Summer in a Glass Jar

My voice was not loud, but it carried clearly across the entire office floor.

Every ear was straining, every head pretending to work while watching the drama unfold.

Ronald’s face went ashen, then flooded with angry color. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me to spill it all in public.

“You’re out of your mind!” he snarled, humiliation fanning his rage.

Beside him, Christina instantly slid into the role of the “understanding” one, tugging his sleeve with red-rimmed eyes. “Mr Ronald, please don’t be angry. This is all my fault… Betty, don’t blame him. I never should have posted that…”

As she spoke, she dabbed at her tears—that delicate, fragile look designed to trigger any man’s protective instinct.

True to form, Ronald pulled her into his arms and glared at me with pure fury. “Betty, look at yourself! You’re acting like a harpy! Christina is younger than you, more understanding, more gentle! What part of you even compares to her?”

That did it—the final straw, crushing the last shred of illusion I’d been clinging to.

Looking at the two of them, I was suddenly washed over by a wave of disgust.

“You’re right. I don’t compare.” I nodded, my smile widening. “I’m not as good at pretending, not as good at acting, and certainly not as… cheap. So, I’ll let you have each other.”

From my bag, I pulled the prepared documents and flung them in Ronald’s face.

“Listen carefully. Ronald & Betty’s Translation Firm had a registered capital of one million. I contributed seven hundred thousand—that’s seventy percent of the shares. Under our prenuptial agreement, those shares are my personal property. Now I’m withdrawing my investment. Either you buy out my shares at market value, or the company goes into liquidation.”

“As for the Klaus Group project… I forgot to mention, the chief interpreter for the German delegation was my university mentor. I’ve already emailed him, explained my departure, and ‘kindly’ reminded him that the firm’s core technical staff has… left.”

Watching the color drain from Ronald’s face, I felt a wave of vindictive satisfaction.

“You… you wouldn’t dare!” he stammered, a trembling finger pointed my way.

“Just watch,” I said coldly, then turned and stepped into the elevator.

The doors slid shut, cutting off his furious curses and Christina’s panicked cries.

Leaning against the cold metal wall, I let out a long, slow breath.

Ronald, did you really think Betty was some pushover you could trample all over?

You were wrong.

I can build you up—and I can tear you down.

After leaving the office, I drove straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau and picked up the divorce certificate I’d been longing for.

The marriage of mutual torment was finally over.

What kind of face would he make if he saw this now?

I expected the withdrawal of funds to turn into a drawn-out battle. But Ronald’s parents showed up in Fairview the very next day.

I’d just finished packing, ready to head to Seaport where my best friend Donna lived, when Ronald’s call came through, his voice urgent. “Betty, my parents are here. At the house. You need to come back—now.”