My boyfriend, Viktor—non-marriage doctrine—suddenly proposed to me. I thought he had finally come around. Until the day of our wedding, when he casually tossed the marriage certificate into a drawer and said, as if it meant nothing: “Go cancel your lawyer’s license tomorrow.” “I’ve been transferred to a community court. I’ll be the chief judge.” As a lawyer, if your spouse works in the court system due to conflict-of-interest regulations, everything I had built over the years—my cases, my network, my clients, even my chance at promotion—would be wiped out overnight. I stared at him, my voice trembling. “Why? You knew this…” He leaned back on the couch, not even bothering to look at me. “I did.” “Then why did you marry me?” Only then did Viktor look up. He smiled and gently wiped my tears away. “I wasn’t planning to get married in the first place.” “But you refused to step aside. You insisted on competing with Celina for that partner position.” He paused, the smile on his lips deepening. “She couldn’t beat you… so I had to help her.” In that instant, my blood ran cold. He looked at my pale face, his tone still gentle even considerate. “Now that the goal’s been achieved, if you want a divorce, go ahead.” --- I stood there, stunned. The wedding dress on my body, once so light, suddenly felt suffocating. Viktor stubbed out his cigarette. “I actually planned to keep this from you for the rest of your life.” “But the day you had gastric bleeding… I was shopping with Celina.” His voice was light, as if he were talking about something utterly trivial. “When I went to the hospital later and saw how hard you were working, I suddenly felt sorry for Celina.” I stared at him in disbelief, wondering if I had heard wrong. “I was dying… and you felt sorry for her?” He nodded. “I felt sorry for her having to work so hard. She’s not as capable as you, and she can’t endure as much.” “You could still crawl out of bed and review case files with a bleeding stomach. If she were in your position, it would be even harder for her.” “I can’t bear to see her suffer like that.” My nails dug deep into my palms. I couldn’t understand. We had been together for seven years. He knew perfectly well that since childhood, Celina had treated me like a punching bag. She stole my toys. Tore up my homework. She even pushed me down the stairs on purpose and broke three of my ribs. Back then, when he found out, he clenched his fists and warned her: “If you touch her again, I won’t let you off.” So that was what he meant by “not letting her off.” Not to stand up for me— but to wait until today, and personally hand over everything I had spent half my life building… to her. I looked at him with red eyes, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “So your sudden proposal… wasn’t because you wanted to marry me.” “It was because once you transferred to the community court, as long as I became your wife, I’d have to withdraw from California cases and automatically lose my eligibility for partnership.” “You planned this from the very beginning, didn’t you?” Viktor didn’t deny it. He simply reached out and adjusted my slightly messy veil, his movements as gentle as all the times he used to comfort me. “Celina couldn’t beat you.” “So I had to give her a hand.” My heart felt like it was being crushed in a giant grip. Just as I was about to suffocate— his phone rang. It was Celina. He didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at me calmly. “Have you made your choice? You know your sister’s temper. If she starts making a scene later, I won’t be able to calm her down.” I suddenly raised my hand and slapped him, screaming in breakdown. He didn’t dodge. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. “Viktor, get the hell out!” Facing my uncontrollable tears, Viktor clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Fine. See you at the civil affairs office tomorrow.” “Anyway, you can’t practice law in California anymore. I’ll compensate you. I won’t let this be for nothing.” The moment the door slammed shut, I collapsed to the ground, unable to stand any longer. ---
The sound of the door slamming made my ears ring. I looked down at the wedding dress I was wearing and suddenly found it absurd. Just a second ago, I had been wearing it, imagining a future with Viktor. The next second, it became evidence of his calculation against me. I yanked off my veil and tore the dress apart. Lace, beads, white fabric scattered all over the floor— just like the seven years of sincerity I had poured into this relationship, now crushed to pieces. After who knows how long, I finally picked up my phone with trembling hands and sent a message to someone I hadn’t contacted in years. [Dad, I agree.] He replied almost instantly. [Didn’t you say you couldn’t let go of Viktor? What about your child?] I stared at those words, my eyes stinging, my fingers shaking so badly I could barely type. [I’ll be a good mother, without father.] That tiny life, discovered just two weeks ago— was supposed to be my surprise for Viktor after the wedding. But now, there was no need anymore. The moment I walked in, I saw Viktor sitting on the couch. When he saw me, he looked completely unsurprised. “Done making a scene? I knew you wouldn’t be willing to divorce.” “I’ll give you 100,000 a month from now on.” I