Chapter 7: The Final Break

The next day, when I arrived at the old house, Derek was there too. The foyer smelled like fresh coffee and lemon polish, just like when I was a teenager. For a moment, I almost felt like the old days had returned.

He was still as calm and reserved as ever, but I immediately noticed the wedding ring was gone from his finger. Only a pale mark remained, reminding me that Derek was always the one in control of this relationship.

I had no right to be angry. I was the guest here again, not the wife.

"Hey, sorry, Natalie—I just tagged along with Mr. Pearson for the food." When Aubrey walked out from behind Derek, I was momentarily stunned. Her energy was infectious, but I could see right through her this time.

She wore a turtleneck sweater, but it still couldn’t hide the bright red hickeys on her neck. The marks looked deliberate, almost like a message.

Aubrey smiled, "Excuse us, let us go in first~" She brushed past me, her perfume wafting in the air, cloyingly sweet.

I forced a smile, but my stomach twisted. She wanted me to see.

She glanced at Derek, "Mr. Pearson caught a bit of a chill, I’ll go to the bedroom and get him a coat."

"Still want to wear that dark gray trench coat? I think it’s in the third compartment of the closet."

"Oh right, your shirt should be ironed too. Take it off later, I’ll take care of it." Her voice was full of practiced familiarity, the sort that comes from years of intimacy.

Watching Aubrey’s graceful figure walk into the old house, I couldn’t help but laugh, "Your assistant really knows you well." My tone was light, but my heart was heavy.

Then I called out, forcing a calm tone: "Uncle Derek." The old family nickname slipped out, a reminder of just how far apart we’d grown.

As soon as I spoke, Derek’s face turned cold, as if he was holding something back. He squared his shoulders, jaw set.

After a moment, he spoke in a warning tone: "Natalie, everything you have was given by the Pearson family."

"Otherwise, could you support yourself with just a pet shop?"

"Even jealousy has its limits." His words cut like a knife, and I felt a familiar anger building inside me.

It was then I realized—the reason he took off his wedding ring and brought Aubrey back to the old house today was because he was angry that I slapped him and pushed him away last night, and even angrier that I didn’t reply to his messages or try to make up with him.

He was reminding me that everything I had came from him. But he never understood—I never wanted the house or the car in the first place. I just wanted him.

I looked at him, took off my wedding ring, and tossed it to the ground. The tiny band landed in the grass, spinning a few times before settling among the clover.

I watched as the ring spun a few times, then rolled into the grass. The finality of the moment hit me harder than I expected.

Ignoring Derek’s furious expression, I walked straight into the living room. My steps felt lighter with every stride.

"Grandma." I half-squatted, smiling at Grandma in her wheelchair. Her silver hair glowed in the afternoon sunlight. "I have something to tell you."

"I want to divorce Derek." The words were out before I could second-guess myself. My heart raced, but I kept my voice steady.

As soon as the words left my mouth, before Grandma could respond, I heard the sound of a teacup shattering at the door—

[Crash]

What I saw next was Derek’s face, drained of all color. For the first time, I saw fear in Derek’s eyes. And that, more than anything, made me wonder what he was really afraid of.