“Now that the baby’s been born, isn’t Jason already exhausted from caring for the child? With you—the mother—right there, what’s so wrong with him taking a break? And you’re seriously asking for a divorce over something this trivial? Have you no shame?”
Julia, putting herself on a pedestal of righteousness, immediately painted me as the cold, heartless wife who failed to appreciate her husband.
Her verbal assault was quickly followed by a raised hand, aiming to slap me.
But I sidestepped easily before she could land a blow. I glared at her icily, my voice thick with sarcasm. “So, my husband massages my stretch marks every night? And you know this how? Don’t tell me—you two share everything?”
Julia’s composure faltered, panic flashing across her face. “Isn’t that just common knowledge? Go ahead, ask anyone here—who doesn’t know?”
Around us, the guests nodded awkwardly, aligning with her false sense of certainty.
My father-in-law’s tone turned heavy with criticism. “Nicole, you’re being too impulsive. Everyone saw how well Jason cared for you during your pregnancy. He’s only human, not a machine. He needs rest, too. After childbirth, this is when a marriage is truly tested. You shouldn’t abandon him now.”
My mother-in-law’s eyes narrowed as her lips curled into a scornful sneer. “I knew it—you never looked like someone with a good heart. And now you want to leave my son? There must be another man. Go on—who is he? Did he pressure you to divorce Jason?”
She hiked up her sleeves, ready for a fight, then turned to her son and patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, son. I’ll find that homewrecker and teach him a lesson. I’ll bring your wife and child back no matter what.”
I chuckled coldly, lips curled into a mocking smile.
“The problem was never with me.”
“No matter what any of you say, I’ve made up my mind. I’m divorcing him—today.”
Jason’s eyes were swollen and red. He took a long breath, stepped forward, and gently held my hand.
“Wife, what’s wrong? Talk to me. You weren’t like this before. Did you forget our wedding vows? That we’d walk through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, life and death—together?”
Looking at the so-called affection written all over his face, my stomach turned.
“Enough. Spare me the performance.”
“Get away from me!”
I shoved him with disgust, and he stumbled back, hitting the ground hard. His elbow slammed onto the floor with a sickening thud, and he winced.
“Nicole,” he shouted, voice filled with frustration. “I’ve tolerated your behavior for far too long!”
Julia stepped forward, seething, eyes filled with jealousy and rage. She pointed at me and screamed, “If you dare divorce Jason today, I swear I’ll beat you to a pulp!”
“I’d rather see him widowed than divorced and shamed by everyone!”
Mad with fury, Julia lunged at me and tackled me to the floor, snarling that she’d kill me with her bare hands.
I smirked beneath her.
“What gives you the right to interfere in our marriage? Who asked for your opinion?”
“We’re childhood sweethearts!” she yelled bitterly. “I’m like his sister!”
I laughed scornfully. “Sister? The kind who shares his bed?”
“Bullshit!”
“You filthy woman. You think everyone else is as shameless as you.”
As she froze in shock, I took the chance to strike. My fist connected with her jaw—precise, powerful, and merciless.
Julia had some Taekwondo background, but it was mostly show. She didn’t know I’d trained too.
Jason cried out in panic from the sidelines.
“Nicole, stop!”
“Don’t hurt Julia—please!”
My grip tightened around Julia’s neck. Her limbs flailed, her face turning sickly purple as her breath caught in her throat.
In a frantic panic, Jason grabbed the closest object—a blue and white porcelain vase—and with a shout, smashed it against my head.
Screams erupted across the room.
Panic spread like wildfire.