didn’t respond. I simply took out the divorce agreement I had prepared in advance and placed it gently on the coffee table. “Sign it.” Viktor paused. He lowered his gaze to the document, his expression darkening visibly. “What do you mean?” “Exactly what it says.” My voice was calm. “Divorce.” He stared at me, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. “Not enough money?” “Fine. I’ll add another 100,000.” “200,000 a month. That should be enough, right?” He leaned back into the couch, his tone arrogant like he was granting charity. “You wouldn’t even earn this much in a year working yourself to death at the firm.” Listening to him, I suddenly wanted to laugh. So in his eyes, the reason I asked for a divorce wasn’t because seven years of love had been manipulated. Not because my future had been destroyed. Not because he had trampled me into the dirt for Celina but simply because the price wasn’t right. I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and looked at him calmly. “No need.” After saying that, I walked past him toward the bedroom. Behind me, his voice suddenly rose with anger he couldn’t suppress: “Leona, don’t be ungrateful!” “You’ve lost your job. If you leave me, are you planning to become homeless in California?!” “Who else would want a woman like you with nothing?” My steps paused slightly, my fists tightening. Seeing my silence, his tone grew colder, as if he was certain I couldn’t leave him. “If you walk out that door today, even if you beg me on your knees in the future, I won’t remarry you.” With my back to him, tears still fell despite myself. Beg him? Over the years, I had begged him countless times. Begged him to spend my birthday with me. Begged him to meet my parents. Begged him not to always take Celina’s side. Begged him not to leave me to carry everything alone. But from now on I would never beg again. --- The next morning, when I woke up, Viktor was already gone. The divorce agreement on the coffee table— had been torn to pieces. Just like the wedding dress that night. Completely shattered. I stood there for a long time, until my phone suddenly vibrated. It was Celina. [Leona, my partner inauguration ceremony is tomorrow. You must come.] Right after that, another photo popped up. In the picture, Viktor stood behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder, his expression gentle. [After all, if you don’t come, who am I supposed to show off to?]
I stared at those words for a few seconds—then suddenly laughed. So for some people, winning once isn’t enough. They have to grind others into the dirt before they feel satisfied. Viktor was no longer worth even a fraction of my emotion. But before leaving this city, I still needed to complete my resignation properly. Under the crystal chandelier, my colleagues gathered around Celina, their laughter rising louder and louder. “Celina is really something—capable and strategic. Not like some people who chase after a man and rush into marriage, only to end up going home as a housewife.” “Exactly. What’s the point of a glamorous wedding? Lost the job, lost the future—total disaster. It’s honestly hilarious.” When Celina noticed me, the triumph in her eyes was almost impossible to hide. “I knew you’d come.” “I’ve always been a little jealous of you, actually. At least you can openly be Viktor’s wife.” Her gaze slid to the resignation letter in my hand, the curve of her lips deepening. “Unlike me—other than my career and his true feelings, I have nothing.” When I didn’t respond, she leaned closer and lowered her voice. “But you don’t know this yet, do you? The first time we were together… was when you were hospitalized.” I turned my head sharply toward her. Her smile widened. “In the hospital restroom. You were in agony from gastric bleeding, and he was comforting me while telling me to keep my voice down.” “Later, you even asked him through the door if he wasn’t feeling well.” “Don’t you think that’s… kind of pathetic?” Watching my face turn pale, Celina’s smile became even more unrestrained. “You… will always only deserve to pick up what others—” “Ah!” Before I even realized it, the glass of red wine in my hand had already been splashed straight at her face. “Leona! Are you insane?!” Almost at the same moment, a familiar figure rushed over. “Celina kindly invited you to this event, and this is how you treat her?” Celina collapsed into Viktor’s arms, her voice trembling softly as she cried. “It’s okay. She’s upset, and that’s understandable. After all, I took her partner position. I should bear it.” Viktor gently patted her back. “It’s not your fault. She just isn’t capable enough.” When he looked up at me, there was nothing left in his eyes but piercing coldness. “Leona, have you had enough?” “A loss is a loss. You can’t even accept that?” “If you’re not good enough, who else is to blame?” So this is what it feels like—when the pain goes beyond a limit, you truly stop crying. I took out a document from my bag and looked at him calmly. “Viktor, let’s get divorced.” He froze for a moment, then let out a mocking laugh. “What now? Trying to threaten me with divorce again?” “Everyone knows today is your last day. You’ve lost your job—what choice do you have besides going home and being Mrs. Frate?” ---
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