- 5.
John’s jaw dropped. He stared at me as if I’d
sprouted a second head.
“What? Are you crazy? Why would we get
divorced? You’re being ridiculous, not making
dinner for the family.”
“What’s my mom going to eat when she gets
back? She needs her energy after line
dancing. Why can’t you be as considerate of
<
her as you are of 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 happened two
months later.
At first, he was content with his affair.
Then, his mistress informed him she was four
months pregnant with a boy.
If it had been a girl, he might have hesitated.
A boy? That sealed the deal.
<
He immediately demanded a divorce.
Knowing how much I loved Lily, he used her
as leverage. The house and savings, or
custody.
I didn’t want a messy legal battle, didn’t want
Lily to know her beloved father was cheating
and about to abandon her for a son.
I was afraid the stress would affect her
performance in the competition, ruining her
future.
So, I gave up everything, leaving with nothing
but my daughter and the burden of
supporting her alone.
I knew what would happen if Lily stayed with
him Her future would be destroved
him. Her future would be destroyed.
With their preference for sons, they’d
probably pull her out of piano lessons, maybe
even high school.
Once the baby arrived, they’d favor him,
maybe even sell Lily off for a dowry.
“Because I know about your mistress,” I said
bluntly.
His face paled. “You…don’t be ridiculous!
You have no proof!”
I scoffed. “It’s hardly a secret. Ask anyone at
your company.”
“But if you insist on proof, we can settle it in
court.”
<
Seeing I was serious, he sat down beside me,
trying to placate me. “Tammy, calm down.
Let’s talk about this…”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” My voice was
cold. I moved away from him.
“Just sign the papers. The house and the
money are mine. You get nothing.”
“Don’t make me take this to court. It will be
humiliating for both of us.”
Seeing his softer approach fail, he switched
tactics. “Tammy, think this through.”
“If you want the assets, you lose Lily. She
stays with me.
وو
く
The same threat. The same leverage.
But he’d miscalculated.
Lily was no longer my weakness.
Seeing my silence, he mistook it for
surrender, a smug look spreading across his
face.
“If you give up the assets, I’ll consider letting
you keep Lily. I’ll even give you $500 a month
in child support.
99
“That’s enough for you to live on if you’re
careful.”
“But if you don’t, she stays with me.”
く
“And I’m not paying for any useless piano
lessons. I’ll sell that piano too.”
I shook my head. “Don’t bother. I already sold
it.”
John blinked. “What?”
“And I canceled her lessons. She’s your
responsibility now, John.” My voice was calm.
John’s mouth hung open. He was stunned.
He never expected me to so easily relinquish
the daughter I’d always cherished.
The problem was, he didn’t want her.
His face shifted through a kaleidoscope of
emotions desperately searching for another
emotions, desperately searching for another
way to control me.
He didn’t realize that by letting go of Lily, I’d
become untouchable.
Lily finished her dumplings and wandered
over. “What are you talking about?”
