Leaving My Wife to Find the Best Version of Myself

Karen’s face immediately fell. "Jordan, what do you mean?"

Calmly, I picked up my glass of milk and said, "Exactly what it sounds like. You're wearing matching rings with him, then using a free gift to apologize. Karen, what am I to you?"

She hadn't expected me to expose her on the spot and she was momentarily embarrassed. However, Leon quickly stepped in. "Jordan, don't get upset. Karen gave me this ring because I helped her out earlier. If you’re unhappy, I’ll give it to you instead."

"I already told her I don't like this kind of thing. I'd rather get a basketball!" Although he said this, he made no move to actually give me the ring. Instead, Karen spoke up, defending him. "Don't mind him. Jordan is always like this—small-minded and jealous at the drop of a hat..."

"You can give him whatever you want, but I hope this doesn’t interfere with us settling our finances." I cut her off coldly.

Karen froze and asked, "What do you mean?"

I pushed a folder across the table toward her. "Karen, let’s get a divorce."

Her face changed dramatically. She stared at me intently. "What game are you playing this time?"

I didn't respond. Leon licked his lips and interjected, "Jordan, maybe this is a misunderstanding?" He wrapped his arm around Karen and continued, "If our Karen did something wrong..."

Before Leon could finish, Karen suddenly pulled her arm away. She turned to him and said, "You go home first. I need to talk to him."

Leon was stunned. This was the first time Karen had shown him such coldness, but her expression remained emotionless. In the end, Leon stormed out angrily.

After Leon left, Karen’s tone softened immediately. "You really want to divorce me? Are you serious? What about the child?"

She touched her slightly protruding belly. "The child isn’t even born yet and you want to make it a single-parent child?"

I didn’t say anything. Even though I no longer had any love for her, the thought of the child with its congenital deformities, possibly even genetic disorders, still pained me.

This baby could have grown up healthy, but the doctor’s examination had revealed, advanced maternal age, poor long-term dietary habits and excessive exposure to secondhand smoke had caused the baby’s developmental abnormalities.

At that moment, I deeply regretted ever loving Karen so much.

I didn’t smoke, but Leon did. He never cared about Karen’s pregnancy, even deliberately blowing smoke rings into her face. She would laugh every time, thinking it was a form of intimacy.

I indulged her too much and in doing so, I harmed this child.

Karen had always said she didn’t want a child, so I would take precautions every time. But when she said she wanted one, I was overjoyed. I actively prepared for the pregnancy, trying all sorts of ways to make her nutritious meals, but she would throw them all away and secretly go to bars and night markets with Leon behind my back.

Every time, she gave me the cold shoulder and I endured it in silence. I never ate on time, waiting for her to come home for dinner.

But now, she was using this child, one we were about to lose, to threaten me.

I finished the last of my milk and said, "Karen, I know you don’t like me. Getting divorced sooner is better for both of us."

She slammed the folder onto the table. "Who said I don’t..."

A sudden phone ring interrupted her. I glanced at it; it was Leon, who had just left.

Karen hesitated for a second before answering. I didn’t know what was said on the other end, but she quickly stood up.

She glanced at me hesitantly. "Something happened with Leon. I have to go check on him."

I shrugged indifferently. She quietly picked up the divorce agreement and said, "I know you care about this baby. I was wrong before and I promise I’ll behave and listen to you from now on. Let’s not joke about divorce."

She then leaned in, intending to kiss me, but I quickly dodged.

Karen froze in place. I said coldly, "This Saturday, meet me at the maternity ward of the city hospital. Nine in the morning—don’t be late."

Karen had the right to be there for the child and I had the obligation to be with her when we terminated the pregnancy.

I watched indifferently as her expression went from gloomy to cheerful and she playfully said, "No problem! I’ll be there on time!"

I didn’t respond and casually deleted all her contact information.