5
John’s face twitched. He stared at me as if
I’d sprouted a second head.
L
“What? Are you seriously crazy? Why
divorce? You’re creating drama, not even
making dinner for the family.”
“What’s my mom going to eat when she gets
back? She burns a lot of energy dancing. You
should be taking care of her, like you do your
own mother!”
“Is this because I haven’t been around? I
work hard, I don’t have time to coddle you.”
“I told you before we got married, I don’t like
clingy women. You’ve always been so low- maintenance. What’s gotten into you?”
In my past life, the divorce had happened two
L
months later. Initially, John hadn’t wanted to
leave. He was happy juggling his affair. Then,
one day, his mistress announced she was four
months pregnant, and it was a boy. A girl
might have given him pause. A boy? That
sealed the deal. He’d demanded a divorce
immediately.
Knowing how much I loved Claire, he’d used
her as leverage, forcing me to choose
between the house and custody. I hadn’t
wanted a messy legal battle, or for Claire to
discover her beloved father’s betrayal. I’d
been terrified of upsetting her before the
competition, jeopardizing her future.
So I’d walked away with nothing, shouldering
<
the burden of raising Claire alone. I knew
what would happen if John got custody. With
his and his mother’s preference for sons,
Claire’s piano lessons, even her education,
would be sacrificed. Once the baby was born,
the disparity in treatment would be even more
stark. They might even sell her off for a
dowry.
“Because I know about your mistress,” I said
bluntly.
His face paled. “You… you’re talking
nonsense! Do you have proof?”
I scoffed. “It’s hardly a secret. Ask anyone at
your company.
وو
“But if you insist on proof, we can settle this
in court.”
Seeing I was serious, John sat beside me,
attempting to placate me. “Tammy, calm.
down. Let’s talk about this…”
29
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said coldly,
shifting away.
“Just sign the papers. The house and savings
are mine. You get nothing.”
“Don’t force me to take this to court. It’ll be
embarrassing for both of us.
Seeing the soft approach wasn’t working, he
L
switched to threats. “Tammy, think carefully.”
“If you insist on the assets, I’ll take Claire.
99
The same tactic as last time. Unfortunately
for him, it wouldn’t work this time.
Claire was no longer my weakness.
Seeing my silence, John mistook it for
surrender, a smug look spreading across his
face.
“If you give up the assets, I might consider
letting you have Claire. I’ll even give you $500
a month in child support.
وو
<
“That’s enough for your basic needs, if you’re
careful.”
“But if you don’t, Claire stays with me. I
won’t be wasting money on useless piano
lessons. I’ll sell the piano, too.”
I shook my head. “Don’t bother. I already sold
it.”
John blinked. “What?”
“And I’ve cancelled her lessons. She’s your
responsibility now, John,” I said slowly.
John’s jaw dropped. He hadn’t expected me
to so easily relinquish the daughter I’d always
to so easily relinquish the daughter I’d always
cherished. And the thing was, he didn’t want
her. She was a burden.
His face contorted as he scrambled for
another angle, something else to hold over
- me.
He didn’t know that without Claire as my
weakness, I was invincible.
Claire finished her wontons and wandered
over. “What are you guys talking about?”
