After a wedding three months in the planning, one night was all it took for me to decide on a divorce. The reason was simple: my new husband, Gary, transferred a thousand dollars to my account before we went to bed. Then, in the middle of the night, another two thousand appeared. The memo on the second transfer read: "Final Payment." I couldn't stomach it. The next morning, I announced my intention to divorce him right in front of his parents. My new in-laws, their hands still outstretched with wedding gifts, were stunned into silence. Gary slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, pointing a trembling finger at my face. "I sent you that money because I care about you! What is this drama now?" My voice was ice. "I'd love to know in what world 'caring' for someone involves splitting a payment into a deposit and a final installment." 1 "Audrey Vance!" Gary’s voice was a mixture of fury and disbelief. "We just got married! Are you trying to start a power struggle on day one? Isn't it a little soon for that?" "I'll have the papers drawn up by noon," I said, my tone flat, refusing to engage with his tantrum. "I'll come find you then. We should go to the courthouse as soon as they're signed." Without another word, I turned and walked out. My mother-in-law's hand, still holding a gift, was frozen in mid-air. My father-in-law just looked bewildered, completely lost as to what could have possibly imploded between us in a single night. Gary himself was momentarily stunned. He clearly hadn't expected my resolve to be this absolute, this unshakeable. I had my lawyer draft the divorce agreement with lightning speed and took it directly to his office at Cross Enterprises. As I stepped out of the elevator, I saw his parents waiting for me outside his office. He had obviously called them, hoping they could talk me down. I ignored them and walked straight toward the door. But Gary's secretary, Lily Marsh, stepped into my path. "Mrs. Cross, Gary is in a meeting. No one is allowed to disturb him." Her voice was professionally polite, but her eyes held a different story. "And he told me what happened. You asking for a divorce on the first day... Audrey, as a fellow woman, I'm advising you to know when to quit." She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't forget how good he's been to you. You wanted to see the Northern Lights, and he dropped everything to fly around the world with you. You mentioned off-hand that you didn't feel like cooking, and he took a three-month culinary course. A man like that is a unicorn. If you keep this up, you'll find yourself in a mess you can't get out of." Her words, especially "asking for a divorce," were just loud enough to draw the attention of nearby employees. They began to drift closer, chiming in. "Lily's right. Mr. Cross turned down a multi-million dollar deal just to be with you. That's how much he loves you." "Exactly, Mrs. Cross. Don't mind us saying so, but he's a rare find. You should treasure him!" Just as their chorus of unsolicited advice reached its peak, the office door swung open. Gary emerged, giving Lily a grateful look. She responded with a knowing, gentle smile. He then turned to me, his expression a mask of sincerity, and took my hands in his. "Audrey, I know you've always been so supportive and understanding of everything I do. Is this because I didn't send the money all at once? Did it lack a sense of ceremony? Is that why you feel hurt?" He squeezed my hands. "Or is there something else I don't know? Please, just tell me, and we can fix it together. Okay?" His parents moved through the small crowd to join him. "He's right, Audrey," his father said gently. "I don't know what happened between you two last night, but I'm sure it was something small. Can't you just talk it through?" "Did this boy do something to upset you?" his mother added, her tone warm and placating. "Don't you worry, I'm on your side. I'll make him apologize." Everyone watched me, expecting me to soften, to yield. My in-laws treated me like a child throwing a temporary tantrum. After all, they had witnessed the long and often difficult journey Gary and I had taken to get to this point. But I ignored their expectant faces, yanked my hands from Gary's grasp, and said, my voice cutting through the air, "There's nothing to talk about. I'm done with you." The office fell silent. You could have heard a pin drop. "What are you talking about? We just got married…" Gary's eyes started to redden, as if he couldn't process my words. "Let me repeat myself so you understand. I'm. Done. With. You. I'm cutting my losses." With that, I pulled the divorce agreement from my bag and slapped it against his chest. I turned to leave. "Get it signed. My time is limited." I didn't get far. Lily grabbed my arm, her grip so tight it left an immediate red mark on my wrist. Her face was twisted in a mask of indignation. "Could you stop being so unreasonable? You're an embarrassment to women everywhere!" she hissed. "Who else would put up with you? If Gary hadn't interned at your father's company back in the day, you'd still be some lonely old spinster. You should be thanking him, not making a federal case out of nothing!" I met her glare with a cold stare of my own. "This has nothing to do with