Too Late for Forgiveness

Let's Get a Divorce

When I regained consciousness, I was lying in my bedroom.

My phone was bombarded with anonymous, abusive text messages and threatening phone calls.

On top of that, the news of a sixty-year-old woman who had supposedly staged an accident with her grandson to extort money, only to die in the crash, had climbed to second place on the trending search list. Online backlash poured in endlessly.

'An old fart like her deserves to die. Why did she have to go and stage an accident to extort money?' one of the netizens commented.

'Good riddance! She deserved it! Can't believe she even brought her grandson along to fake an accident. It's a good thing that her grandson has some common sense and knew to testify for the driver. Otherwise, she really would have gotten away with staging the accident!' another comment read.

'A scum like her should just disappear from the world!' someone else cursed in the comment section.

As I watched the constant stream of insults on my phone, I felt as if my heart was being ripped out.

At the top of the trending search list was none other than the news about Daisy.

'Ms. Reid celebrates at an amusement park with husband and son, complete with fireworks.'

Looking at the photo of the three of them holding hands so intimately, memories from the past came flooding back.

When Daisy and I first got married, we had been just as loving as she now seemed to be with James.

Back then, because she told me she did not want to become a housewife, I voluntarily gave up my career.

She had always comforted me gently. "Darling, I'll remember all the contributions you have made for our family. I swear I won't ever betray you."

Later, Caleb was born prematurely. He was weak and on the verge of death. I was the one who got down on my knees and begged one doctor after another until we finally managed to save his life.

After that, because Caleb's health was poor, I paid extra attention to every little detail and carefully raised him as he grew.

He, too, always liked to snuggle in my arms and said, "Dad, I'll definitely repay you properly when I grow up."

But three years ago, James entered our family's life as Daisy's junior and assistant. From then on, Daisy came home less and less often.

Every time, she complained to me that James made frequent mistakes and was far less competent than I was when I worked at the law firm. Yet again and again, she still went out of her way to stay late and work overtime with him.

Caleb also slowly started to like James.

James would always let Caleb binge on the junk food I forbade him to eat.

When I urged Caleb to finish his homework, James would always secretly take him out to play.

It went on until the day I heard Caleb say he didn't like me and wanted James to be his father.

Just then, the bedroom door was pushed open. Daisy walked to my bedside, the hickeys on her neck still clearly visible.

"Don't take the online comments to heart. I'll contact someone to help resolve them."

I simply looked at Daisy calmly. Only then did I notice that at some point, she had removed her wedding ring, and on her body was the scent of the men's cologne James often wore.

Caleb burst into the room and urged impatiently, "Mom, I told you Dad was fine. Let's go. Mr. Benton is waiting for us to take a family photo."

"It's just for fun," Daisy explained. "James doesn't have any family, so he's always wanted to take a family photo."

As I listened to her, my heart remained completely still.

I had long since given up hope after all these years of suffering.

From the bottom drawer, I took out the divorce settlement agreement I had prepared long ago. I had put it back again and again because I could not bring myself to let go of Daisy and Caleb.

But now, there was nothing left to hold on to.

"Daisy, let's get a divorce."