After Thirty Years of Silver Wedding, I Finally Lived for Myself

That evening, I went to Jenson's house.

Jenson, who was about to go to bed, looked bewildered when he saw me standing at his door with my suitcase in hand.

After I explained why I was there, his confusion quickly turned to frustration. "Mom, you're being petty. Dad took me to Lauren's tutoring classes for ten years, and she never charged us a dime. She treats me like her own son. You're always nagging me, but she never does."

He paused and added, "And come on, you guys are way too old to be acting like some young couple having a fight and storming out. Aren't you embarrassed?"

His words left me frozen for a moment.

It took all my effort to make sense of the situation.

"Classes? What classes?" I asked.

William used to tell me that Jenson's tutors were young girls from school.

I stared at him, hoping for some sort of explanation.

Realizing he'd said too much, Jenson quickly clamped his mouth shut and tried to usher me back to the door. "Mom, let me just take you home. Dad has work tomorrow, and he can't function without you around."

"I'm not going back until you tell me what's going on. What classes? What's this really about?" I demanded.

I took off his hand and stared at him.

Jenson hesitated before finally giving in.

He revealed, "When I was little, Dad arranged for Lauren to work as a librarian at the university. She's been tutoring me in all my subjects since elementary school.

"Don't be mad at Dad. You don't know much about these things. He didn't want me to struggle, so he had me study with Lauren instead."

So, that was it.

All these years, not only had William been sending money to Lauren every month, but he also had her working under his nose and even let her help raise Jenson.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

I looked at Jenson, tears welling up. He was no longer the son I thought I knew.

He had helped William keep the secret from me.

Seeing my distress, he fidgeted, unsure of what to say.

I couldn't stay there any longer.

Picking up my suitcase, I left quietly and walked home by myself.

When I got back, the door to the study was slightly open, light spilling into the hallway. I could hear William and Lauren laughing together inside.

I leaned against the wall, trying to steady myself.

I thought that maybe it was time to let him go and set myself free.

The next morning, for the first time in years, I didn't wake up early to make breakfast.

Lauren knocked on my door, holding a small pot with a pitiful expression.

"Kristen, how do you use this pot? William doesn't like the school's breakfast, and since you didn't get up, I guess I'll have to cook for him," she said.

I crossed my arms and studied her face.

Lauren hadn't aged much. There wasn't a hint of weight gain on her slender frame.

In her youth, she had been part of the city's dance troupe, and more than a few men had fallen for her. Even now, sitting in a wheelchair due to her chemotherapy treatments, her beauty was hard to overlook.

Everyone was right. Thirty years ago, it must've been a huge loss for William not to marry her.

I let out a soft laugh, tears welling in my eyes.

"Lauren, why don't I help you fulfill the dream you couldn't achieve 30 years ago?" I said.

Her face paled instantly at my words.

She stammered, "Kristen, it's not what you think between William and me. We don't have that kind of relationship anymore."

I asked, "What is it that I'm thinking, exactly?"

"It's..." Lauren shook her head, about to say something else, but her gaze shifted to a corner of the room.

She suddenly went silent, trying to pull herself up and reach for me. Instinctively, I stepped back, and she lost her balance, crashing to the floor along with the pot.

"Kristen. If you have a problem, take it out on me. Why are you going after a sick woman?" William snapped.

I didn't even realize when William had appeared beside me.

His face was ice cold as he rushed to Lauren's side, cradling her in his arms.

Such a scene was all too familiar.

It was how he had treated me when we first met.

But now, with Lauren wrapped in his embrace, he turned and pointed at me. "Are you done throwing your tantrum yet? If you keep this up, we're not going to be able to live like this anymore."

"Then let's end this," I shot back.

My voice was sarcastic as I continued, "William, let's get a divorce."