Chapter 5
I took a deep breath. After paying the fee, I immediately went to find a lawyer.
What I didn’t expect was that the lawyer assigned to meet with me at the firm would be Elena, my former best friend.
She was just as surprised to see me.
I didn’t engage in small talk with her; I went straight to the point and expressed my desire for a divorce.
She paused for a second before replying, “You’ve been a housewife for over a decade. If you divorce, you’re likely not going to get custody of the child.”
“I don’t want the child” I said, taking another
1/2
deep breath.
She looked at me in surprise, but under my insistence, she quickly drew up a complete divorce agreement.
I sent it off immediately, and since Elena had a two–hour lunch break, she suggested we grab a bite at a nearby restaurant.
agreed.
“I thought you’d be a full–time housewife for the rest of your life. I didn’t expect you to divorce so decisively,” she said.
“I remember back then, you only went out for an interview, and not only did you get an earful from your controlling husband, but I also got a nasty rant from him,” Elena reminisced.
2/8
I recalled that incident, and a wave of guilt washed over me.
We had been close friends, but when Noah was five, he got into a fight and was injured at school.
Adrian blamed me for being restless and not taking care of our son, and he tore into Elena for suggesting that I needed my own career.
At that time, consumed by guilt over Noah’s injury, I didn’t have the time or energy to focus on anything else, and my relationship with Elena slowly faded.
I sincerely apologized for what had happened back then.
But it was all in the past, and she didn’t hold it against me.
3/9
While eating, it felt like we had returned to our old selves.
She began asking me what my plans were, especially since in the divorce agreement, I allocated all the property I was entitled to to Noah, as his child support, and understandably, my future involvement in his upbringing would be none.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t thinking of myself, of fighting for what was mine.
But I knew all too well that if I did, based on Adrian’s belief that I had lived off him for the past decade, he would never agree to sign.
Divorce was already hard enough; I didn’t want to waste any more time dragging it out with him.
“Go find a job, send out some resumes first”
4/8
I sighed, expia…..
“You have no experience right now, it’s probably hard to find a suitable job,” Elena shook her head.
“I know, but I’ll try. Worst case, I’ll work as a cleaner. I have to figure out a way to support myself,” I said with resolve.
From the start, I had decided that even if it meant working as a cleaner, I would divorce Adrian.
“Good for you!” Elena praised.
“With that kind of determination, you can succeed at anything.”
I smiled faintly.
After the meal, I went home to pack my
5/9
things.
Although I had lived there for fourteen years, as I carefully packed, I realized how few belongings I had.
The living room was filled with Noah’s toys, and the wardrobe in the bedroom was neatly arranged, all filled with suits I had picked out for Adrian.
The phone rang. It was Adrian.
I answered, and his voice immediately came through, filled with anger. “Hazel, are you trying to make trouble with me?”
“I’m not making trouble. Sign the papers, and remember to come to the court tomorrow afternoon,” I said, then paused, adding, “You’re free only tomorrow afternoon this week, don’t forget.”
6/8
“Dad won’t forget. I’ve always wanted Aunt Yuna to be my mom. You’re stepping aside just at the right time,” Noah’s sharp voice came from the other side of the phone.
Along with it came Yuna’s false conciliatory tone: “Noa, you can’t talk to your Mom like that, she’ll be sad.”
This was during work hours, and usually, I would leave his meals at the front desk for his assistant to bring up.
Because he said having me deliver it would affect his work.
It turned out that this rule was only ever enforced on me.
Had it been Yuna, she could have easily gone up with the naughty Noah without any
7/8
problem.
“She deserves it! All she does is sit at home, spend Dad’s money, and do nothing–just a useless freeloader.” Noah loudly retorted.
I heard every word clearly. My gaze grew numb as I looked around the neat house.
Maybe he was right. I hadn’t done anything.
I smiled, like a bystander amused by the fate of others.
8/8
