Losing Her was the Only Way to Find Me Again

I wanted to speak up, but her phone buzzed before I could find the words.

She answered the call and abruptly stood up, grabbing her things and bolting for the door.

Just as she placed her hand on the doorknob, she seemed to remember something and glanced back at me.

"Edmund had an accident. I need to check on him. I can't stay with you tonight," Ophelia said, her voice a mix of urgency and guilt.

I managed a half-hearted smile and replied, "Go on. If something's wrong, you should be there."

Before I could say anything else, she was out the door.

Staring at the now-empty apartment, I suddenly felt a sense of release.

After she left, I began packing my stuff. I called my mother-in-law and asked her to come pick up Ollie.

By the time I zipped up my suitcase, the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, I was met with Ophelia's mom, her expression as cold as a winter wind.

"A full-grown man without a job, and you can't even take care of your own kid?!"

"We never wanted her to marry you in the first place. If she'd gone for a rich guy, none of this would be happening."

"Now I've gotta come out in the middle of the night to pick up my own grandson!"

She'd always looked down on me like I was just a weed in her garden.

What she didn't realize was that selling my company was what helped her daughter rise to where she is.

But explaining all that now would just be a waste of time.

I handed over Ollie carefully, but she kept on rambling.

"At least my grandson takes after my daughter. He's so handsome; he'll do something big one day. Unlike you, relying on a woman for a roof over your head."

Her words sliced through me, twisting my gut.

I couldn't help but say, "I'm about to divorce her, so save the insults."

She was shocked, staring at me like she couldn't believe the son-in-law she used to push around was finally standing up for himself.

With a raised eyebrow, she sneered. "Ha! A mooch like you talking about divorce?"

"Then hurry up and do it!" she continued. "Stop holding my daughter back from finding a real man."

With a slam that echoed down the hallway, she stormed off, taking Ollie with her.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm.

But I couldn't wait any longer; I pulled out my phone, ready to text Ophelia about meeting at the Clerk of Court's Office tomorrow to finalize the divorce.q

As I unlocked my screen, a notification caught my eye.

Edmund had just posted something. I clicked the notification, and my heart sank.

There was a photo of Ophelia gently blowing on a cut on his finger, her face full of concern and affection.

The caption read: [Cut my finger while fixing the pipes. Someone rushed over to check on me. Is this what being someone's favorite feels like?]

I stared at the screen and let out a sarcastic laugh.

I typed back: [Well, here's wishing you two a lifetime of happiness and plenty of kids!]

After hitting send, I blocked and deleted him from my friend list.

Then, I forwarded the divorce paper and the paternity test results to the family group chat, mentioning Ophelia.

[@Ophelia, sign the papers or I'll file for divorce. Your call.]