Divorce: The Beginning of a New Life

I looked at Oliver, who was now a completely different person, and just as I was about to say something, I was interrupted.

Chloe, feeling no guilt, shamelessly lay on the floor, making a scene. She complained about how Oliver had married such a terrible woman. Not only was I bad to my husband, but I also tormented her, an older woman from the countryside.

I took a deep breath. Getting angry wouldn't help, and shouting would do no good, especially since no one in this household was on my side.

After a few comforting words from Oliver, Chloe clutched her chest, pretending to be in pain, and got up from the floor, dragging Oliver back to her room.

Before leaving, Oliver gave me a vicious glare.

As if I was some unforgivable villain.

As expected, the rest of the grocery money was never mentioned again.

I quickly made myself a stir-fry with eggs and collapsed onto the bed, too exhausted even to brush my teeth or wash my face.

I was half-asleep when I was pushed awake.

Maybe it was because I had been reminiscing, but I dreamt of the old Oliver, the one who treated me well.

So when I saw Oliver in front of me, I instinctively showed a happy expression.

But in the next second, his words froze my smile.

"You're taking up too much of the bed. How am I supposed to sleep?"

I felt like a clown.

The dream's sweetness and the reality's bitterness clashed in my mind like fire and ice.

Oliver even pushed me because I reacted too slowly.

I couldn't bear to share a room with him anymore. Hugging my blanket, I ran to sleep on the living room sofa.

Oliver didn't come out to check on me. I guessed he was probably glad to have the bed to himself again.

"Less than three months into our marriage, Oliver was already tired of sharing a bed with me and suggested we sleep in separate rooms.

At that time, I didn't understand and asked him why.

He said he wasn't used to it, felt like he lost his freedom after marriage, and was already exhausted from work during the day. He said I always crowded him at night, making him feel more tired.

I said I could change and asked if we could not sleep in separate rooms.

But Oliver insisted. I don't remember who started the argument." I thought.

It ended badly, and Oliver finally had an excuse to move out.

Since then, except for marital activities, we hadn't slept in the same bed, even though I tried to keep him.

When Chloe arrived, Oliver gave her the bedroom.

The idea of sharing a bed with him only made me feel tired and annoyed now.

My mind, once so sleepy, was now wide awake.

I looked at the moonlight streaming through the window and thought, "I can't keep going like this."

But getting a divorce wasn't easy. Both Oliver and I made the down payment on the house, and the mortgage wasn't paid off yet. I wasn't afraid of hardship, but I feared not having a home.

My parents' home was now my brother's marital home, and my parents had moved back to the countryside.

Besides, my job was here.

I had followed Oliver without hesitation, quitting my job to come to this strange city to start afresh.

Now, I had finally found my footing.

I didn't want to leave.

Before I could figure out how to get a divorce, Chloe had a health issue.

She was diagnosed with kidney stones and needed surgery.

Pre-surgery checks and post-surgery recovery required someone to take care of her.

So, Oliver discussed with me whether I could take a few days off to look after her.

I thought about it and agreed since Chloe was technically still my nominal mother, but I had conditions.

"My daily wage is four hundred dollars. I won't charge for nighttime care. The weekends will be charged at the minimum wage for a caregiver, one hundred and twenty dollars a day. Seven days in total would be two thousand and four hundred dollars. Bank transfer or PayPal?"

"Amelia! Chloe is your mother, too. Do you have to be so calculative?"

Oliver clenched his fists, glaring at me as if I had said something outrageous.

"Oliver, Chloe is your mother, not mine. You're closer to her by blood. Why don't you take leave to care for her? That way, you wouldn't have to transfer any money to me. If you think I'm expensive, you can hire a caregiver. You just see me as free labor, don't you?"

"Don't judge everyone by your standards. Other families live in harmony. Look at us. It's a mess! And it's all your fault!"

"My fault? Oliver? You're the one who proposed splitting expenses equally. When I was sick, you waited for me to transfer the money for medicine before buying it for me! When I took long showers, you charged me extra for utilities! When my parents were hospitalized, you refused to visit with me because you didn't want to pay for travel expenses! Now you want me to take leave to care for your mom, and you know what you're planning!"

"What am I planning? Don't project your love of money onto others. It's just two thousand and four hundred dollars I'll transfer it to you!"

Seeing people around the hospital starting gossip, Oliver couldn't argue with me anymore. He transferred the money and was about to leave.

I stopped him.

"You haven't paid your mother's hospitalization and surgery fees."