Chapter 2

I threw Ethan’s clothes out, “We’re getting divorced. Your dad isn’t my dad. Whoever’s dad he is can take care of him.”

“What’s wrong with you? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”

I smiled, “So what if I’m causing trouble?”

He said I was causing trouble. I used to think I really was.

Arguing with him was trouble, smashing things was trouble.

Not eating was trouble.

But now I know, hurting myself isn’t causing trouble. Making them suffer is.

See, just moving out of the small room and Ethan couldn’t wait to come talk to me.

In the house, Ethan barely spoke to me more than three times a day.

Turns out, only by causing trouble can they feel uncomfortable.

Ethan left the room with a sullen face.

I didn’t care what his family said outside, I changed the sheets and went to shower.

Normally, this was the time to pick up the child. After picking them up, I’d hurry to cook. After dinner, I’d clean and then help the child with homework.

After homework, I’d bathe the child.

Finally, I’d clean, bathe, and medicate my father-in-law.

Only when he slept did I have a bit of time for myself.

At home, I was like a workhorse.

After my shower, I started calculating my savings.

I graduated from community college and got married after a few years of work.

After marriage, Ethan’s salary went to his mom, and I had to report weekly for grocery money.

For money, I had to ask my mother-in-law.

Ethan wouldn’t give me any money.

But over the years, I wasn’t without income. My English is excellent. Occasionally doing part-time jobs, I’d earn a few hundred each time.

I now have over ten thousand in savings.

Very little, but after divorce, it’s enough to get by until I find a job.

And I don’t have to worry about the house.

This house was left to me by my parents, it’s very large.

It’s pre-marital property, Ethan can’t take it.

When I got married, Ethan brought his parents over, and before Harper married, she lived with us too.

Now I realize Ethan probably married me for the house.

His family planned to take everything from the start.

This time I won’t compromise, I’ll kick them all out.

At this moment, my mother-in-law pounded on the door, “Nora, what are you doing inside? The child is about to get out of school, aren’t you going to pick them up? The floor is a mess. Lazy.”

I opened the door, “They don’t like me picking them up, let Ethan go.”

My mother-in-law shrieked, “Ethan can’t do such things.”

“Why not? The child isn’t just mine.”

“Fine, don’t pick them up, nobody will.”

This is my mother-in-law’s usual trick. I used to see the family not working, got angry, but thinking of the child, I’d give in.

I’d silently do everything.

This time I wouldn’t give in.

Soon, I heard a bang outside the door.