Chapter 4

I didn’t go home, instead, I went to the river.

I’d lived in this city for five years, but besides Mark, I didn’t have any friends. I had been so blinded by love, I didn’t see this coming. I called my lawyer and told her I wanted a divorce, and I needed to get the biggest settlement.

I didn’t have a love anymore, but I had to get the money.

“Love and bread, you can’t always have both,” I muttered to myself, “This time, it’s about the bread.”

I got home that evening, and to my surprise, Mark was there. He was wearing an apron, and he actually pulled a pot of soup off the stove.

“Hey, babe,” he said, like nothing had ever happened, “I made your favorites. Go wash up; dinner’s ready.”

On the table, there was spicy chicken, fish in chili broth, some pork lung soup, and stir- fried vegetables. All things I used to love. I didn’t grab a plate or fork.

“What’s up? Don’t you like it?”

I just looked at him. It had been over a year since he last stepped foot in the kitchen, I just didn’t care.

“Since my stomach issues, I’ve had to cut out the spicy food.” I stated, so coldly.

Mark looked like he’d been slapped in the face, then as if remembering that I had health problems, he immediately scooped up a bowl of soup. I just pushed it away.

“I don’t eat pork lung; don’t give me those vegetables, and I especially hate that specific kind.”

I stood up. “Enjoy your dinner.”

See, it’s that obs when you don’t love someone. He no longer remembers your likes and dislikes. He used to take every green onion out of my food with meticulous care, but now he didn’t even know what I would eat anymore. I was just another body in his house.

I stared into his eyes, trying to find any trace of the man I used to love. There was nothing. The new Mark, the current Mark, was mature and confident, attractive and charming. He was no longer the mar ho loved me with all of his heart.

“Do you even remember what you said when we got married? You promised you’d be good to me, and you wouldn’t ever hurt me, and you forgot it all!” I spoke softly.

“The Mark I loved, only loved me. My heart is too small for anyone else. But his heart has grown so big that there’s enough room for everyone.”

Mark stood there, frowning.

“I made a mistake that any guy could have made; I’ve apologized, so what more do you want? Why are you being such a jealous, insecure woman!”

I couldn’t help laughing borly. “So, when someone else makes a mistake, does that give you the right to do it too? Everyone dies eventually, why don’t you just go die?”

Mark’s face turned red. “You’re so toxic! Can’t we just talk like adults?”

I pulled out the divorce papers, handed him a pen.

“Sign this, and we can talk like adults.”

He grabbed my hand, trying that desperate puppy–dog look he used to give me.

“Honey, I love you so much, don’t be like this. I’ll fire Tiffany, okay? How about that?”

I looked at him, and without blinking, asked,

“Are you willing to never see her again? Even if she is pregnant with your child?”

When we got married, Mark was too busy with his new business. He told me he never wanted to see me in pain, he wanted a DINK life with me.

He used to hold me and say, “You are my baby and that is enough for me.”

But now he was saying, “I may not love her, but I need a kid to inherit everything. She’s young, healthy, and pregnant. What a perfect match.”

“If I don’t have to go through that, isn’t it great? You just need to nod and I’ll give you the baby, and Tiffany can have some money for her troubles.”

“And Tiffany agrees to this?” I asked, not believing it for a second.

Mark smiled, confidently, “You don’t understand her, she is such a pure woman, she only loves me. She doesn’t want titles, she doesn’t want anything, all she wants is to have my baby.”

I nearly choked laughing. Tiffany is a pure woman? She just loves him? She doesn’t want titles or money? It was clear that Mark was a complete fool blinded by love.

I pulled my hand away. “Mark, you’re just… dirty.”

I really wanted to see what could happen if Tiffany ended up with him when he lost everything. I wondered if she would still say that she just loved him.