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He seemed not to notice my small suitcase by the door, irritation creased his features.
"Why didn't you pick up when I called?" he asked.
I was cool.
"I heard it. I didn't want to answer you."
He looked as though hearing something ridiculous.
"I told you — Rachel's been performing well and I took her out. There are already misunderstandings at the company. You posted that message, how will she recover her reputation?"
I couldn't help a bitter laugh. "So not everyone is blind. Turns out someone do notices the things she's done."
I looked at him.
"Besides, I'm not her Fvcking mother. Why should I worry about her at the office?"
His face darkened.
"Lena, when did you become that kind of gullible person who believes gossip? You know how difficult it is for a young woman to rise in the workplace, yet you slander another competent woman? If you hadn't stormed the office last time, would Rachel be in this situation now?"
He looked at me with a tired, accusing gaze.
"If you want to be idle, I won't blame you. I can provide for you. But not every woman is short-sighted and incompetent like you. If you keep maligning Rachel, don't blame me. Think of the life of your foster mother!"
I couldn't hold back a laugh that tasted of sorrow and pain.
Standing before him, I opened my suitcase.
"See what kind of life of luxury you gave me," I said.
"I can't find four decent outfits in your house. I have to request money through the EAS to get a haircut. The housekeeper's monthly pay is more than yours truly wife, your Mrs. West."
I dragged him to the dressing room and, pointed at the lock on the door.
"Do you know how to open this? You need the passcode first, then a fingerprint. Even your company files aren't guarded this tightly."
"What kind of 'life of luxury' needs the wife to live like a dependent under her husband's mistress assistant?" I asked.
Julian looked incredulous. "Is that why you're jealous of Rachel and went to the company to ruin her reputation?"
Hearing that, my heart sank.
Everything I had said felt like speaking to someone who'd never listen or understand.
I looked down. "Fine. Think what you want."
"We're getting divorced."
He laughed, knowing expression on his face.
"Come on. I don't have time to placate you. You're making a fuss because you're jealous over my assistant? Not all women are petty and narrow like you."
"Tomorrow I'll fly an medical team in for your foster mother. I'll have Rachel give you the dressing room and the safe's passcode and change the fingerprint to yours."
"And every month the finance department will transfer you $10,000 — no EAS required."
After years married to Julian.
For him, this was the maximum compromise.
I should have accepted it and ended the confrontation.
But I was really tired of the relationship that involved three people.
Or perhaps I had never truly been in a relationship at all.
Just like now. He offered all these concessions but never once mentioned how Rachel harmed me.
Even though we all understood the EAS rules were her little power play, Julian brushed it off.
That meant if I accepted his terms and returned to be Mrs. West, Rachel would stay in our lives.
"I want nothing from you now. I only want a divorce."
Julian finally realized I wasn't bluffing.
I wouldn't accept his sweet talk and insisted on divorce. His impatience flared into anger.
"Lena, don't forget our agreement. If you divorce me, you won't get a cent from me!"
"And about your family's business, and your foster mother — without me, will your foster father, who has someone else care for her?"
Of course not.
I knew that if I hadn't been forced into this ridiculous marriage by that ungrateful man, who abandoned me and my foster mother, I would never have agreed.
Julian and I had always been two parallel lines.
Now it was simply time to return to that.
I zipped my suitcase shut and said coldly, "Do as you please."
Julian was stunned, unable to understand why all his usual tricks failed.
His pride wouldn't let him beg. He silently watched me walk to the door.
Just as I opened it, he made a near-panic grab to stop me, but remembered what Rachel had told him:
"Mrs. West is so bored at home and wants to be dramatic like a TV show. She's used to the good life — leave her be and she'll come back to apologize."
Julian was irritated.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handmade pear candy.
Maybe because the weather made him cough whenever he smoked, I'd found little ways to make him more comfortable.
Lena, despite everything, had been useful sometimes, he thought.
He wanted me to apologize sincerely and never again threaten him a divorce ever again.
He calmed himself and let me go.
