The Wrong Bride - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

We went our separate ways and had another fight. Mark refused to sign the divorce papers. It was a stalemate. I moved out of our house, started talking to lawyers. Mark, as if trying to prove a point, started taking Tiffany to all sorts of events.

Tiffany’s social media was constantly updated: pictures of her and Mark, all kinds of jewelry, and captions like, “He says I’m more precious than any gem.”

People even referred to her as Mrs. Harrison, publicly. I watched the videos of Mark’s vague introductions and Tiffany’s smug responses with disgust. I booked a tea appointment with Mrs. Williams, the wife of one of our biggest clients.

In the past, Mark would be wining and dining all these clients, but the connections went beyond that. I knew the wives and all their needs. I remembered how I ran all over the city to find the specific small wontons Mrs. Lin, another client’s wife, said she ate as a child.

The wontons were cheap, but the gesture was priceless. When Mrs. Lin tasted the wontons, she was touched.

“You are really something. This is so hard to find, you went out of your way for me. From now on, all of Lin’s business is yours.”

And Mrs. Williams, when she had a miscarriage, I was there for her for a week. I made her chicken and fish soup every day. Mark thought that he was the reason why he was successful, but he didn‘t know all the work I did behind the scenes.

It’s sad how easily women’s efforts are overlooked. Mrs. Williams and I were chatting over tea when I saw Tiffany, with a group of her girlfriends, walk into the hotel. They were laughing very loudly.

“Tiffany, when are you and Mr. Harrison. going to get married?”

“Yeah, I see Mr. Harrison is treating you like gold, so sweet.”

Tiffany answered, “We are working on the paperwork, once that old lady signs the divorce papers, we will tie the knot!”

Then she saw me, went quiet for a second, and walked up to me.

“Sarah, this is a really expensive place, you know Mark is working really hard to make this money.”

She glanced at Mrs. Williams, and made a disgusted expression.

“Are you taking someone to afternoon tea? Mrs. Harrison is having a divorce, and you don’t want to be involved in this. She won’t be Mrs. Harrison soon. That’s going to be me!”

Mrs. Williams looked at me, eyebrows raised.

“And who is this?”

I kindly explained to her, “This is Mark’s assistant, also his mistress. She says she’s pregnant with his kid. So, we are working on the divorce right now.”

Mrs. Williams looked at Tiffany in disgust,

“Sarah, you need to be careful. Men are going to stray, so you have to be more alert. You shouldn’t let them just bring any trash into the house. Who knows how many hands she’s been through.”

I looked like I’d learned something new, “I just trusted him too much. I didn’t think it’d be a pregnancy situation.”

Mrs. Williams waved it off. “You can get babies anywhere, pay them off, that’s what it’s about! Let me tell you something, that’s why you need your own kids! Or if you don’t want to, just make sure he can’t have them at all!”

Tiffany, listening to our chat, started screaming, “You guys can’t keep a man, so you blame others?! The better person always wins, you have to look at your own flaws!”

“Who doesn’t like someone who’s young and beautiful? You need to know your place, and if you are going to leave, just do it nicely so we don’t make this ugly!”

I stood up, smiling coldly. “Ms. Tiffany, I’m still Mrs. Harrison. If you want that title, try asking Mark to sign the divorce papers. Otherwise, when your belly gets too big, it might be a little embarrassing.”

Tiffany was furious. I was done with her. While I was half way done with my tea, Mrs. Williams went to the restroom, and Mark showed up. Tiffany was crying and threw herself into his arms. “Mark, Sarah, she, she…”

She left the rest of her words out, Mark frowned at me.