Chapter 9
I didn’t answer. Instead, I turned off my phone and went to take a shower.}]
A few nights later, I stayed late at the office–didn’t get home until around 9 p.m.
Freya was waiting at my door. As soon as she saw me, she stepped forward. “Working this late?” she asked.} “Busy day at the office,” I replied, pulling out my keys and unlocking the door.
She hesitated for a moment at the threshold, then followed me inside.}]
I didn’t offer her anything. I just went straight to the kitchen, grabbed a pack of instant noodles and started cooking.” “You live like this… all by yourself?” she asked, watching me.”
“What’s wrong with that?” I said, flipping on the TV. “Honestly, I’m happier now. A hundred times happier than before.” That shut her up. She looked like she wanted to say something but kept swallowing the words.
It wasn’t until I finished eating that she finally spoke.
“I went over the divorce papers,” she said. “Everything’s fine–except one thing. I want custody of our son.“>
“Fine by me,” I said without missing a beat.§
She looked stunned. “You… you don’t care about your own son?”
“Why should I?” I replied, casually. “You still think he feels like my son?“}]
Freya’s voice rose, clearly rattled. “I swear to you, he’s your biological child–he’s ours!“}
I gave a bitter laugh. “Sure. Biologically, maybe. But after the way your mother and sister raised him? He looks down on his own grandmother. He looks down on me. What kind of son is that? I don’t need him.“}
Freya fell silent. She sat down on the couch and didn’t move. I had no idea what was running through her head, and frankly, I didn’t care. Whatever we had was long gone.>
“You bring the papers with you?” I asked. “If not, I’ve got another copy here. Sign it and go.“}
She didn’t respond. After a long pause, she got up and said, “Let’s leave it for another day. We’ll talk more about the divorce next time.“} She then headed for the door.”
“Don’t you walk away from me!” I shouted.
My voice thundered through the apartment. She froze, startled, visibly shaking.
“How much longer are you planning to drag this out?” I shouted. “It’s just a divorce. Just signing a damn piece of paper. How hard can it be?”
Freya took a deep breath and turned to face me. Her eyes were red. She looked like she was about to cry–but held it back. “I just… haven’t made up my mind yet!“}
“Made up your mind about what?” I stepped closer, staring her down coldly. “When you were cheating on me–when you slept with another man in our own bed–you sure as hell didn’t hesitate. So why now?“}]
“I don’t want to split the assets, okay?” she snapped, shoving me aside as the tears finally broke through.”
Then she ran.
But in her rush, she tripped over the doorframe.
Her knee hit the floor hard, scraping against the wood. Blood started to trickle down.
She sat there on the floor, crying, staring up at me like I had broken her heart.
And I honestly didn’t get it. She didn’t love me anymore–so why act like she couldn’t let go?!
I walked over, lifted her up and helped her to the couch. Then I knelt down, pulled out the first aid kit and cleaned up her wound in silence. Once I finished, I stood up and said, “You can leave now. And be careful next time–because I won’t be there to catch you again.“%
I turned away, carrying the kit back toward the closet. But then–Freya wrapped her arms around me from behind.
“Let go,” I said flatly, trying to pull her hands off my waist.
She only held on, lighter than i expected.
“Can we not do this?” she said, her voice trembling #
“I’ve thought about it. And the truth is.. I still love you. Can we just forgive each other, for everything? Start over?*%
