Chapter 3
“Sister-in-law, if your words spread, how could I possibly keep on living?”
“These clothes-I can pay for them! Please don’t tear at me, don’t strip me!”
I stood there, stunned, as Chloe Miller staged her pathetic performance. Moments later, hurried footsteps sounded, and the door was shoved open.
Daniel Brooks stormed in. Without a word, he shoved me aside and rushed to Chloe, lifting her up with a face full of concern.
“Chloe, are you alright? With your brother here, no one will ever hurt you!”
Then he turned toward me, his eyes brimming with disappointment.
“Emma, when did you become this petty and disgusting? When we first married, you seemed so understanding and kind. I can’t believe it was all just an act. Over a dress, really? Did you have to make it this ugly?”
He took a deep breath, clearly suppressing his anger.
“I’ll admit, Chloe is wearing the dress you just bought. I shouldn’t have given it to her without asking you. But it was a special situation. And honestly, it’s just a dress. If you want another, I’ll buy one for you.”
His words made my breath quicken, a sharp ache rising in my chest. After years of marriage, he dared to call me disgusting-over this?
If it had only been this one time, I might not have been upset. But this wasn’t the first, nor the second. Every single time Chloe wanted something-whether from our home or from me-it always ended up in her hands.
“Daniel,” I said coldly, “I told you before. If in your heart your sister will always come first, then I’ll step aside. You two can love each other as much as you want. We’re done. I want a divorce. My lawyer will get you the papers soon.”
I thought saying those words would crush me. But instead, I felt nothing-no tears, no heartbreak. Just emptiness.
When Daniel once gave me a pet, Chloe saw it and insisted she wanted to raise it. She nagged until she took it from me-only to tell me two days later she had killed it. She even brought the tiny corpse back just to show off.
Whether it was birthday gifts from my parents or anniversary presents from Daniel-if Chloe wanted them, she always got them.
And Daniel always had an excuse: “Chloe’s just a child at heart. She’s my sister, which makes her your sister too. Do you really have to be so petty with family? It’s just a gift, what’s the harm in letting her have it?”
At first, I swallowed my hurt in silence. Later, I began to argue. Now, I was simply too drained to fight anymore.
Daniel’s expression flickered with hesitation. He stared at me in disbelief.
“You want to divorce me… over a dress?”
Charter 2
2/2
2009
“Yes.”
Our argument was loud enough for the entire office to hear, especially since Daniel hadn’t even closed the door when he entered.
Everyone outside had seen and heard everything. The whispers grew louder and louder.
“So he’s been married to her all this time? I thought she was just an ordinary employee. Turns out she’s the boss’s wife. Funny how she never got any special treatment-no one
even knew.”
F #t
9 UTER 2