you. You're his secretary. Know your place." Lily jutted out her chin. "I'm speaking for everyone here! Who in this office agrees with what you're doing?" she challenged. "They're too afraid of you to say anything, but I'm not. Our Gary doesn't deserve this." She tightened her grip. "Apologize to him right now, or you can kiss your position as the CEO's wife goodbye!" My hand shot out, and the sharp crack of a slap silenced the room. A collective gasp went through the crowd. "I'd be delighted!" I spat. Gary exploded. "Audrey, don't push your luck! How dare you hit Lily!" He shoved me forcefully, sending me stumbling back several feet, before rushing to Lily's side, fussing over her with frantic concern. He then positioned himself in front of her, a human shield protecting her from me. "You two seem close," I observed, raising an eyebrow. My comment only seemed to fuel the crowd's disapproval. The murmurs started again, painting me as the unhinged, jealous wife who couldn't admit when she was wrong. Lily clutched Gary's arm from behind, her voice dripping with manufactured sweetness. "Gary, it's my fault. I just couldn't stand to see you being treated like that. Maybe Audrey is just acting out because she loves you so much. I won't say another word, I don't want to make her angry again." She pouted, looking as if she were the one who had been deeply wronged. "Thank you, Lily," Gary said, patting her hand. "This is my fault for dragging you into it." He turned back to me, his voice softening into a placating tone. "Audrey, stop this. Look how upset you've made Lily. Let's talk about this at home, behind closed doors. We can talk after I finish work, okay? I'll buy you whatever you want." By the end, he was practically begging, performing the role of the doting, patient husband for his audience. He was painting me into a corner, making me out to be the irrational one. His father stepped in to deliver the final blow. "Audrey, we all see how much you've supported our family. None of us want this. If you agree to stop this nonsense, I'll have Gary transfer another ten percent of his company shares to you. How does that sound?" The employees who had been defending Lily all exchanged looks of sudden understanding. "So that's what this is about." Gary nodded eagerly, his eyes pleading with me. "Honey, I'll give you any amount of money you want. Just please, don't divorce me." "Think whatever you want. Give it to me, don't give it to me, I don't care. You're signing those papers." My expression didn't change. "Audrey Vance!" His mother, who had been silent until now, finally lost her temper. "Your first day as a wife and you're already acting lawless! What will you be like in the future? He's not giving you the shares, and he's not signing anything. You had better take back that agreement and stop this now. And don't you forget," she added, her voice dropping to a low threat, "your father's company is still waiting for us to bail it out." The mention of my father was a clear warning. The onlookers smirked, waiting for my inevitable surrender. But I ignored them all, turned on my heel, and walked away. 2 Downstairs, my cousin Leo was waiting for me, sent by my father. He opened the door to a sleek black car as I approached. "I saw the pictures you sent," he said as he gently guided me in, making sure I didn't hit my head. "The information is solid. My associates will have the rest of the proof by this afternoon." "Thank you," I said, leaning back against the leather seat. As a private investigator, Leo's relationship with my family was purely transactional, and I was fine with that. "I'm suing Gary for divorce, and I plan to take him for everything he's worth. This evidence is crucial." Sometimes, a clean transaction is more reliable than a messy emotion. The pictures I'd sent Leo were screenshots from Gary's phone, taken while he slept last night. They showed a series of strange expenses on regular workdays, for the exact same amounts he had transferred to me. The recipient was a high-end, exclusive private club, the kind frequented by the rich and powerful. The wait for the court date gave me enough time to get my affairs in order, to prepare for a clean break. I moved out of the house I had shared with Gary and into a small apartment my father had bought for me years ago. But just as my preparations were underway, rumors about me started to circulate online. That evening, at a charity gala, I became the subject of pointed whispers and sideways glances. "Isn't that the new Mrs. Cross? The one who demanded a divorce after one night? The nerve of her to show her face." "Oh, that's her? I heard her father basically sold her into that marriage. Who does she think she is, trying to get a divorce? She's going to drag her whole family down with her." "So Gary didn't give her enough money? Does she really think she's in a position to be throwing tantrums?" "I bet she's found another man. Gary Cross is young and successful. If I were her, I'd never let him go." Everyone, from established business tycoons to rising young stars, looked at me with a mixture of scorn and amusement. I felt a surge of anger and was about to call Gary to confront him when his voice cut through the ballroom chatter. "Audrey! You're here! This is