The Fine Art of Misunderstanding

Before I could say a word, Wendy walked in with reddened eyes and threw herself into Matt's arms, overcome with emotion.

"Matt! Thank you… I never imagined you'd be willing to go this far for me…"

Crying so hard she looked pitiful, Wendy successfully dampened Matt's rage.

His gaze softened, the emotions in his eyes turning as sweet as honey. Even his voice grew gentle.

"For you, I'd do anything."

When he looked at me again, his eyes turned vicious. "Can't you see I'm a patient? Hurry up and get me something to eat."

I didn't want to, but I was his wife. We weren't divorced yet, so I had a responsibility.

The problem was, I didn't know how to cook. But he ordered me to do it anyway.

Following my memories, I went home and, step by step, followed instructions on my phone to cook some porridge, then brought it to the hospital.

He flew into a rage and dumped my food straight into the trash. "Lily, did you do this on purpose? Are you trying to kill me so you can become a widow?!"

I blinked, then that night I started sharpening a knife.

The sound of my sharpening woke Matt. When he saw the cleaver in my hand, his face went deathly pale. He screamed and ran out of the room.

After that, a nurse politely escorted me out.

But Matt was the one who said I should become a widow. I even went out of my way to look up what being widowed meant. And being widowed meant I would be free of my husband.

After being kicked out, I felt deeply regretful that I couldn't become a widow.

For a long while after that, Matt didn't call for me again, so I focused wholeheartedly on figuring out the divorce. I even drafted a divorce agreement.

Half a month later, Matt called.

"Wendy just graduated and is still a medical intern. She wants to practice surgery. Bring your mom over and let Wendy practice on her."

Mom?

Grandma once said that girls were nothing but good-for-nothings and financially burdened the family. They would eventually be married off.

Once married, your husband's mother became your real mother, and you were nothing but an outsider to your birth family. Once I got married, I was only allowed to acknowledge one mother in this life—my mother-in-law.

But my mother-in-law was Matt's real mother. Was he sure…?

I hesitated. "But what if she dies?"

He answered impatiently, "Then she dies. She should consider herself lucky that she's chosen to help Wendy practice."

I thought for a moment, then asked, "What if Mom doesn't agree?"

Matt grew even more annoyed. "Don't you know how to drug her? You were so good at drugging me last time. Can't you do it again?"

He hung up.

I tapped to end the recording.

I might be a little slow, but after hearing my situation, the lawyer felt very sorry for me. Because I'm missing a screw and only ever hear half of what's said, the lawyer was worried I wouldn't remember things. He told me to record every call with Matt.

He said it might help later when it came time to divide property.

I'm very obedient. As soon as I hung up, I sent the recording to the lawyer.

Right now, I was still Matt's wife, so I was supposed to listen to him. Grandma always said that as long as you're someone's wife, even for one day, you must listen to your husband for that day.

But the police officer said I can't break the law.

After thinking it over, I called Matt back.

"We can't do this. It's illegal."

Matt snapped impatiently, "Then bring your mom to me. I'll handle it myself."