Lucy's pitiful, delicate appearance at that moment really did match the fragile, lovable little innocent girl often seen in Korean dramas.
He rushed to Lucy's side, draped his coat over her shoulders, then used those hands that had once said they would only ever hold mine to gently clasp another woman’s hands. Afraid she might be cold, he even breathed warm air onto her fingers.
I stood by like an outsider, my icy hands tucked deep into my jacket pockets. It was simply too cold and I couldn’t help but speak to them.
“Let’s go.”
After glancing at me, Jeremy raised his hand to feel Lucy’s forehead, then strode toward me.
Eight years of being together made me instinctively alert; it seemed he was furious.
I instinctively took a step back, but couldn't dodge his slap. The hand that once warmed me now struck my face with force.
Heartbreak, agony, disappointment and even hatred became a tangled complex of emotions that overwhelmed me, leaving me without the strength to react immediately.
“It's all your fault! If you'd come sooner, Lucy wouldn't have stood by the river so long and caught this fever!”
Compared to the pain on my face, my heart really hurts at this moment.
“Jeremy, when did you become this stupid? Did I make Lucy come to the river? Did I tell her to jump? She’s an adult. If she won’t take responsibility for her own life, why should I take responsibility for her actions?”
I pointed angrily at Jeremy. “And you! Jeremy, we're getting divorced! What right do you have to lecture me now? I'm calling the police. What you just did was intentional assault. I think you need to spend a few days in jail to reflect on your actions!”
Jeremy's face darkened slightly. But before he could speak, Lucy's slightly excited and surprised cut him off. "Jeremy, are you getting a divorce? Is it true?"
Jeremy’s voice rose, as if desperately trying to prove something. “Whether it’s true or not has nothing to do with a child like you! Your sister-in-law is just acting on impulse and making a fuss about divorce. She’ll regret it sooner or later!”
Hearing this, Lucy's almond-shaped eyes darted about. After feigning a few coughs, her body began to sway unsteadily.
Jeremy hurriedly helped her.
“Don't stand out here in the wind. I'll take you to the hospital to get checked, so it doesn't get worse.”
Saying this, Jeremy picked Lucy up. As he did, he shot me a sardonic glance. “Since you want to divorce so much, get out of the house first and let me see your determination!"
He didn't need to remind me; I was going to go back and pack my bags anyway.
After Jeremy drove off, I took a taxi home. There wasn’t much worth taking, so two suitcases were enough.
When I passed by Jeremy's study, I pushed the door open and placed the document folder in my hand on his desk. I didn’t know when he would see the gift I’d left him, but it's not too late to see it.
After leaving, I checked into a hotel. I didn’t look for a place or leave immediately, because I planned to return to the orchard my father had left me once the divorce agreement was signed.
But before that, I needed to wrap up the procedural matters my father had left behind here.
I hadn't realized how complex his affairs were until I started sorting them out. I'd thought it would take three or four days, but a week had already passed and I'd barely managed to get things in order.
The doorbell rang.
Aside from going out to eat, I had hardly ever left the hotel for a l week. I shouldn’t have had contact with anyone.
Through the peephole, I saw that it was Jeremy.
Was he coming here to sign the divorce agreement? But he wasn’t holding anything and he looked irritated. It didn’t seem like good news.
“If you're not here to sign the divorce papers, leave.”
Though I could not see Jeremy's expression through the peephole, I could see him knocking impatiently on the doorframe, muttering something about needing to speak with me.
“Other than divorce, nothing interests me," I said coldly.
