For Our Anniversary, My Gift is My Departure

After retiring from the music industry and spending thirty years devoting my time to taking care of my family,my husband got a karaoke hostess pregnant.

On our wedding anniversary,my own husband asked me to help celebrate his mistress'birthday.

"Why don’t you sing a song, Elena?Vivian is sure in such a good mood today.When she moves into our house in the future,you would sing for her anytime she wants.Don’t ever think to ruin her mood."

My son and daughter-in-law laughed teasingly."Mom never sings.Thanks to Vivian,we finally get to hear the voice of a retired diva,Elena Vernon."

I tossed the cancer diagnosis on the table and walked out of the private room.

My daughter-in-law tried to stop me,but my husband tore up the report and sneered.

"Before you leave,give Vivian the necklace your mother left you before she passed away.She loves it."

"What now?Are you faking illness for sympathy?"

"If you have the guts,then get out of here.And don’t come crawling back begging for help for the rest of your life."

The whole room erupted in laughter,mocking me and belittling me.They all thought I would be back in less than three days,kneeling and begging for forgiveness.

However,they had no idea that the private jet arranged by another man had been circling above this very city for a long time.

I no longer wanted my husband,my children,or my grandchildren.

This time,I would never look back.

***

Just as I was about to walk out of the private room at the karaoke,Victor’s indifferent voice rang out behind me.

"Elena,take off your necklace and give it to Vivian.She wants it."

The necklace was left to me by my late mother.For decades,I had held onto it as a way of remembering her and Victor knew that.

But now,just because Vivian said she liked it,my husband dismissed my feelings without a second thought.

When his eyes met my disbelief gaze,he still looked at me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Then my son chimed in,"Since Vivian likes it,you should just give it to her,Mom.You’re an adult here,so why are you competing with a girl twenty years younger than you,especially when she’s pregnant?"

My daughter-in-law even added,"Right,worst case,just name a price.I’ll buy it and gift it to Vivian."

I said nothing.

Name a price,she said.Victor would not even give me the chance to make an offer.

In thirty years of marriage,we were never equals in his eyes.I was only ever expected to obey his words without buts.

Half a month ago,Vivian had taken a liking to the bracelet Victor gave me when we got married.Just because I hesitated for just a few seconds,he had his bodyguards break my wrist.

I screamed in pain,my hand limp and lifeless,yet he did not even blink once.

My son and daughter-in-law acted like none of it had anything to do with them.They simply kept minding their own business,never even glancing my way.

If I hesitated again this time,I feared he might have someone break my neck.

So,I decided to remove the necklace without a word and handed it to Vivian.

"I wish both of you,Vivian Hartwell and Victor Holloway,a happy marriage and a healthy child."

Seeing that I did not make a scene and even offered a kind wish,Victor gave me a rare approving look.

"Elena Vernon,we’ve been married for thirty years.I don’t want things to end on bad terms."

"As long as you listen to my words to stay home,do the laundry and cooking,keep Vivian happy and take care of her child,I won’t treat you unfairly.I’ll make sure your future is safe and secure."

As soon as he finished speaking,a trace of resentment flickered in Vivian’s eyes.

She let out a soft cry and the necklace had cut her fingers,which were so white and delicate like scallions but were now streaked with blood.

The necklace fell to the ground.

No one paid attention to the keepsake my mother left me.Everyone’s concern,every gaze,was focused on Vivian.

Victor tenderly held her hand,blew on her wound and then turned sharply to glare at the bodyguard at the door.

"Didn’t you see Vivian got hurt?Go get a doctor!"

My daughter-in-law gently patted Vivian’s back to comfort her while my son shot me a cold,disapproving look.

"Mom,you’re so careless.Vivian has delicate skin.How could she handle you tossing something around so roughly?Look at her hand,it’s bleeding.I know you just couldn’t bear to give her the necklace to her."

Victor’s face darkened at those words.He looked at me with contempt.

"Of course.When things seem off,there’s always something behind it.I thought you had changed,but turns out you’re still the same jealous,spiteful woman.If anything happens to Vivian,I’ll make sure you pay for it!"

With that,he turned his attention back to Vivian,gently asking about her injury.

In the private room,Victor’s friends and the hostesses looked at me with mocking smiles,their eyes full of derision.

I glanced at the barely visible wound on Vivian’s hand and found it laughable.

Ha,how ridiculous!

I had cancer and Victor said I was faking it.She cut her finger and he panicked as if she was dying.

It seemed that this was all it boiled down to whether a person was loved or not.

Last night,my cancer flared up.I was in so much pain that my body convulsed and I vomited blood.

Victor kicked me aside with an indifferent expression.

"Stop acting pitiful.I’m not falling for your tricks anymore.A girl acting like that might be charming,but when you do it,it’s just disgusting."

"Are you still trying to play the fool?Elena Vernon,how old are you already?"