Chapter 3
As the lady of the house, I had to eat leftovers.
Daniel heard them but did nothing.
5/8
Maybe the medicine was working, because my mind started to clear up.
I flipped through the diary and saw more complaints about me.
He hated me picking him up from school because he thought I was embarrassing.
He hated me being in the house because he thought his dad. didn’t care about him when I was around.
He wished for a new mom, preferably Ivy Hughes.
Both he and his dad liked her.
After reading all this, I put down the diary.
If they liked her so much, I would grant their wish.
At two in the morning, I was woken by noises outside the room.
When I got up, I saw Daniel lying on the living room sofa.
On the floor, Ryan was already fast asleep.
Daniel tugged at his tie, mumbling something.
Chapter 3
I moved closer and heard him say, “Emily, water… bring met
some water.”
6/8
Ryan looked exhausted. He usually wouldn’t sleep unless I read him fairy tales for two hours, but tonight, he slept soundly even on the cold floor.
I went to the kitchen, filled a basin with water, added some ice cubes, and splashed it right on them.
The icy water startled them awake immediately.
Ryan screamed and slapped the water off his clothes.
He shouted, “Are you crazy? Pouring freezing water on me. Aren’t you afraid I’ll get sick?
“Do you even know how expensive this outfit is?”
I glanced at him and sneered.
The expensive clothes I dressed him in this morning had already been replaced by a cheap T–shirt with an Iron Man print.
Daniel, usually calm and indifferent, now looked visibly angry.
He barked, “Emily, what are you doing?”
I spoke calmly. “You just asked me to get you water.”
He frowned, confused. “I meant honey water, like always.”
Chapter 3
7/8
When we first got married, I asked a relationship expert how to maintain a marriage without love.
She said love grew in the little details of life.
So, I tried to be the giving one.
Whenever Daniel came home late, smelling of alcohol, I acted like a housekeeper.
I prepared his bath and brought him a warm cup of honey
water.
The next morning, I would cook oatmeal for him before he woke
- up.
If I ever suggested he change his lifestyle, he’d resist silently.
He’d pour out the oatmeal I made or come home even later the next day.
Without love, our marriage was a struggle.
When I realized this, I suddenly felt relieved.
I heard myself say, “Daniel, let’s divorce.
“I want the house and car. You can keep Ryan.”
