Chapter 2

Our sex life—her cold rejections. I'd complained many times. It never helped.

My income—no matter how my salary increased, there was always someone earning more that she could use to put me down.

And my time off work and holidays—I couldn't have any recreational activities of my own.

She'd always say I was lazy, greedy, sneaky, and lacked ambition.

Five years of marriage, and she refused to have kids, constantly citing my lack of ambition and insufficient income.

Living in that atmosphere every day, I couldn't find any meaning in life.

The thing was, to make things easier for herself, she'd taken a job paying two thousand a month where she could watch shows and scroll through videos all day.

After work, she was either playing cards or getting beauty treatments.

Shopping and traveling were mandatory on holidays.

I didn't accept this double standard.

"Green hasn't enjoyed a single day of happiness since marrying you. What right do you have to ask for a divorce?"

Bella continued her tirade. I glanced at the gold bracelet on her wrist—I'd bought that.

She and Ant had no income. I gave them living expenses every month.

Every month, I gave them three thousand dollars.

As for Green's jewelry—I never missed Valentine's Day, birthdays, or anniversaries. Not once in five years.

I didn't know what suffering they'd endured, or what hardships Green had faced with me.

Perhaps the greatest hardship she'd suffered was drinking iced Americanos.

Whenever I went back with Green, Bella never stopped talking—either about whose son-in-law made so much money in business or whose daughter acquired what nice things.

Her family was a bottomless pit.

I looked at Bella. "I came here to talk with you all. Can you shut your mouth?"

Bella stood up, glaring.

"How dare you! You dare tell me to shut up? Green, look at what you've found."

She pointed at me. "With us here, this is your attitude. God knows how you bully Green normally."

"If that's your attitude, I'll see you in court." I stood to leave.

"Stop right there! Is this how your parents raised you? Do you have any respect for us?"

"Mom, please say less." Green quickly stopped Bella.

"Your parents should be here soon. We'll discuss this when they arrive." Ant finally spoke up.

Divorce was a big deal—impossible to hide from my parents.

Since they'd already notified my folks, we might as well sit down together and settle this.

Shortly after I sat back down, my parents arrived.

"Finally, you're here." Bella wore a stern expression. "Davis is absolutely terrible. You need to control him. I said a few words to him and he told me to shut up."

"This kind of disrespect for elders—only Green could tolerate him."

"Anyone else would have divorced him long ago."

My dad didn't take the bait, just looked at me. "You've thought this through?"

"Yes."

"Then divorce."

Bella's expression darkened. "What do you mean? I called you here to mediate."

"Mediate?" My dad glanced at her. "I don't see you trying to mediate."

"And speaking of disrespecting elders, does Green respect me and her mother-in-law?"

"They've been married five years. Has she ever visited us?"

"In all these years, has she ever called us Mom and Dad?"

"Only the people who gave birth to me are Mom and Dad. Is it wrong that I don't call you that?" Green lost her temper too.

"Then divorce it is." My dad repeated. "On this matter, I support Davis."