Chapter 1

My cousin Schumacher was getting married, but my wife refused to attend the wedding with me.

I'd expected this—just like how she always found excuses not to visit my hometown with me.

Though I was prepared, facing relatives' questions at the wedding reception still left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I'd long known that many people gossiped behind my back, saying I wasn't man enough to even bring my own wife home.

Some even whispered that I'd gotten divorced.

I drank silently, coming to a decision. No need for rumors anymore.

I pulled out my phone and called my wife.

She hung up... hung up again... and again.

[Can you stop? I'm busy]

Faced with her attitude, I calmly typed: [Let's get divorced]

[Are you insane? You want a divorce just because I won't go to Schumacher's wedding?]

[My sister's visiting for the holidays. Can't I spend time with her?]

I used to try reasoning with her, telling her how I felt.

She said she hated social obligations, but with her own family, she was always enthusiastic.

Big events or small, I had to attend everything on her side.

When it came to my side, she called it annoying.

I'd tried reasoning too many times. I was done talking.

[I'm serious. Think about what you want in the divorce, and I'll state my terms too]

[Split assets fifty-fifty. If you agree, we'll do an uncontested divorce]

I sent the two messages.

[Are you crazy?] She replied with the same line again. I put away my phone with no intention of responding further.

Over the next few days, she went silent, and I didn't contact her either.

On the last day of the holiday, she came home.

Seeing my stern face, she said nothing.

After setting down her things, she went into the bedroom and slammed the door hard.

Moments later she stormed out angrily, holding divorce papers in her hand.

"What is this supposed to mean?" She threw the papers at me.

"Divorce."

"I want a reason."

"I'm tired. I don't want to live with you anymore." I looked at her calmly.

"You're leaving me for Schumacher?" She started crying.

Her tears used to make me panic.

Now, I ignored them. "We're both adults. Can't we be civilized about this?"

"Civilized? You call divorce civilized?"

Green tore up the divorce papers. "I'll never divorce you. I can't handle that kind of humiliation."

I got up and retrieved my pre-packed suitcase from the study. "You have three days to think it over. If you won't agree to an uncontested divorce, I'll file a lawsuit."

"Stop right there, Davis! What gives you the right to divorce me? What have I ever done wrong to you?"

"Are you seeing someone else?"

I glanced at her, too tired to argue. I just wanted to end this marriage as quickly as possible, even if it meant taking a financial loss.

Less than two hours after I left home, my father-in-law Ant called, asking me to come back and talk.

If we could divorce peacefully, I didn't want things to get too ugly. I headed back quickly.

Ant, my mother-in-law Bella, and Green's sister Lavinia were all there.

The whole family sat formally, like they were conducting an interrogation.

Bella spoke first.

"Davis, Green's told us everything. You're really going too far. You want a divorce just because she wouldn't go home with you for your wedding?"

"Do you think marriage is a joke? Don't you take Green seriously at all?"

I stayed silent, unwilling to engage in this pointless argument.

Green and I had argued enough over the years.