly picked it up. “Please don’t misunderstand me. You know, Aaron passed away too soon, and all these years, I haven’t been able to let him go. Though I’m a widow, 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’m improper.” I looked at her shy yet honest face, unable to say a word. After a while, I finally squeezed out a sentence. “Got it, let’s go out.” She grabbed my hand 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 her and said, “It’s nothing, I just don’t love him anymore.” Outside the door came the cries of Alistair and Victoria. “How did Ian marry such a greedy woman 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 anything about it!” “You go on business trips for half a month at a time, and Ian takes care of everything at home and both sets of parents. When has he ever complained? When has he ever frowned?” “His salary and bonuses are handed over to you every month. It’s one thing not to care about his health, but now you want a divorce over medical expenses? How can there be such a heartless woman like you in this world!” Ian couldn’t hold back his tears either. He pressed his lips together and knelt in front of me. “I’m sorry, my love. Is it because the heart supplements I bought are expensive, and you’re worried about my health dragging you down in the future, that you’re divorcing me?” “Please don’t do this. I promise to take good care of my health and work hard to earn money. I won’t be a burden to you. I’m begging you, please don’t divorce me, okay?” He tightly grasped my hand, his forehead pressed against the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Celia was shocked upon hearing this. “Joyce, you’re divorcing him because of this? He’s your husband! Not caring about his health is one thing, but now you even see him as a burden.”
She looked at me disappointedly. “How expensive can a heart supplement be? You’re a married couple, with most of your lives still ahead 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, Joyce, please don’t go!” Ian suddenly seemed to wake up, lunging forward and grabbing 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.” Alistair and Victoria, seeing this, clutched their chests in anguish. I kicked Ian away without hesitation. “Instead of begging me, you’d better take your parents to the hospital quickly before you anger them to death.” 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, tossed them into the garbage bin. Just as I walked out of the community gate, I received a call from my friend. She said, “The agreement is ready. When can you come to pick it up?” “I really don’t understand. You two have been fine all these years, so why suddenly get a divorce?” I tiredly rubbed my temples and spoke softly, “No particular reason, it’s just too exhausting living with their family. I want to be free.” My friend stayed silent for a moment and eventually said nothing more. I immediately went to her place to retrieve the divorce agreement and signed my name without hesitation. In the evening, I went home and quickly packed up my belongings. I just waited for him to come back, sign the papers, and then I would leave for good. But I waited until past nine at night, and he still hadn’t replied to my messages. Helpless, I dialed his number, wanting to have a proper talk about this matter. But just as I took out my phone, I received a call from Ian’s colleague. The voice on the other end was chaotic and hurried. “Joyce, come quickly to see Ian. He’s been out of it all afternoon, looking pale, and he just fainted after work.” “The doctor said he was shocked, his heart’s in trouble, and he’s being resuscitated right now. Come quickly!” I immediately drove to the hospital. As soon as I entered the ward, a crowd of people was gathered around the bedside. Apart from Alistair, Victoria, and Celia, there were also a group of Ian’s colleagues I had seen before but wasn’t familiar with gathered around the bed. Finally, I saw my parents, Barrett and Lucia Sterling, glaring at me with anger. Before I could speak, Barrett slapped me so hard that I hit the door, my ears ringing. Ian on the bed struggled to sit up, his voice trembling. “Talk it out, don’t hit her.” Barrett’s eyes reddened. “Look at him, you’ve upset him this much, and he’s still defending you!” “He treats you so well, why are you filing for divorce for no reason? Just for that bit of money? Are you going to cling to petty gains endlessly?” “I think you’ve had it too easy 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.” Barrett snorted coldly, pointed at me, and ordered, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and apologize to Alistair and Victoria! You upset them so much yesterday, and today you still dare to cause trouble at the hospital?” 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 Ian. I said, “I came here today for one purpose only, and that is to get a divorce.” Those who thought I would change my mind after being scolded by my parents all looked at me in astonishment.
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