Chapter 3

3.

Jack's phone rang again. This time he didn't hang up. He looked at the caller ID, and his expression soured even more. He took the phone out to the balcony, sliding the glass door shut behind him. I could read his lips. He was mouthing the word "Mom."

I had no interest in hearing what he and his mother were plotting. They were probably just trying to figure out a way to manage me.

I stood up and walked back to the closet. I righted the suitcase he had tossed aside, checking to make sure the latches weren't broken.

I took out my own phone. Dozens of missed calls lit up the screen. My mom's was at the top. I called her back. She picked up almost instantly.

"Ellie! What on earth is going on? Tell me the truth, is what they're saying online true?" My mom's voice was a frantic mix of anger and anxiety.

"It's true," I said.

"You... how could you do something so huge without talking to us first! Jack may be wrong, but he's still your husband, you two..."

"Mom," I cut her off. "I'm divorcing him."

The other end of the line went silent. A few seconds later, I heard her sigh. "What do you mean, divorce? Ellie, are you just angry? Oh my God, Ellie! Are you okay? But... to air all this out online? He'll destroy you! His lawyers will paint you as some crazy, vengeful witch, you'll be torn apart by the media! This is not good for your image!"

Her logic was no longer about "keeping the family together," but about a more practical concern.

"My reputation is already destroyed, Mom. He destroyed it."

"But Ellie..."

"If you still consider me your daughter, then stay out of it." My tone was hard. "And don't call him. Don't plead for him. Otherwise, we'll need to take a break from each other for a while."

I hung up before she could reply. I knew she'd be hurt, but I had no choice. I knew her too well. She was soft-hearted, valuing so-called "stability" and "decency." One sob story from Jack and she'd immediately switch sides. I couldn't give her that chance.

The balcony door slid open. Jack came back inside, a newfound confidence on his face.

"Eleanor, my mom said she doesn't approve of us getting a divorce," he announced. "She said you need to calm down and not be so impulsive."

"Is that so?" I looked at him. "And what did you tell her?"

"I... I just said we had a fight, a little misunderstanding." He avoided my gaze.

"Tell her the misunderstanding can't be cleared up." I picked up my purse. "I'll have my lawyer, Arthur, send you the divorce agreement soon. If you still want the severance package tied to your 10% of shares, sign it quickly. Otherwise, you won't get a single penny."

I grabbed my suitcase, ready to leave. He blocked the doorway.

"Eleanor, you can't go! If you leave, what about the company? What will people think?"

"That's your problem, not mine." I tried to step around him. "Don't make me call security."

He stared at me, his eyes filled with a strange, vicious light. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Watch me." I took out my phone, ready to dial the front desk of our luxury apartment building.

He finally moved. His glare looked like it could eat me alive.

I walked out of that home, the penthouse apartment in Nob Hill I once thought I would live in forever, without a single look back.

The elevator doors closed, and I saw my reflection in the mirrored surface. Calm, resolute, almost cold. Only I knew that my hands were shaking, that my heart was bleeding. But I couldn't turn back. Hell was behind me. The only way was forward.

In the lobby, a few neighbors saw me with my suitcase and gave me strange looks. They had probably seen the news on the tech sites. I didn't care.

I stepped out of the building and into the sunlight. I called an Uber Black to take me to a place I had prepared long ago. A serviced apartment in the Mission District. I had bought it with my own private funds. Jack never knew. There were a lot of things he didn't know about me.

In the car, I called my lawyer, Arthur.

"Arthur, it's me, Eleanor."

"Eleanor," Arthur's voice was calm and steady. "I saw the news. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said. "Prepare to initiate the divorce proceedings. We'll go with the worst-case scenario plan we discussed."

"Understood," Arthur said. "I've already prepared the chain of evidence based on the prenuptial agreement and the infidelity clause. As for his suspected transfer of marital assets and using the company to benefit his family, we can submit that at any time."

"Good," I said. "Also, immediately file for a temporary restraining order with the court to freeze our main joint accounts and his personal business accounts."

"No problem. I'll get it done right away."

"Thank you, Arthur."

"You're welcome. This is my job."

After hanging up, I watched the city streets fly by outside my window.

Jack, did you really think I was still the same Eleanor who believed everything you said? Did you think that after all these years as a housewife, I had become clueless? You were wrong. I was just waiting. Waiting for you to show your entire hand.

Now, the game begins.