Let's Get a Divorce

When I regained consciousness, I was lying in my bedroom.

My phone was bombarded with anonymous, abusive text messages and threatening phone calls.

On top of that, the news of a sixty-year-old woman who had supposedly staged an accident with her grandson to extort money, only to die in the crash, had climbed to second place on the trending search list. Online backlash poured in endlessly.

'An old fart like her deserves to die. Why did she have to go and stage an accident to extort money?' one of the netizens commented.

'Good riddance! She deserved it! Can't believe she even brought her grandson along to fake an accident. It's a good thing that her grandson has some common sense and knew to testify for the driver. Otherwise, she really would have gotten away with staging the accident!' another comment read.

'A scum like her should just disappear from the world!' someone else cursed in the comment section.

As I watched the constant stream of insults on my phone, I felt as if my heart was being ripped out.

At the top of the trending search list was none other than the news about Daisy.

'Ms. Reid celebrates at an amusement park with husband and son, complete with fireworks.'

Looking at the photo of the three of them holding hands so intimately, memories from the past came flooding back.

When Daisy and I first got married, we had been just as loving as she now seemed to be with James.

Back then, because she told me she did not want to become a housewife, I voluntarily gave up my career.

She had always comforted me gently. "Darling, I'll remember all the contributions you have made for our family. I swear I won't ever betray you."

Later, Caleb was born prematurely. He was weak and on the verge of death. I was the one who got down on my knees and begged one doctor after another until we finally managed to save his life.

After that, because Caleb's health was poor, I paid extra attention to every little detail and carefully raised him as he grew.

He, too, always liked to snuggle in my arms and said, "Dad, I'll definitely repay you properly when I grow up."

But three years ago, James entered our family's life as Daisy's junior and assistant. From then on, Daisy came home less and less often.

Every time, she complained to me that James made frequent mistakes and was far less competent than I was when I worked at the law firm. Yet again and again, she still went out of her way to stay late and work overtime with him.

Caleb also slowly started to like James.

James would always let Caleb binge on the junk food I forbade him to eat.

When I urged Caleb to finish his homework, James would always secretly take him out to play.

It went on until the day I heard Caleb say he didn't like me and wanted James to be his father.

Just then, the bedroom door was pushed open. Daisy walked to my bedside, the hickeys on her neck still clearly visible.

"Don't take the online comments to heart. I'll contact someone to help resolve them."

I simply looked at Daisy calmly. Only then did I notice that at some point, she had removed her wedding ring, and on her body was the scent of the men's cologne James often wore.

Caleb burst into the room and urged impatiently, "Mom, I told you Dad was fine. Let's go. Mr. Benton is waiting for us to take a family photo."

"It's just for fun," Daisy explained. "James doesn't have any family, so he's always wanted to take a family photo."

As I listened to her, my heart remained completely still.

I had long since given up hope after all these years of suffering.

From the bottom drawer, I took out the divorce settlement agreement I had prepared long ago. I had put it back again and again because I could not bring myself to let go of Daisy and Caleb.

But now, there was nothing left to hold on to.

"Daisy, let's get a divorce."

The Unwanted Visitor at the Funeral

"What?" Daisy was stunned for a moment.

Then, a displeasure flashed across her face, and she complained, "I already told you. James has no family left after losing his mother, so Caleb and I are only taking him for a family photo to comfort him."

Meanwhile, Caleb stood beside me and looked at me with the same cold expression.

"Dad, you're going to divorce Mom just because you're jealous of Mr. Benton?" he asked.

"Whatever. I won't go with you after the divorce anyway. You're useless and always nag. You can't earn any money and rely entirely on Mom. You're nowhere near as awesome as Mr. Benton."

As I listened to Caleb's words, every one of them dripping with disgust, the last shred of lingering affection in me disappeared completely.

"Fine. I don't want you anymore. Go find your new Dad," I retorted.

Upon hearing that, Caleb froze on the spot.

"That's enough. Must you make such a scene in front of Caleb?"

Daisy picked up the pen on the table and signed her name on the divorce settlement agreement.

"Hope you don't regret it!"

"Don't worry," I said, emphasizing each word. "I never will."

Staring at the divorce settlement agreement that Daisy had signed, I instantly felt a sense of relief wash over me.

From dating to marriage, I had given up my hobbies and my career for Daisy, slowly going from an elite legal professional to a homemaker.

