So, I went to Sarah directly.
“I know you’re not actually sick,” I told her. “You’re in love with Ethan, and you’ve figured out that he’ll do anything for anyone who plays the victim. That’s why you came up with this whole act.”
“Fine. You can have him. All I ask is that you guilt–trip him into divorcing me:
And just like that, everything fell into place.
On the day we signed the divorce papers, Ethan looked a little guilty.
“I didn’t expect Sarah’s final wish to be marrying me,” he said with a sheepish smile.
Of course, since Sarah was “dying,” he agreed to do whatever she wanted.
After we left the courthouse, he grabbed my arm and said
“Fiona, don’t worry. We’ll get remarried after she passes. This is just temporary.
I didn’t even spare him a glance.
Facing the open road ahead, I slipped on my sunglasses and smiled, ready to embrace my new life.
I moved to a new city for work, blocked him and all our mutual friends in one clean sweep
My parents were furious, threatening to cut ties with me for being an “ungrateful daughter They even went so far as to sell their only house to help fund Ethan’s new business, moving in with him afterward.
It seemed they had forgotten I was their actual child.
To say it didn’t hurt would be a lie. I cried as I confronted them.
“Mom, Dad, I’m your daughter. What did I do so wrong?”
My mom had been sick before, undergoing multiple surgeries that left them with hundreds of thousands in medical debt. I had worked tirelessly, scrimping and saving to pay it all off.
My dad had gambling problems, and it was me who begged and borrowed money from anyone I could to clear his debts,
By any standard, I had been a dutiful daughter.
So why couldn’t I measure up to the crumbs of kindness Ethan had offered them? Why was that enough for them to turn their backs on me?
My dad sneered, “At least Ethan does what we ask without complaining. Not like you–always bossing us around, even telling me not to play cards with my friends!”
He had always hated how “domineering” I was. He hated that I had publicly scolded his gambling buddies, embarrassing him in front of his so–called friends.
My mom wasn’t any better. “So what if like greasy food? I’m the one suffering from clogged arteries, not you. What’s it to you, anyway? If I can’t even enjoy a good meal, what’s the point of being alive?”
“Ethan would never treat us that way, she added.
2:43 PM c
<
Thinking about this, I stopped crying. The hurt faded, replaced by a cold, empty acceptance.
The six years after my divorce had been full and fulfilling. I poured myself into my work, built a new life, and nearly forgot everything about my
post.
That is, until I ran into Ethan again.
He was as arrogant as ever, demanding answers.
“Fiona, what did I ever do wrong?” he pressed, his voice sharp.
“I told you, once Sarah passes, we can get
relationship!”
et remarried. You’re the one who threw a tantrum and blocked everyone, completely destroying our
His tone was icy, his presence heavy.
To everyone else, my leaving had always been painted as some dramatic overreaction, I was the one who was unreasonable. I was the one who had overreacted.
Ethan frowned, pulling Sarah closer, his tone a almost triumphant.
