Chapter 5

“Hugh, you’d better treat her well, or I’ll have Luna work for us. After all, your wife is just a decoration…”

The man frowned, his eyes full of helplessness. “Mom, what are you talking about?”

“What nonsense! She keeps ignoring me. What’s the use of all this money? She hasn’t given me a child in all these years, making me a disgrace in the Montgomery Family! I think she’s cursed! She dresses up extravagantly and goes out every day… What if she’s having an affair and you don’t even know—”

The vase I threw broke at their feet. The woman screamed, piercing our ears. Hugh looked at me in disbelief, his face twisted with anger. “Belinda! Are you crazy?!”

I crossed my arms and looked down at him, chuckling softly. “Crazy? No, I’ve never been clearer-headed.”

Hugh’s face went pale and his mother was frozen, speechless. Only Luna stayed calm, standing to shield the two behind her. “Miss Hansen, it’s normal for an elder to criticize a junior. Why get so angry over something so small? Don’t you even respect Mr. Montgomery?”

I said casually, “What’s it to you? You came here, massaging and flattering her. Is dealing with Hugh too hard? Are you looking for another way?”

She hesitated, then Hugh spoke sharply. “Belinda, what nonsense are you saying? I brought Luna home. You slapped her in public this morning and still owe her an apology. She only talked to Mom briefly and when she heard Mom wasn’t feeling well, she gave her a massage. How did her good intentions turn into something else in your mind?”

I said nothing, only coldly looking at the cups on the table for Luna. They were a pair of coffee cups I bought at a French auction, one for me, one for Hugh.

Luna, her eyes red, picked up her briefcase. “Auntie, Mr. Montgomery, I’m sorry. I only wanted to clear up the misunderstanding with Miss Hansen, but I stick to my principles. If I’m not welcome here, I won’t come back.”

She turned to leave.

“Wait,” I called, tossing the cup and coaster she’d used into the trash. “I don’t like people touching my things without permission. Since you touched these, you’ll pay for them. If you can’t afford it, have them pay instead.”

I pointed at the mother and son on the sofa. Hugh looked at the items I’d thrown away, relief and helplessness flashing across his face.

“Fine, I’ll pay.”

Rita couldn’t hold back anymore. She pointed at me and shouted, “You! This is our Montgomery Family home. I’m using my own things for guests, so why should I pay?”

I ignored her and sat on the sofa. “This house may belong to your Montgomery Family, but I furnished and decorated everything inside.”

From furniture to appliances, from pots and pans to big pieces, everything was carefully chosen to match my vision of a perfect married life.

Rita thought I was extravagant, but she enjoyed feeling superior because of my luxury. Hugh, however, rarely cared about what mattered to me.

Even love was in short supply. I decorated the house to please Hugh and acted like the perfect wife and mother he admired, but pretending was still pretending.

“You chose to spend the money! Your things are in my house. Aren’t they meant to be used? By your logic, should we pay you whenever anyone touches anything?!” Rita grew more and more upset.

Luna, who had said she was leaving, pretended to care and came over to help Rita. “Auntie, don’t be upset, please sit down.”

Seeing Rita was about to back down, I said, “Excuse me, I bought the sofa. If you want to sit, you need to pay.”

Rita’s eyes widened and Hugh frowned. “Belinda, stop. Mom went too far. No need to argue. We’re family.”

I casually picked up a cherry and ate it.

“That won’t happen again.”

The three across from me went silent.

The cherries tasted sour, so I spat them into the trash. If something isn’t right, you return it, same for people.

“Belinda, what do you mean?” His deep voice sounded like a storm was coming.

I calmly wiped my mouth. “It means exactly that. Hugh, I want a divorce.”