“We’ve been together since childhood, Sophia. We’ve been married for ten years! So, how could we get a divorce over something so small?”
“I never take even a second glance at other women out there. As long as you’re willing to come home, I won’t mind.”
With just a few words, Martin turned everyone’s attention to my supposed new lover. The situation turned to his favor again. All eyes glared at me like sharp knives. Again, my father slapped me hard.
“So that’s why you want a divorce? Because you’re having an affair? How could I have raised such a shameless daughter!”
“Sophia, you’re an ungrateful woman! Stop causing trouble. You’re going to make your father sick. Go home and live properly with Martin!”
All of my friends and relatives tried to persuade me, while Martin cried and begged as if his pride was gone. However, it just made me look at him coldly as I pushed him away and said firmly, “Let me go, Martin. I’m no longer in love with you.”
It seemed that Martin had no idea that our marriage had already died the moment he started caring for the neighbor’s baby more than me.
Martin stared at me in disbelief, while his lips were trembling as he asked, “What did you just say?”
The whole room went silent. His tears fell harder, but I turned to leave.
Martin suddenly grabbed me tightly as his voice shook, begging me, “Don’t go away, Sophia. Please don’t go away. Yes, I made a mistake. All of it is my mistake.”
“Just give me another chance to prove myself. I promise I’ll change. Please don’t leave me.”
Martin’s friends blocked my way.
“Sophia, what the hell is going on? You’d better apologize to Martin right now!”
“My friend has been with you for so many years. How can you hurt him like this? Have you forgotten how much you loved each other?”
“You two were together from middle school through college. It took eight years before you married. Have you forgotten all that?”
“You heartless woman! Are you saying you don’t even want the baby you’re carrying? Would you rather your child grow up without a father?”
When I announced to everyone that I had already made up my mind to divorce Martin, my parents rushed over and held me tightly. They tried to talk me out of it.
“Sophia, you’re pregnant! So, how come you’re still talking about divorce? Have you gone mad?”
I pulled away with all my strength, pretending not to care and said in a firm tone, “I’ll raise my child myself. We’re already divorced.”
My mother looked shocked, unable to believe I could say such a thing.
“Sophia, haven’t you always wanted a child? Now that you’re finally pregnant, why are you still doing this?”
Her words hit me like a heavy blow to the heart. Indeed, I had dreamed of having a child since I was twenty. For ten years, I prayed that Martin and I would have one. But every time, my hope was crushed. I couldn’t live like this anymore. I only wanted to end things completely.
Our loud argument drew the attention of Wendy Haines. That woman was the single mother next door. She came over with her baby in her arms, trying to hand the child to Martin. Every day around this time, Wendy went to work and Martin helped take care of her child.
When Wendy saw us, she ignored the chaos and rushed to take the baby from me. The tenderness in his eyes was something I had never seen before. It was as if he were holding his own baby.
My chest tightened so much that I almost lost my balance. Martin and I once had children, too, but I lost them both in miscarriages.
Then, Wendy said softly, “Sophia, I heard everything. I hope you don’t mind Martin helping me with the baby. I’ll start looking for another place today and move out soon. I don’t want to affect your relationship.”
Martin frowned, unwilling to let go.
“No, it’s fine. I’m just helping you take care of your child. That’s all.”
He turned to me with a sigh, saying, “Sophia, don’t take your anger out on others because of what happened between us. You just recovered from an accident. Please stop making a scene!”
