The moment I saw Esther fall to the ground, my heart stopped.
My daughter burst into tears, her small hands clutching the torn pieces of her drawing as if she were trying to hold onto the last bit of happiness she had created for her father.
I rushed forward and pulled her into my arms.
"Esther."
She buried her face against me, crying so hard that her little shoulders trembled.
I gently helped her stand, then turned my cold gaze toward Jessica.
"Apologize."
My voice was calm.
But there was no room for negotiation.
Benjamin's expression immediately darkened.
"Jocelyn, are you seriously being this harsh toward a child?"
He stepped forward and picked Jessica up without hesitation.
Not my daughter.
Not the child who was crying in front of him.
Jessica.
"I already explained this to you last night," Benjamin said impatiently.
"Jessica doesn't like hearing another child call me Daddy. She was just upset. She didn't mean to push Esther."
I looked at him in disbelief.
"She didn't mean to?"
I pointed at the torn drawing on the floor.
"You saw everything that happened."
My voice grew colder.
"Benjamin, she just called Esther a bastard."
The word made my chest ache.
"Tell me."
"Is Esther really a bastard?"
For a moment, Benjamin didn't answer.
But instead of defending his daughter, instead of comforting the little girl whose heart he had just broken, he only looked away.
His silence hurt more than any answer.
Then Cynthia stepped forward.
Her expression was gentle and apologetic, the perfect image of a considerate woman.
"Miss Stevens, I'm really sorry."
"Jessica grew up abroad, so she's a little more direct than other children. She doesn't mean any harm. She just says whatever is on her mind."
She smiled softly.
"Please don't take a child's words too seriously."
But the little girl in Benjamin's arms only became more arrogant.
She lifted her chin proudly.
"I didn't say anything wrong!"
"Everyone at school says it."
"Esther is a bastard!"
She wrapped her arms around Benjamin's neck.
"She stole my daddy!"
My fingers slowly curled into fists.
For years, I had endured everything.
Benjamin always said he had severe cleanliness issues.
So I adjusted.
I kept my distance when he wanted space.
I respected his habits.
I never complained when he used overtime as an excuse to stay away from home.
Even when I sensed there was another woman beside him, I chose silence.
Because I loved him.
Because I believed one day he would understand.
But there was one thing I could never tolerate.
No one was allowed to hurt my daughter.
I looked directly at Benjamin.
"Ben."
"I'll ask you one last time."
My voice trembled slightly.
"Is Esther a bastard?"
A flash of annoyance crossed his face.
Instead of anger toward the person who hurt Esther, he became impatient with me.
"You know better than anyone how Esther became my daughter."
His words felt like a knife.
"Enough, Jocelyn."
"Jessica is here today. Don't ruin everyone's mood."
I stared at him.
The man standing before me was once the person I loved most.
But at that moment, he felt like a stranger.
Cynthia and Jessica stood beside him, unable to hide the satisfaction in their eyes.
Benjamin held Jessica tightly and gently stroked her hair.
"Don't be upset, Jessica."
"Daddy will buy you a new toy."
"And I'll get you that Elsa dress you wanted."
Jessica instantly smiled.
"Really?"
"Of course."
Watching the three of them leave together, I suddenly felt something inside me go completely silent.
No anger.
No jealousy.
No sadness.
Just exhaustion.
For years, I had been holding onto a marriage that only existed in my imagination.
I had been waiting for a man who had already stopped choosing me.
I looked down at Esther, who was still holding the broken pieces of her drawing.
Then I finally made the decision I had been afraid to make.
"Benjamin."
His footsteps stopped.
He turned around slowly.
"What?"
I took a deep breath.
The words I had rehearsed countless times finally left my mouth.
"Let's get a divorce."
The air froze.
Benjamin stared at me.
Then he laughed coldly.
"Jocelyn."
"Do you think this is funny?"
I didn't answer.
His expression became even colder.
"If you think threatening me with divorce will make me compromise, then fine."
"As you wish."
After saying that, he turned around.
And walked away.
Without hesitation.
Without looking back.
A trace of triumph flashed through Cynthia's eyes.
But she quickly covered it with a worried expression.
She walked toward me with a gentle smile.
"I'm really sorry."
"Benjamin and I are just friends."
"He's always been kind-hearted. He felt guilty because I divorced so young and Jessica had to grow up without a father figure."
She lowered her eyes.
"He just wanted to take care of us."
"Please don't misunderstand."
Before leaving, she even added my contact information.
"If Esther's drawing was damaged, I'll compensate for it."
Her tone sounded sincere.
But I could see the hidden satisfaction behind her smile.
"Cynthia."
Benjamin's voice came from not far away.
He was holding Jessica's hand.
"Come on."
Cynthia's eyes immediately lit up.
"Coming."
She walked quickly toward him.
I thought they had already left.
But then I heard their conversation.
"Benjamin, are you serious?"
Cynthia's voice was filled with surprise.
"Miss Stevens was just angry. How could you agree to divorce her so easily?"
A few seconds of silence passed.
Then Benjamin laughed.
A laugh full of confidence.
"She won't leave."
"She fought so hard to get this marriage."
"Do you really think she can give it up?"
He paused.
"She was just too harsh on Jessica today."
"Consider this a lesson for her."
"Give her some time."
"She'll come back and beg me."
I stood there quietly.
Listening to the man I once loved speak about me as if he knew me better than I knew myself.
Then I laughed.
A cold, quiet laugh.
Benjamin was wrong.
The woman who once chased after him.
The woman who swallowed every grievance because she loved him.
The woman who believed love could change everything.
She was gone.
I looked down at my daughter and gently held her hand.
For Esther, I would no longer cling to a man who refused to love her.
For Esther, I would walk away.
And this time, I would never look back.
