Shrimp for Her, Papers for Him

Everyone stared at me like I'd lost my mind.

Ruby looked even angrier.

"I already said I'd resign, so why are you still pushing for a divorce? Do you seriously need to paint me as some homewrecker to feel better? I told you, nothing's going on between me and Mr. Tyler. I'm just trying to work and support my family. Why are you making my life so hard?"

I looked at her calmly.

"He's never peeled shrimp for me."

The whole room went dead silent.

Even Eric froze for a second. Then his anger snapped.

"If you wanted shrimp, you could've just said so. I would've peeled as many as you wanted. But you've gone too far today. Get out. I don't want to see you right now."

He grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the entrance of NovaCorp.

I still shoved the freshly printed divorce papers at him, demanding he sign.

Then the dizziness hit.

Everything went black.

***

When I woke up, I was already in the hospital.

Eric and a few NovaCorp employees crowded around my bed, all wearing the same worried look.

The second he saw my eyes open, Eric grabbed my hand and kissed it.

"Sandra, you're pregnant. We're having a baby."

His face lit up with pure excitement. Proud future dad mode: activated.

The employees instantly relaxed.

"I knew it. Sandra practically carried the company before this. Something had to be bothering her."

"It's probably the hormones. I was a mess during my pregnancy too. Crying, overthinking, all of it."

"A baby's good news. Let's just forget what happened earlier."

...

But hearing the news, I couldn't smile at all.

"Sandra, eight years. We finally have a baby."

Eric pressed his ear against my stomach, grinning.

"Hey, baby. I'm your dad. Think you're a girl or a boy?"

The room broke into laughter.

"With genes like Mr. and Mrs. Tyler's, that kid's gonna be gorgeous either way."

The whole room felt warm and happy.

I sliced right through it. "Baby or not, I'm ending this marriage."

Their expressions froze.

"She's pregnant and still wants a divorce?"

Before they could say anything else, Eric rushed them out.

"Sandra's emotional right now. Go back to work. She'll calm down in a day or two."

Except one day passed. Then two. Then four.

I still wanted the divorce.

Eric refused to sign the papers, so I carried them everywhere and followed him nonstop.

To meetings.

To the office.

Even to a client dinner with an executive from the partner company.

Ivy held the contract. Ruby was there too.

Eric claimed the executive only agreed to sign with NovaCorp because of Ruby, so apparently she just had to attend.

After endless drinks and corporate ass-kissing, the executive was finally in a great mood. He smiled at Ruby and lifted his glass.

"Ruby, I'm only signing this deal because of you..."

He picked up his pen.

Before it could touch the paper, I slid my divorce agreement in front of Eric.

"Since you're signing something already, sign this too."