But in the end, they couldn't out-stubborn me.
That year, Jacqueline's father fell ill, and she was constantly shuttling back and forth between two places.
It hurt me to watch, so I decided to follow Jacqueline back to her hometown, a small town.
"I know your parents have been pushing you to come home. You stayed in Bayport all this time for me, and you never even let me know."
"Let me go back with you, Jacqueline."
And so we registered our marriage.
That same year she got pregnant, and the next year our son was born.
It was as though someone had hit fast-forward on my life, and at the same time, the marriage seemed to be moving toward its own end.
Only now, too late, do I understand.
If Jacqueline had truly wanted to hide the fact that her parents were pressing her to come home, I never would have found out.
"All right, today was my fault. I'm sorry."
"Stop making a scene. I'm genuinely exhausted."
Jacqueline apologized, impatient, grudging.
And I couldn't hear a single ounce of sincerity in it.
"Jacqueline, I'm not asking for a divorce because I'm throwing a tantrum."
"I really do want a divorce."
I said it again, in the same certain tone.
Eight years together, and I had never once been able to bring myself to talk about leaving her. This was the only time.
Jacqueline blew up on the spot.
"Ethan, is there something wrong with your head?"
"I work myself to death every day for this family, and you want to divorce me because you didn't get to sit at the table and eat?"
"Eight years of love, over one meal? Don't you think you're blowing this way out of proportion?"
Her brows knit tight, and there was an edge of cruelty in her voice.
"Since you graduated from college, have you worked a single day?"
"Two years in Bayport, two years married, and every cent you've spent, I earned. Where have I ever shortchanged you?"
"Ethan, you're a man. Don't sit in the middle of a good life and fail to see how good you have it!"
A crack of thunder split the air outside the window.
I didn't answer her. I scrambled up and went into the bedroom to soothe the baby.
"It's okay, little one, Daddy's here."
"Daddy's here…"
Sitting in the middle of a good life and not seeing how good I had it. My own mother had once scolded me with those same words.
Back then I didn't understand. Now I do.
"Ethan, you stay home and cool off on your own. I'm sleeping somewhere else tonight."
The words had barely left her mouth before Jacqueline walked out.
I knew all that talk about cooling off was a lie.
The place she was going was Nelson's.
Because Nelson was afraid of thunder.
Once, Jacqueline and I had been in our room, tangled up together, teasing each other.
"Jacqueline, I'm scared."
Jacqueline had taken a call from Nelson. "I'll be right there."
I looked at her, confused, and she explained, "Nelson's parents died in an accident. They were struck by lightning."
"Ethan, I have to go check on him."
I went along with her.
Back then my heart ached for Nelson. Any good thing that came my way, I'd think of him.
Later, once Jacqueline's father recovered, she and I started preparing for the wedding.
Nelson naturally became my best man, going with me to buy everything we needed for the ceremony.
Nelson and I grew a lot closer, too.
He often told me funny stories about Jacqueline as a kid, and I loved listening to them.
He and Jacqueline were close, close enough that I'd once been suspicious, even jealous.
"I'd never fall for him. He's like a little brother."
"When I've got a handsome guy like you, no one else can measure up."
Jacqueline knew what was quietly gnawing at me, and she'd explain, and she'd smooth it over.
The human heart changes easily.
Now, even as I ask for a divorce, she rushes off in a hurry to keep another man company.
Not a few minutes later, Nelson's post came up in my feed.
【As long as I have you, I'm not afraid of anything.】
