I didn’t care much. At my age, marriage felt more like a shackle than anything else.
Earlier this month, Maureen Fleming’s 80th birthday party was held at a five-star hotel. She had always been kind to me and I didn’t want to upset her, so I showed up as expected.
Martin was there too. The moment he saw me, he rushed over.
“Judith! Where have you been? Samuel and I couldn’t reach you. We were worried sick!” he said.
I looked him in the eye and suddenly asked, “Martin, why did you marry me back then?”
The question caught even me off guard and I chuckled. Traveling really had done wonders. A month of freedom had shifted something in me. Facing Martin again, I felt so much lighter.
Even the things I used to avoid or topics I never had the strength to touch… I could now say out loud, without flinching.
“Was it because I had no degree, no background? Because I was timid and obedient? You couldn’t marry Wilma, so you settled for someone easy to control... am I right?” I added.
His gaze darted away. A moment passed before he snapped, “She’s my sister-in-law! I’m only looking after her because of my brother’s dying wish. That’s what family does! How dare you twist it!”
“But you’ve never treated her like one,” I said quietly. “Martin, you love her. You fell in love with your own sister-in-law.”
I looked at his pale face and, for the first time, felt a sense of relief. This marriage had been a mistake from the start, there was nothing left to hold on to.
By the time I returned, the birthday party was already underway.
Maureen waved at me warmly. “Judith, come here and sit beside me.”
I said nothing about the earlier argument with Martin and took my seat with a polite smile.
She was the only one in the entire Fleming Family who had ever truly treated me with kindness. Today was her special day, I didn’t want to upset her.
But it seemed she sensed the tension lingering in the air. Without a word, she slipped off the emerald bracelet from her wrist and pressed it into my hand.
Martin immediately objected. “Mom, that’s the Fleming Family’s heirloom jade bracelet, it’s priceless! Wilma is the eldest daughter-in-law. That bracelet should go to her!”
Samuel chimed in, “Yes, Grandma. Aunt Wilma is elegant and refined. She’s more suited to wear something like that.
“Mom is always busy with housework and the kids, jewelry isn’t really practical for her.”
However, Maureen didn’t even look up. “Judith has taken care of me for years and poured her heart into this family. Compared to Wilma, she’s the one who’s truly earned the title of mistress of the Fleming Family. This bracelet is hers.”
Despite my attempts to refuse, she clasped it onto my wrist with firm hands, leaving no room for argument.
"I'm old, but I still get to make the decisions in this family!" she declared.
Right after she spoke, the table rattled and cracks split across the walls. It was an earthquake.
Martin and Samuel froze for a second. Then they bolted toward me. Yet, the moment Wilma cried out in pain, they hesitated, turned around and ran to her instead.
I was near the door and I could’ve left easily.
However, I remembered Maureen's weak legs. Gritting my teeth, I turned back and carried her outside.
Chandeliers crashed to the floor, one after another, deadly in this chaos.
Just before we made it out of the hall, a wire scraped my right leg. Blood burst out, running down my calf.
I limped toward the safety tent, pain shooting through every step, but I didn’t stop until she was safe.
That was when Martin appeared out of nowhere and grabbed my wrist. “Wilma’s aorta ruptured, she needs blood. You’re the only match,” he said.
He dragged me all the way to the hospital, ignoring my struggle. My wound split open again in the scuffle, staining my pants a deep red.
“Nurse! I’ve brought her, hurry and draw her blood! Wilma’s life is in danger!” Martin shouted.
He dragged me to the nurse’s station. The nurse grabbed a syringe but didn’t proceed right away. Instead, she turned to me and asked, “Madam, do you give your consent to donate blood to the patient in bed 42, Wilma Lewis?”
“She agrees—” Martin jumped in.
“I don’t!” I cut him off.
I yanked my arm free from his grip. “Martin, we have law in this country. You can’t force me to give blood without my consent.”
Then came a sharp crack, his hand across my face. “You're being ridiculous! A life is at stake and you're still making trouble? You disgust me, Judith!”
It was the first time he ever hit me.
I cupped my stinging cheek, oddly calm inside. “If saving her matters so much to you, I’ll do it. But I have terms.”
Martin stared at me, confused, as I pulled out the divorce papers and slid them to him. “I get everything, the house at The Timberline, all our marital property. We’re getting divorced and you walk away with nothing.”