perfect." His sudden appearance made the gossipers exchange nervous glances. "You haven't been home for days," he said, walking toward me. "I had to beg my mother, but she finally agreed to let me give this to you." He produced a velvet box and opened it to reveal an exquisite emerald heirloom. A wave of gasps went through the nearby crowd. "Isn't that the Cross family heirloom? The one his mother inherited? She said publicly she would only ever give it to her daughter-in-law." "He must really love her. Even after all her ridiculous behavior, he begged his mother to give her the family emerald." "That's so romantic! Audrey is so lucky." They all expected me to melt, to take this as the grand romantic gesture it was designed to be and gracefully back down. But my voice was still cold as I pushed the box away. "No, thank you. You should save it for someone else. After all, we're getting a divorce." My words dropped like a bomb in the silent room. Gary froze, his face a mask of shock. The crowd erupted, a chorus of angry voices accusing me of being ungrateful, of taking his love for granted. I ignored them, excused myself from the party, and took a cab to Gary's house—the marital home where I had spent a single, miserable night. While Gary and I were living in different cities before the wedding, I had gotten a puppy. After we got married, I had, of course, brought him to our new home. In my hasty departure, I hadn't been able to take him with me. Now, I was going back for him. I keyed in the code to the front door. ACCESS DENIED. Frowning, I tried again with my birthday. Then Gary's. All incorrect. As I was about to try a fourth time, the door opened from the inside. I hadn't expected anyone to be home. I certainly hadn't expected that person to be Lily Marsh. 3 When she saw it was me, a triumphant smirk flickered across her lips before she replaced it with a look of feigned surprise. "Oh, Audrey! What are you doing back at this hour?" she chirped. "I'm so sorry, I was already asleep. I hope I didn't keep you waiting long." I looked past her into the house. "What are you doing here?" "Oh, Gary got a little drunk last night, so I brought him home. I just ended up crashing here for the night. I hope you don't mind," she said with a breezy confidence. "And the password?" "Oh my gosh, that's my fault!" Lily smacked her forehead dramatically. "Gary said it wasn't safe for me to be here alone with the old password, so he changed it to my birthday. I honestly didn't think you'd be coming back…" Her face was a picture of apology, but her eyes danced with mockery. I gave a noncommittal nod and pushed past her. I could hear the frantic scratching of my dog, Buddy, on the sofa. "Hey, you didn't take off your shoes!" Lily called after me. I ignored her. The sight that greeted me made my heart clench. My little furball was a mess of anxiety, visibly thinner than when I'd last seen him. He looked up at me with wide, pleading eyes. This wasn't the time to deal with Lily. I scooped Buddy into my arms, ready to leave. But then I heard the shattering of ceramic. A shard from a broken bowl flew past me, nicking my calf and drawing blood. But Lily was far more ruthless. I watched in disbelief as she took another piece and deliberately dragged it across her own forearm, creating a much deeper, more dramatic gash, before dropping the shard at her feet. At that exact moment, the front door opened again. Gary walked in to the sight of Lily, clutching her bleeding arm. "Audrey, what the hell are you doing?!" he roared. He rushed to Lily's side, pressing a hand to her wound to stop the bleeding, then glared at me with pure fury. "Lily is just staying here temporarily! Did you have to hurt her like this?" Lily grabbed his hand. "Gary, don't blame Audrey. She was just upset. It was my fault, I should have moved faster." Her words only fanned the flames of his anger. He picked up the shard from the floor and hurled it at me. "I can't believe you're so petty, so consumed by jealousy that you'd stoop to this!" I dodged, but a piece still grazed my cheek, leaving a small, stinging cut. Fine. If this was the game he wanted to play, I wouldn't bother explaining myself. "Believe whatever you want. I'll see you in court." For a second, Gary’s eyes widened in genuine shock. I continued, my voice steady. "You're not willing to part ways peacefully, so I'm suing for divorce. You can expect a summons from the court." Lily looked indignant. "Audrey, Gary keeps giving you chances, and you just keep pushing him. Have you completely lost your mind?" "Shut up!" Gary snapped, pulling Lily back without even looking at her. He turned his pained gaze on me. "Audrey, do you really have to take it this far?" Hearing the hurt in his voice, Lily looked as if she'd been slapped, frozen in place. I just looked away, stroking my trembling dog to calm him down. Gary's eyes finally fell on Buddy, noticing how thin and frail he looked. A new wave of disbelief washed over his face. "You're really set on this divorce?" "What do you think?" I said, turning and walking toward the door. "Audrey, this is your choice! Don't you dare regret it later!" he shouted after me, his voice raw with rage. I didn't look back.
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