Hearing noise from the bedroom, I quickly stuffed the contracts back into the briefcase, wiped my tears, and feigned normalcy.

Luckily, Alex was focused on his mother's complaints and didn't notice anything off about me.

He glared at me.

"I'm taking Mom out for a bit. Clean up the mess you made and think about your actions."

The security door slammed shut, and the room became quiet again, but my thoughts were chaotic.

I couldn't understand why I was being treated this way.

I was older, financially stable, and had always taken care of everything.

I covered all our expenses, and while the property was in both our names, I paid for it entirely.

Despite agreeing before marriage not to have children, his mother continued to pressure us, and I tolerated it for his sake.

Then, during a critical time of promotion in my career, I accidentally got pregnant.

I hadn't planned on keeping the child, but Alex begged me to. I eventually agreed.

But all my efforts were treated like this.

Why was this happening?

Frustration and resentment surged within me.

I returned to my bedroom to pack my things, wanting to leave but feeling it would be too easy for them.

Instead, I found a hammer in the toolbox.

Looking around, I realized I had purchased most of the items in our home.

I was reluctant to destroy them, except for two things.

I raised the hammer and smashed Alex's prized computer and model without mercy.

Then I dumped out all the luggage Sarah had brought, poured the remaining soup over it, and stomped on it repeatedly.

Once everything belonging to them was in disarray, I grabbed my suitcase and left.

I wanted to divorce Alex.

I couldn't endure this life any longer.

With my luggage in hand, I decided to join my best friend, Vanessa.

We were the same age. Vanessa was now unmarried and worked at the same company. We maintained a cordial relationship.

I felt she would understand my situation best.

Upon arriving at her place, I explained everything, omitting Alex's attempt to kill me for insurance money.

However, her reaction surprised me.

Vanessa frowned.

"Ariana, I don't want to criticize you, but you've made a mistake.

"Alex's filial piety should make you happy, not angry.

"Perhaps your pregnancy hormones are affecting your mood. Just stay here for now."

I gripped my luggage tightly, frozen in place.

There was no comfort or shared anger, only accusations.

I hadn't expected Vanessa to speak to me this way.

I stared at her in disbelief, but she had already pushed my luggage into the bedroom.

She said, "What are you waiting for? Come on in."

I said nothing, took out my phone, and searched for a suitable house.

Because I had realized this wasn't where I belonged.

Not long after, there was a knock at the door.

Alex's voice came from outside. "Honey, let's go home and sort this out. Why did you run away from home?"

How did he find me? I hadn't told him where I was going.

Vanessa appeared behind me. "Ariana, I don't want to see you and Alex quarreling like this, so I called him. You won't blame me, right?"

She opened the door.

Outside stood Alex and Sarah.

Sarah coldly sneered, "You bitch, mesmerizing my son to the point he left me to find you."

Over the years of marriage, I had heard a lot of more vicious words than this.

I had always respected her as Alex's mother, so I had never bothered with her.

But now I decided to divorce Alex. Her opinion meant nothing to me.

I smiled and replied, "Compared to you, I'm not even close. Your ability to stir up trouble between your son and me is so impressive that outsiders might think you have ulterior motives for Alex.

"But don't worry. I'll soon be divorcing your son. You two can rely on each other and leave others alone."

Fuming, Sarah pointed at Alex. "Son, say something!"

Alex, knowing he was wrong, stammered, "Honey, don't say that..."

I looked at him and regretted loving him.

"Let's divorce today. I've had enough."

Alex exploded. "Ariana, have you considered the situation? I've been tolerating you for such a long time. But you want to divorce me over that little incident this morning!"

He didn't know I had discovered the insurance secret and thought I was upset over the argument with his mother.

Sarah added, "Alex, your wife bullies both of us. Not only did she destroy the house, but now she bullies you outside. Are you still a man? If you don't discipline this crazy bitch, I'll be embarrassed to meet your father!"

Alex was a man who was easily influenced. After hearing this, his expression darkened as he stepped toward me.