Scenes from the past flashed through my mind.

I carefully put away the divorce settlement agreement and took one last look at Caleb.

"Caleb, you're ten years old now. Take good care of yourself from now on. I don't let you eat junk food because you're not in good health—"

"I'm not listening!!" Caleb covered his ears and interrupted me. "You talk too much. You and Mom are already divorced, so what right do you have to tell me what to do? I'll have Mr. Benton as my dad from now on!"

Looking at Caleb now, then remembering how he used to cling to my arm and call me "Dad" so affectionately, I felt a dull ache in my chest.

"Okay," I said quietly. "I won't nag you anymore."

…

After leaving home, I once again leveraged my connections to find the last bit of evidence and secretly submitted it to the criminal investigation team.

Once done, I carried my mother's ashes to the top of Windvern Cliffs alone.

This was where my father was buried. Before she passed away, my mother said that her wish was to be buried with my father after she died.

At the quiet funeral, James suddenly appeared, wearing custom-made leather shoes and a mocking smile.

"Luke, I heard you and Daisy are divorced now. Good, looks like you know when to quit."

I glared at James with hatred. "What are you doing here?"

The murderer who had killed my mother was standing so brazenly in front of her grave, yet there was still nothing I could do to put him behind bars.

"Come and see my work," he answered. "You have no idea how horribly your nom died. I even specially made sure I ran over her several times."

"James Benton!" I could no longer contain my anger and roared. Just as I was about to lunge at him, James beat me to it and threw himself to the ground.

The next second, Daisy hurried over with Caleb.

Caleb carefully helped James up and then glared at me.

"You're the bad guy! I won't let you bully Mr. Benton!"

Daisy slapped me hard across the face.

Her eyes were filled with obvious anger as she scolded, "Luke, what the hell are you doing? James came to the funeral out of kindness. Why did you have to hurt him? Apologize to him. Now!"

Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

As I looked at Daisy and Caleb, who were protecting James, my devastated heart still ached.

"Today is the day my mom is being buried. And you want me to apologize to the murderer who killed her?"

"That has nothing to do with you hurting James," Daisy said coldly. "I already told you, the case regarding your mom's accident is closed. You injured James, so you must apologize to him."

"What if I don't?"

Jumping Off the Cliff

Daisy snatched my mother's urn.

"I'm saying this for the last time. Apologize to James!" she urged.

"Daisy, do you even know what you're doing?" I shouted as I desperately reached out to grab the urn back.

However, Daisy merely stood on the edge of the cliff with an indifferent look on her face as she held it in mid-air. "Luke, James is where I draw the line, so don't push me."

"No! Daisy, please…" I pleaded with tears in my eyes. "Okay… I'll apologize to him…"

James pretended to be magnanimous and said that it was no big deal. "Daisy, why don't we just let it slide? Luke probably didn't mean to hurt me."

"No. He's the one at fault, so he deserved to be punished," she insisted.

I clenched my fists tightly upon hearing those words. At this moment, Daisy, whom I thought knew so well, felt utterly alien to me.

'So, she is well aware that those who made mistakes should be punished,' I thought grimly.

I tried my best to ignore the burn of humiliation as I turned to James and expressed my apology. "I'm sorry."

However, Caleb held James' hand and looked displeased.

"Dad, you need to go down on your knees if you want to apologize. You're not showing any sincerity at all."

"Caleb, don't say that. He's your father."

"They're already divorced. Mr. Benton, you're my father now."

The last of my hope shriveled up and died after hearing that. Finally, I went down on my knees helplessly.

"I'm sorry. I was in the wrong. Please forgive me," I apologized as I looked at the urn in Daisy's hand, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Daisy, Mom has suffered enough in her life. I just want her to be buried with my father. Please…"

A hint of emotion flashed across Daisy's face. Just as she was about to return the urn, James twisted his ankle and cried out in pain.

Daisy instinctively reached out to help. As a result, the urn slipped from her hand and fell uncontrollably down the cliff.

"No!"

I watched helplessly as my mother's urn fell off the cliff. Desperation consumed me as I rushed over to try to catch it.

Daisy abruptly reached out to grab me. "It's just an urn. Do you have a death wish?"

"Get lost!" I shook her off me. "Daisy, since you and Caleb love James so much, I'll let you guys be together."

Then, I turned around and flung myself over, my figure disappearing into the sea of clouds.