Chapter 1

When I turned sixty, I joined the ranks of the divorced.

All because my husband berated me for spending two dollars to take the bus.

My daughter and her husband didn't understand, thinking I was being too dramatic.

However, what they didn't know was that very day on the bus, I happened to see her dear father dining with his sweetheart at a restaurant that cost five figures per person.

I resolutely chose to divorce him. But a week later, they came crying, begging me to come back.

*****

"Enough, stop watching TV there. All you do is waste electricity!" Jackson said impatiently as soon as he entered the house. "Go bring me today's bills."

"Okay." I got up, went back to the bedroom, and took out an account book.

Ever since we got married, Jackson required me to record every penny I spent. Of course, it only applied to my salary.

As for Jackson's salary, I never saw it in forty years of marriage.

I handed the account book to Jackson, and he began to scrutinize it.

"Aubrey, you spent two dollars taking the bus today?" Jackson looked up at me, frowning. "Don't you have a senior card?"

"I forgot to bring it," I explained softly.

"Forgot? Are you stupid?" Jackson glared. "Don't you know these two dollars could buy a big bundle of vegetables!

"Besides, couldn't you have walked back if you forgot it? You have nothing to do all day. Why are you even taking the bus!"

At this, I froze in place. In addition to taking on all the housework, I also had to take care of Ella, Dylan, and my grandson, and cater to Jackson. I was so exhausted that my back ached and I couldn't straighten up, yet Jackson actually said I had nothing to do.

Most importantly, these two dollars came from my retirement salary. I felt even more upset and looked at Jackson with growing coldness. "All these years, the money spent has been from my salary. Where's yours?"

At this, a flash of unease showed in Jackson's eyes. "What do you mean, yours and mine? Isn't it all for this family?

"Aubrey, you're sixty years old. Can't you stop being so petty?"

I thought, "Petty? If I was really like that, Jackson wouldn't be dining with Madison in such a fancy restaurant today!"

Thinking of how my decades of hard work were met with scolding for spending two dollars to take the bus, I couldn't bear it anymore.

I glared at Jackson. "Jackson! You will hand over your salary details to me today!"

At that, Jackson instantly became enraged with shame. "Aubrey, are you out of your mind, making a big fuss over such a small thing?

"Do you still care about me or this family at all?

"Money, money, money, that's all you think about!"

At this, a hint of mockery flashed in my eyes.

I thought, "Did Jackson forget how he just insulted me over a mere two dollars?"

I suddenly felt the man I had been with for decades was a complete stranger. But thinking of Ella and her family, I decided to give Jackson one last chance.

I said coldly, "Where did you go today?"

"Why... why are you asking that?" Jackson's eyes flashed with a hint of unease.

"Why do I feel like there's a scent of perfume on you." I moved closer to Jackson step by step, my tone meaningful.

However, Jackson still refused to tell me the truth. "Enough, stop making wild accusations!

"I played cards with Mason Blake and the others all day. How could there be perfume on me."

With that, Jackson tugged at his collar and sniffed. "Stirring up trouble every day. Why don't you spend more time reading or catching up on the news instead?

"Uneducated bumpkin!"

With that, Jackson headed towards the bedroom.

Watching his back, I stood frozen, my eyes brimming with deep disappointment. Even now, he was still unwilling to be honest with me. And he even looked down on me for being uneducated!

Back when I got into graduate school, it was Jackson who begged me to drop out, begged me to keep the child in my belly. Now, he looked down on me for lacking education.

I was utterly heartbroken, my heart slowly turning cold and hard.

At that moment, I realized that this marriage, this man, was no longer worth it.