Chapter 2

2 Relieved, Sarah’s face relaxed. ""I just made these. Come eat some!""

""No, thanks.""

""You made them specially for him. I couldn't deprive you of that pleasure.""

She caught my sarcasm. Her face darkened instantly. ""I thought you were being mature. If you mind, just say it! I can tell Liam to leave. Don't be so passive-aggressive!""

""And where were you all these days? Liam was so upset!""

""He couldn't even find you to make him soup! What good are you?!""

""Yeah, no good at all.""

""So I won’t bother you two anymore.""

I turned and went to my room.

Sarah stomped her foot. ""I don't know why you’re so jealous!""

""Liam got drunk closing a deal for me! You have no compassion whatsoever! How can you be so heartless?!""

Liam, out of Sarah’s sight, grinned, then put on a pitiful face. ""Sarah, don't be mad.""

""If Mark minds, I'll leave. I don't mind suffering a little if it means you two don't fight.""

""Why should you leave?!"" Sarah's face flushed. ""He’s the one being petty and jealous! It’s his problem!""

""Don't worry about him. Let’s eat!""

Soon, I could hear their laughter and flirting from the living room.

It was annoying, so I locked my door and put on my headphones.

Sarah knocked several times during the night.

I ignored her and went back to sleep. After a while, she gave up.

The next morning, I saw Sarah asleep in Liam’s bed in the guest room. Her hair was messy, her clothes rumpled, and she was clinging to him.

I scoffed and left.

We were getting divorced anyway. What she did didn't matter to me anymore.

I bought two cartons of milk and some fruit and went to visit Grandma at her nursing home.

Grandma was happy to see me, but her face fell when she realized Sarah wasn't there.

I’d been raised by Grandma. We were all each other had. It hurt to see her disappointed, but there was nothing I could do.

Sarah always promised to visit Grandma with me but never did. She always claimed she was too busy with work.

Now I knew it wasn't about being busy. She just didn't care.

She could drop a multi-million dollar deal to take care of a drunk Liam, but couldn’t keep a simple promise to me.

I realized it was time to end this loveless marriage.

I went to my boss at work and resigned. He looked troubled.

""Does… does Sarah know?""

""Lower-level employees don’t need the CEO’s approval to quit.""

He looked even more uncomfortable. ""Why are you resigning?""

""I want to try something new.""

A headhunter had contacted me last week. The job was overseas, but I couldn’t leave Grandma, so I’d turned it down.

Now that I was quitting, I’d have more time to spend with her.

My boss, although reluctant, accepted my resignation.

He asked me to finish my current project before leaving.

I didn't want to make things difficult for him, so I agreed.

He patted my shoulder and sighed. ""You're a real asset to the company, Mark. I never understood why Sarah demoted you to a junior assistant. Such a waste of talent!""

""That new assistant is useless, always messing things up and needing Sarah to clean up after him.""

""Is it because… because of problems between you two?""

""It's nothing. Maybe she just wanted me at home, taking care of things,"" I lied, not wanting to go into details.

Of course, I knew why Sarah didn't want me in a position of power.

She was afraid I’d be too difficult to control.