Just because I returned home five minutes late, Mason Dawson locked me in the car all night.
"Emily Young, you've pledged the commitment to buy me a cake and still showed up late on purpose! If Nova hadn't baked me one herself, my birthday would've been ruined because of you!”
I reached into my bag to pull out the ultrasound report, planning to surprise him. However, with Nova Allen nestled in his arms, Mason had not a shred of willingness to look at it.
On the day of my art exhibition, he livestreamed the whole thing to sabotage it, with Nova by his side.
"Emily, all you care about is this stupid exhibit. You don’t care about me. You’re not even a qualified wife at all!”
Even though I had apologized profusely, he shoved me roughly and ripped the diamond ring violently off my finger, then slipped it onto Nova’s hand.
The ring that was too big for my finger fit perfectly on Nova’s finger.
I stood there, frozen. I felt as if a thousand needles had pierced my chest. In my despair, a stream of comments suddenly flooded my vision:
[The male lead is so deeply in love! He just pushed the female lead and he regretted it so much his eyes turned red!]
[Stop being dramatic, Female lead! Just run up and kiss the male lead now … he’ll give you the ring back!]
[What are you standing there for, Female lead? Say sorry already!]
For years, those comments had pushed me to humble myself to Mason again and again, but this time, as I stared at the white dress soaked in blood, only one thought entered my mind. [I'm done with you, Mason.]
——
I had spent half a year preparing for this art exhibition. Mason, as my husband, attended the event. However, he came arm in arm with Nova, who was wearing a dress so revealing she was practically naked.
Everyone present cast mocking glances at me, like razor blades, stripping me of my dignity.
I furrowed my brows and said in a low voice to him, “Mason, today is really important to me. Don’t do this. Whatever it is, we can talk about it at home.”
Mason just sneered disdainfully, yanked the wedding ring off my ring finger violently and slipped it onto Nova's arm. He then said ruthlessly, "Emily, you can’t even keep a ring on your finger and yet … you want to host an art exhibition on your own?"
"Don’t kid yourself! You're not cut out for this!" He then added, "You’re better off being my lapdog.”
Mason brought up old wounds once more and my eyes went red with shame.
The comments on the screen in front of me were going wild.
[Though the male lead said something harsh to the female lead, his palm is bleeding now because he clenched it so hard. This is heartbreaking!]
[Female lead …. The male lead brought the female supporting character over to test you … he wants to know whether you care more about your career or him. Just apologize and he’ll forgive you right away]
We had known each other for a year and had been married for six years and every time Mason was upset, he’d retaliate with the cruelest tactics.
Just like last week, when Mason had his birthday. At that time, I stopped by the hospital to pick up a printout of the ultrasound report before heading home to surprise him.
However, because of a traffic jam, I arrived home five minutes later than the time he had set before.
Mason threw the cake I had waited in line for hours to buy onto the ground and stomped it into a mess. "Emily," He roared. "If you don’t want to celebrate my birthday, then leave! No one is forcing you!”
When I pulled out the ultrasound report from my bag, trying to explain, Mason covered his ears and refused to listen. He then snatched my bag and tossed it straight into the trash.
“Your cheap little gifts? I don’t need them. I already knew I wouldn’t like it.” He continued, "Emily, if you really want to make me happy, go outside and wipe my car."
He continued, "Look at Nova! She didn’t forget to make me a cake even though she was on her period! And you … look at yourself! What do you even have to compete with her?”
Mason had severe OCD. Once, when I had a severe case of the flu and kept sneezing, even having a high fever, he forced me to take a taxi to the hospital alone for an IV drip, just to keep his car spotlessly clean.
