Chapter 4 Divorce

Ethan's brow furrowed. He placed the flowers and traditional medicine down, then retrieved his phone with practiced calm to call Anna. The call went unanswered.

He hadn't imagined a day where Anna wouldn't be home. Nevertheless, Ethan, true to habit, put on a record, filling the silence with his beloved Chopin nocturne.

An hour passed. Still no Anna Hendrick.

Two hours crept by. The house remained empty.

Three hours later, Ethan rose and headed to the closet. Inside, most of Anna's clothing hung neatly, all gifts from him, dominated by shades of pink.

However, the two blue suits she owned before their wedding were gone.

Just then, a delivery arrived.

The recipient: Ethan Smith.

He couldn't recall ordering anything.

The package was a large, imposing cardboard box. He tore it open, revealing a dazzling, almost overwhelming collection:

Pink roses, a pink diamond necklace, a pink Hermès bag, bright pink high heels, a cherry-pink dress, a pink diamond watch, gold jewelry, a peach-pink silk scarf, luxury perfume, a pink diamond brooch, car keys, a pink diamond ring...

Ethan's expression darkened, a silent storm gathering in his eyes.

These were all gifts he had showered upon Anna during their courtship.

The pink diamond ring, his engagement ring.

Ethan rifled through the box, discovering that, despite the years, not a single label had been removed from any of the items.

The only thing in the box that wasn't a present from him was a file folder. Ethan pulled it out.

New York City's night skyline shimmered, a testament to wealth and extravagance.

The old houses on Salem Street had been dark for years, but tonight, lights blazed from dusk until late.

Anna had spent half the day meticulously cleaning her room until it sparkled. Though simple, it was now clean and inviting.

She used to have her mother, a constant source of support, but now she was alone. To deny the loneliness would be a lie.

Anna clutched her phone, wavering over whether to call Lucy Goldberg.

Lucy was her closest friend, a bond forged in high school.

But before she could dial, the doorbell rang. Anna quickly hung up and went to answer it.

Ethan's tall, imposing figure filled the doorway, like a mountain looming over her, startling Anna.

"What is the meaning of this?!" he demanded.

With a thud, the divorce agreement in Ethan's hand struck Anna's face.

Her face flushed crimson. This was the first time she had seen Ethan so enraged, and she instinctively lowered her head in fear.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Why did you run away from home for no reason? Are you a child?"

Ethan reached to pull her closer, but Anna recoiled.

"Ethan, I want a divorce..."

"Why?"

"Because..."

"Is this about Becca?"

Anna looked up, meeting Ethan's gaze. His arms were crossed, his handsome features sculpted into a sneer of disdain.

That smile was a painful blow.

Seeing Anna's silent agreement, Ethan scoffed.

Becca's return had made the truth undeniable, and he no longer felt the need to hide it.

"Anna, when did you learn to play these games? I admit Becca was my first love, and I proposed to you to get under her skin. But I've never given you any reason to complain during our three years of marriage..."

The phrase "never given you any reason to complain" stung, bringing tears to Anna's eyes.

She wanted to retort: "What about the child? Didn't *you* force me to abort our child?"

But she knew it was pointless.

Her chest tightened, as if crushed beneath a heavy weight. Anna drew a deep breath.

At this point, divorce was the best outcome for them both, putting an end to her foolish, failed love and marriage.

Anna watched as Ethan pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled a plume of smoke on her cramped living room sofa, his words laced with unwavering conviction.

"Becca and I went to high school together. She studied abroad and is now a highly respected professional. A rising star in jewelry design. Had her hand not been injured, she would be a world-class pianist... A woman like that is too brilliant, my mother wouldn't be able to handle her. For her to stay at home and care for the family would be a waste of her talent. She's not suited to be the Smith family's daughter-in-law..."

Anna's face paled.

"But you're different. You have no talent, no ambition, no aspirations. You didn't graduate from college. You have no education, no diploma, no skills, and your family isn't well off. After all these years as a housewife, you're completely out of touch with the world... Without me, you're nothing. You can't even afford to eat or have a place to live. What makes you think you can divorce me?"

The small house fell into a heavy silence.

Anna opened her mouth, inhaled the cigarette smoke Ethan exhaled, and started coughing.

"When you've thought it through, pack your things and come home. This is the only time I'll forgive you."

After finishing the cigarette, Ethan looked around for an ashtray, but found none. He didn't throw it on the floor.

He raised his hand, and Anna moved forward and took the cigarette butt, tossing it in the trash can.

Ethan smiled, his charm especially potent when he smiled.

She claimed she wanted a divorce, but her actions belied her words.

Ethan shifted, crossing his legs.

Anna was penniless and unskilled, a parasite only capable of relying on men.

Anyone with sense would realize that sticking with him was the most beneficial choice.

Becca's appearance had just upset her, prompting a temporary display.

"Enough. I don't have time for your games. From now on, just keep running the household as you always have, and I'll continue to support you," Ethan said coldly. He watched Anna bend down, her shoulders slumped, as she gathered the scattered divorce papers one by one.

"If you don't sign, I'll mail them to your company or your mother tomorrow..."

Anna shot to her feet.

"Anna, don't be so shameless!"

Anna now seemed so foreign, it unnerved him.

She opened the door.

"Go back! Don't come here again."

Ethan had never anticipated his attempts to appease Anna would be met with rejection. He shrugged and offered an angry smile.

"Fine, Anna. If you're so sure, don't come crying and begging me when you regret it."

He slammed the door behind him and left, leaving the divorce papers behind.

Late into the night, Anna finally located her old bank card.

It was from before her marriage, untouched and stored away in this house. Not a single penny in it had come from Ethan.

Ethan had been right the night before. She had no education, no diploma, and years of being a housewife had left her disconnected from the world. After the divorce, she would have to make a living on her own.

After linking the bank card to her mobile banking app, the balance appeared on the screen:

2,077,805.

Slightly more than she expected.