Chapter 4
She stood there, stunned.
I looked away, got up, and walked toward the door.
“The papers are at home. I’ll go ahead. Come back and sign when you’re ready.”
“Stop!“#
Her voice finally broke through the air.
“David, tell me clearly–what did I do wrong?“>
“You want a divorce just because I let Van and his adopted child stay with us?”
Compared to her excitement, I remained calm.
An adopted child?
What a joke.
Even now, she was still lying to me.
Van rushed over, trying to case the tension.
“David, it’s really not what you think. If you don’t want me and the child staying at your place, I’ll take the baby and leave.”
Watching his fake sincerity, I felt nothing but disgust.
Pam approached me in high heels, eyes blazing, her voice nearly a shout.
“David, today is the baby’s full–month celebration. You want to divorce me in front of all these people? Have you thought about what that would do to me?”
“And what about your promise to my mother–that you’d take care of me for the rest of my life? Now you’re just walking away, leaving me alone? What am I supposed to do?“#
I gave a bitter smile and pointed to Van.
“How could you be alone? You’ve got him. And your child.”
Pam’s face changed, but she remained defiant.}
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. The child isn’t mine or Van’s. He adopted him abroad.”
“Yes, I did,” Van chimed in, a touch too smug In his tone.
“It’s got nothing to do with Pam. David, you’re reading too much into this.”
Too much?
If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, maybe I could’ve believed it.M
But I did.
My expression turned cold, my gaze sharp as steel as it fixed on Pam.”
Her constant lies finally shattered the last pieces of my trust.M
“On our wedding anniversary, your little family of three went shopping, dining, and strolling in the sun together. Weren’t you smiling the whole time?”
“That day… that day…” Pam stammered, her eyes suddenly widening.”
“You… you were there?“>
Hearing that, a dull pain rose in my chest.
Yes. After over ten hours on a plane, I dragged my exhausted body across the city just to surprise her.”
And what I got in return was a betrayal.
Around us, guests began to murmur. Their glances toward Pam turned curious, then judgmental.
I hadn’t planned on exposing her like this. I just wanted to leave quietly and spare her embarrassment.}
But she forced my hand.”
And in doing so, tore off the last vell of decency I was willing to leave her.
I took a deep breath, my voice low but firm.
“I made that promise to your mother, and I kept it. After we married, I took care of you the best I could.” “But now, you have Van and the child. You no longer need me.“}
“And since I’m not needed, I’ll go. It’s as simple as that.“”
I turned to leave, but Pam grabbed my arm, desperation in her eyes.}}
“Honey, please… I had my reasons. Just hear me out!”
Reasons? Explanations?
I almost laughed.
Did someone force her to have a child with Van?”
“Let go.”
I shook off her hand and walked away without looking back.W
4
15
Reasons? Explanations?
I almost laughed.
Did someone force her to have a child with Van??
“Let go.”
I shook off her hand and walked away without looking back.”
“Husband!” She cried behind me, her voice raw and desperate.
But my heart was unmoved.
Because it was already dead.
The love I once had for her–dead.
I didn’t go home. I went straight to the airport.
A month ago, I applied for a transfer to do support work in a remote mountain area.”
Yesterday, I quietly packed and checked in my luggage.
Conditions there are harsh. Water and electricity are limited.
Very few employees volunteered.
When I submitted my request, my supervisor called me in and asked if I was sure.
I didn’t hesitate.N
Going to the mountains would put distance between me and Pam.
Staying would only prolong the pain–emotionally and physically.”
On my first night in the mountains, I couldn’t sleep.
The heat was oppressive, and without water to shower, I felt sticky and restless.
But the children here–left behind by parents who’d gone to work in the cities–were everywhere.“>
Their innocent smiles, their bell–like laughter…
Somehow, it softened the sting of the environment, and eased the weight pressing down on my heart.”
