Starting Over, Standing Tall - Chapter 2

A flash of anger crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by a mocking smile.

“Sarah, you’re playing hard to get a little too hard. If you really anger me, you won’t see your son again.”

No wonder he didn’t react to the divorce earlier.

He thought I was playing games.

I remembered last year when his affair with a minor actress made headlines and I threatened to divorce him.

He locked me in a room and I didn’t see Billy for 6 months.

I learned my lesson.

It was then that I realized I no longer loved him.

“Noah, I’ll move out of the house after I’m discharged.” I spoke again, seriously, looking directly into his eyes.

Sensing I wasn’t playing games, his face turned grim.

“Divorce depends on whether you have the ability.”

After he left with Billy, I picked up my phone and texted the unfamiliar number.

“I’ve made up my mind. I’ll leave after the dance competition in a week.”

After leaving the hospital, I went back to the family home to pack my bags and went to the dance studio.

Since I made my decision, I didn’t want any more entanglement with Noah.

When I arrived, everyone’s eyes were full of unspoken meaning.

A colleague pulled me aside, worried.

“Sarah, how did you upset Mrs. Landers? She stole your competition spot and got the director to fire you.”

“Mrs. Landers?” I followed her gaze to the figure on stage.

Viven, decked out in jewelry, had that typical mistress vibe.

I almost forgot.

She always introduced herself as Mrs. Landers at the studio.

She was soaking in everyone’s envious looks when she suddenly saw me.

“Sarah, I’m so sorry, but maybe my dance skills are more suitable for the competition, so the director gave the only spot to me.”

I hadn’t cared much about her antics before, but this competition was important to me, and I wouldn’t let her have it.

“Vivien, what’s your dance level? Is it the level you dance for men? Also, dare you tell everyone your real identity?”

She was originally a small-time internet celebrity, only getting into this high-end studio because of Noah.

She used to be meek in front of me, but now she dared to step on me.

Vivien blushed speechless, tears welling up in her eyes.

Then, an arm snaked around her waist.

Noah looked at me, his eyes full of pressure.

“And what’s your identity?” My lips moved, bitterness rising in my throat.

His mother died because of me.

After 9 years of marriage, even giving birth to his son wasn’t enough to offset that debt.

When he was drunk, he once choked me and said, “Sarah, you married into the family to atone, not to enjoy life. Don’t forget your place.”

Seeing my gaze, Noah leaned in, whispering, “Sarah, if you want to keep your job, move back home.” I finally understood.

He was Vivian’s boss.

He gave my competition spot to her and threatened the studio owner to fire me.

He was forcing me to submit to take back my divorce statement.

Seeing that I didn’t react, Noah sneered.

“Now you have wings. Do you want to escape my control? Then I’ll break your wings and see how you fly.”

He made a phone call.