Chapter 3

Without giving me a chance to speak, the phone hung up.

I quickly wiped away my tears, requested time off from my boss, and immediately took a taxi to the registry office.

On the way, I called Liam.

We work at the same company, but in different departments.

He’d been busy with a major project recently, often pulling all-nighters, so he'd been sleeping in his office to avoid disturbing my rest.

Hearing my choked voice, he immediately comforted me.

"I'm already on my way to the registry office. Don't panic, we'll talk when I get there."

Liam and I, we've been together since high school, from school uniforms to our wedding outfits. Our love story felt so natural.

Four years of dating, three years of marriage – we supported and tolerated each other through everything.

Hearing his steady voice was like a calming balm.

Not long after hanging up, I arrived at the registry office.

From a distance, I could already hear my mom relentlessly harassing the staff.

"Aren't you here to solve marriage problems? I've already told you, my daughter is a cheater, a shameless hussy who sleeps around with a bunch of men! With proof like that, why aren't you fast-tracking her divorce?"

"What's taking so long? Is it that hard to just click a few buttons on your computer? Just divorce her! My eldest daughter is waiting to marry her new husband!"

This outrageous conversation stunned all the staff members.

A young staff member said awkwardly,

"Ma'am, we are a public service institution. Everything must be handled according to regulations. We cannot process a divorce without both parties present."

"Why not? If your husband was sleeping around with a bunch of women, would *you* put up with it and not divorce him? I bet you're just like my daughter, probably begging to sleep with a bunch of men yourself!"

The young woman's face flushed crimson with anger.

"Lady, what are you even saying?"

"Am I wrong? Unless you understand exactly how she feels, why would you be dragging your feet on this divorce?"

"I'm ordering you right now: divorce my youngest daughter and her husband, Liam, immediately! Then issue a marriage certificate for my eldest daughter and Liam! I'm giving you five minutes!"

The staff's faces went rigid.

"Ma'am, marriage is a serious matter, you can't just dictate it with a few words! If you keep causing trouble, we'll have to call security!"

Hearing this, my mom immediately slapped her thigh and theatrically slid to the floor, ready to cause a scene.

"I don't care! If you don't listen to me today, I'll cause such a commotion that your registry office will never be quiet! If anyone dares to touch me, I'll break my arm and leg, and you'll all be bankrupt from compensation!"

I stood at the doorway, my knuckles white from clenching.

Watching my mom make such a scene, all to force my divorce, a chill ran through me from head to toe.

I walked forward, feeling utterly helpless.

"Mom, that's enough. Stop making a fuss."

Seeing me, my mom immediately sprang up and yanked me toward her.

"Perfect timing! Hurry up and tell them you're a slut who sleeps around with a bunch of guys, and you want an immediate divorce!"

I forcefully pulled my hand away, unable to take it anymore.

"I didn't cheat! I am *not* getting divorced!"

Hearing this, my mom lunged forward and slapped me across the face.

"So you played the slut, and now you don't want a divorce? How pathetic are you? How did I ever give birth to such a worthless piece of trash? Liam belongs to your sister! You're getting divorced today, whether you like it or not!"

Samantha suddenly appeared from somewhere, yelling,

"Sister, I always told you to cherish your marriage! Look at you, you've had eight abortions before marriage, and you're still acting like a slut even after! What man could put up with that? Just hand Liam over! Only a good woman like me deserves him!"

Staring at their disgusting faces, listening to the whispers of passersby, I laughed, a bitter, furious sound.

When Liam and I got married, my mom and Samantha used to call him a pauper, chase him with brooms, throw cold water on him!

They stood at our door, screaming he'd be a beggar his whole life.

Because we had no money, we didn't have a wedding or a banquet. My mom didn't give me a single dime for a dowry.

Now that he's successful at work and has been promoted to company Vice President, they're shamelessly trying to snatch my husband.

Seeing my silence, my mom tried to hit me again, but her hand was caught mid-swing.