The Collapse of Love: Rising from the Ashes

On the day my grandmother passed away, my wife, Chloe Kade, was off climbing mountains for love. Every call I made throughout the day went unanswered except for one. Her voice was cold and distant. "When will you ever grow up? When will you learn to understand others' pain?" By the time she returned home, exhausted but content, all I could offer was a chilling, "Let's get a divorce. You're free."

"Osborne, where is Chloe? I'm afraid she won't hold on much longer."

Grandma lay in her hospital bed. Her face was pale, but her expression calm, her words tinged with regret.

She adored Chloe and had longed to help us raise our children, but now, that dream would never be realized.

"Don't worry, Grandma. She... she's on a business trip, rushing back. I'll call her again."

Though Chloe's previous response had left me feeling hopeless, I couldn't bear to disappoint Grandma. I got up and dialed Chloe's number once more.

I knew that even after three years of marriage, Chloe still couldn't forget her childhood sweetheart, Brad Watson.

I was willing to let her go, but why did it have to be this way?

Why must Grandma leave this world with regrets?

Desperately, I kept dialing.

But all I got was endless hang-ups.

In despair, I composed a text message: [Grandma is dying. Just come back, and we can get divorced; I'll set you free.]

Chloe's call came quickly. "Osborne," she said, "I never thought you were this kind of person. I told you that Brad's biggest wish in life is to watch the sunrise with me. It's a promise we made as kids. I'm just helping him fulfill that wish. You have everything, while Brad has nothing. Can't you be a little generous? Don't disappoint me. And to think you'd use Grandma's life as a bargaining chip, cursing her with such malice... It's truly disgusting."

"Grandma doesn't have much time left. Her last wish is to see you one more time. I'm begging you, please come back. If you do, I'll agree to a divorce!"

In my haste, I blurted out.

I had expected the thought of divorce to be unbearable, but it wasn't.

Instead of pain, I felt only calmness.

I felt a sense of relief, of liberation.

"You're insane! How could I not have noticed before that you're such a petty man, resorting to such a lousy tactic to threaten me? You want a divorce? Fine, you got it."

Chloe's voice on the phone was cold, heartless, filled with barely suppressed rage.

It was crazy.

She was the one who got angry!

What the hell did she have to be angry about?

Even in divorce, did she need to cast herself as the victim? How ridiculous.

But I was relieved.

As long as she agreed, even if it meant bearing the guilt of betraying our love, I accepted it.

"Fine, come back and let Grandma see you one last time, whether it's for a divorce or whatever, I agree!" I quickly said.

But the line was already dead, greeted only by a busy tone.

Damn it!

I clenched my fists in anger, nearly cursing out loud.

Only then did I realize that Chloe had been playing me all along, never believing a word I said.