His tone was laced with humiliation and rage.
"Vera, what the hell do you want from me?"
"I've already lowered myself for you. What more could you possibly want?"
"When did you become so aggressive?"
"Vera, I'm telling you right now—I am not getting a divorce!"
I looked at Richard, his face twisted and ugly with anger, and felt a strange calm settle over me.
The old Vera would have already been in tears by now.
Back then, she loved Richard.
She couldn't bear to let him go, even when his heart had already wandered. She'd rather tear herself apart than deny him another chance.
But now, I didn't want him anymore.
"Richard, I'm leaving. That frees up the spot for your precious Brenda."
"Why are you even angry?"
"I'm doing you a favor."
Richard's fury deepened.
"Vera! Stop being so unreasonable!"
"Yesterday, I told you it was the last time I'd see her."
"I did what you asked. I fired her. We won't cross paths again."
"What else do you want me to do?"
"Besides, I never cheated in the first place!"
"What do you want?"
"I love you. Only you. No one but you!"
I laughed.
I laughed at how shameless Richard Weiss truly was.
"Richard."
"Do you honestly think I'm stupid?"
"You came home late last night with red marks on your neck and perfume on your clothes."
"And today, a sudden business trip."
"Richard, honestly? You have no shame."
The room went silent.
Richard's chest heaved, his face cycling between white and green.
I didn't spare him another glance. I walked straight out the door.
Richard had apparently forgotten something.
When he'd gotten down on his knees and begged to marry me, swearing over and over that he'd be faithful, he'd signed a divorce agreement.
If he ever betrayed me, I could walk away whenever I chose.
Now, that agreement was his reckoning.
I left the home I'd shared with Richard and went back to my parents' house.
Mom and Dad lit up the moment they saw me walk through the door.
"Vera, what brings you here today?"
They came toward me, their faces full of warmth and concern.
"Wasn't your prenatal checkup yesterday? How's the baby?"
I couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears spilled over instantly.
"Mom, Dad—the baby's gone. I want a divorce."
My parents had no idea about Richard and Brenda.
Back then, I'd been drowning in resentment, pain, and indecision.
But I could never bring myself to pull the trigger.
I'd suffered through it alone, never telling them a word.
When they heard what I said, they both went still.
My mother's eyes turned red. She pulled me into her arms.
"What happened?"
"Are you in pain?"
I cried harder.
I told them everything about Richard and Brenda.
Our family's company had a partnership with the Weiss family's firm. A divorce would mean severing that tie completely.
My father slammed his palm on the table.
"Divorce him!"
"Vera, your mother and I are getting older. We don't have grand ambitions anymore."
"No partnership? Fine. We have more than enough to take care of the three of us."
"You don't need to suffer for anyone!"
Hearing my father's words, I broke down completely.
I stayed at my parents' house after that.
Richard called constantly. I never picked up.
All I wanted was the quiet to let my body heal before dealing with the divorce.
But then one evening, my father came home with a look of pure fury on his face.
"That little bastard Richard—he's really something else!"
