Starting Over, Standing Tall - Chapter 1

My husband’s mistress forced me to jump into the sea, and he agreed.

I heard Margaret’s mocking voice after I was saved.

“Noah, your wife does love you. If she found out you were messing with her, she’d go Mad!”

“Mad? She has been as tame as a bunny since she gave birth. Just don’t tell her. This is the last time I’ll test her loyalty.” He laughed lightly.

Others laughed and promised to keep it secret.

Lying on the stretcher, I had no more tears left.

Even then, I didn’t know we were playing our last game for him, too.

From that moment on, my love for him was zero.

I woke up in the hospital to a peeled apple on my bedside table.

Before, when I was sick, Noah wouldn’t even show his face.

He’d just send an assistant with a bunch of supplements.

Seeing my apathetic expression, he offered a piece of apple to my lips.

Happy I didn’t die.

I turned my head, noticing a faint love bite on his neck.

My voice was calm.

“Noah, let’s divorce.”

His hand paused.

He popped the apple into his mouth, crunching loudly. His eyes held a smirk.

Right in front of me, he made a phone call.

Soon, his assistant brought in little Billy.

Billy had grown taller in the few months we’d been apart.

But he still wasn’t close to me.

After Billy was born, I was barely out of my postpartum period when Noah’s father took him away.

I only saw him on holidays at his family home.

I knew why Noah brought Billy.

Whenever he messed up and I was upset, he’d send Billy to appease me.

I couldn’t remember how many times this had happened.

But now, this card was no longer my weakness.

Seeing Billy rounder and bigger, I didn’t smile.

Billy frowned just like a mini Noah.

Even his tone of voice when he addressed me was the same.

“Sarah, you’re so boring and uptight. Dad, I don’t want to be here. I want to go back and play Legos with Margaret.”

Margaret, no wonder he never called me mom.

He already had another woman to fill that role.

Noah’s eyes narrowed.

Billy shut up and snuggled into my arms.

“Daddy yelled at me.”

Usually, I defend Billy, but this time I pushed him away.

“Go tell Margaret.”

Both their faces, like molds from the same form, froze.

I continued.

“Noah, I’m serious about the divorce. I’m not joking.”