After Hitting the Jackpot

Diana had asked to meet me at a café.

When I arrived after dropping Primily off at preschool, my hair was clinging to my face from the sweltering heat.

She gave me a condescending once-over, then claimed she wanted to clarify things.

"Though I'm under no obligation to do so, I don't want to be labeled as a homewrecker. That's unfair to me. Edwin and I are business partners and friends, nothing more. I understand, though.

"For a middle-aged housewife, seeing a capable woman around her husband must be unsettling. I even heard you had a fight with Mrs. Campbell and ran away from home with your child.

"Ms. Wright, maybe this isn't my place, but Edwin and I are business people. We're not as idle as you seem to think. And as adults, we should recognize when we can no longer keep up with someone else's pace. It's better to step aside gracefully than to become an annoying stumbling block."

Diana's tone was polite but steeped in arrogance, like that of someone used to being in control.

I sipped my water slowly and watched her.

"Ms. Howard, I take it you've lived a pretty comfortable life?"

Her faint smirk answered my question.

The first time I'd heard Diana's name was from Edwin.

He'd talked about the heiress of Howard Group with envy, saying, "Gina, how is it that everything we work for our whole lives is just the starting point for her?"

Back then, I'd tried to console him by telling him that life wasn't just about wealth. Happiness came from cherishing the present and being with the ones you loved.

Looking back now, I realized how foolishly naïve I had been.

I continued, "So, I'm guessing you wouldn't know what it's like to live in a basement where your clothes get moldy, or consider instant noodles a luxury meal, or clean up after a bedridden elderly woman when she soils herself…"

"Are you trying to play the 'we've been through so much together' card?"

Diana cut me off and said, "Because I'm really not interested. You've clearly had too much free time on your hands. No one glorifies hardship anymore."

I shook my head.

"No. What I'm saying is that Edwin started as nothing more than a penniless boy. His success was built on my hard work. Whatever happens between Edwin and me is our business. You have no place in it, and you certainly don't get to dictate my future."

After that, I placed a bill on the table. "That's for my water."

Just then, a startled voice called out, "Gina?"

Edwin bellowed in anger, "What is wrong with you? Isn't it enough that you pester me with your ridiculous accusations? Now you're harassing my clients too? You're acting hysterical!"

Diana gently stopped him.

"You've misunderstood, Edwin. I asked Ms. Wright to meet me. Lately, I noticed you've been stressed about family matters, and I didn't want it to affect your work. I only wanted to clarify things, but she said I had no right to. That's on me. I've overstepped."

Edwin's expression darkened, and then he chuckled wryly.

"This isn't your fault. I shouldn't have let my personal life affect my work. Gina's been sitting at home for years and completely reliant on me. It's made her paranoid. She misunderstood your kindness and owes you an apology."

He turned to me with a scowl. "What are you waiting for? Apologize to Ms. Howard right now!"

I stared at them indifferently as I commented, "Do you two think your pretense of innocence fools anyone? Honestly, it's disgusting."

Edwin's expression twisted with rage, and he roared, "Gina! Apologize to her this instant, or I'll seriously reconsider our marriage!"

He then pressed his fingers to his temple and muttered to Diana, "I'm sorry. Gina's an orphan, so no one ever taught her basic manners…"

Before he could finish, I picked up my glass of water and splashed it right in his face.

Edwin's perfectly groomed hair was drenched, revealing a receding hairline he worked hard to hide.

"Are you mad?" he shouted, his voice cracking.

"You don't have to reconsider anything," I said while setting the glass back on the table. "We're getting a divorce."