Chapter 3

3

Sarah looked at me, barely breathing, and rushed over, pulling me into her arms.

"Mark, wake up! Please, wake up!"

It was so warm.

I didn't want to open my eyes.

"Sarah, he's faking it! He's just trying to get your attention."

Jake was screaming. "It's just a little time out! How could he be this bad?"

The next second, the warmth was gone.

Sarah dropped me on the floor, kicking me in the chest. "Mark, stop playing dead! Get up!"

The pain snapped me awake.

Jake snorted. "See? I told you he was faking. You ignore him, and he wakes up."

Sarah frowned.

"Get up. There's a yacht party tonight. The client will be there. You're going to apologize to her in front of everyone. Whatever she wants, you agree to it!"

"We need that project."

Jake whined, "Sarah, I want to go to the party, too! Can I go?"

Sarah pinched his cheek. "Anything you want. Tonight, I'll make sure you're the best-looking guy there."

Jake's eyes lit up. "I want that watch, the one you gave Mark when you got married. I don't know if he'll give it up."

It was the most expensive gift Sarah ever gave me, a watch she designed herself, with twelve diamonds, symbolizing her love.

I always treasured it.

Sarah looked at me, about to tell Jake to pick something else, but I cut her off. "Fine. He can have it."

Sarah stared, surprised.

"Mark, if you don't want to..."

"I want Jake to have the watch."

"It's in the safe. The code is your birthday."

Sarah opened the safe and saw the watch, an old assignment she helped me to finish back in high school, and other worthless things that held good memories for us.

Sarah stared at me, her voice softer. "You still have these?"

These things used to be what kept me going.

But now...

I took them out and threw them in the trash in front of Sarah.

Sarah exploded, grabbing my arm. "What are you doing?!"

"Garbage belongs in the trash."

That was it.

Her eyes went red, and she grabbed my throat.

"Pick them up!"

The air was gone, my face turning purple.

The image of Sarah blurred.

Just when I couldn't breathe anymore, she let me go.

I collapsed on the floor, gasping.

"Mark, do you think you can make me angry like this, so you won't apologize tonight?"

"I'm telling you, even if you have to crawl, you're going to crawl up to that client and apologize on your knees!"

After Sarah and Jake left, the housekeeper, Martha, gave me some water.

"Mr. Mark, Mrs. Sarah is just under a lot of pressure..."

But she trailed off, not knowing what else to say.

I drank the water, finally catching my breath.

I gave her a sad smile. "Martha, thank you for everything. But I've decided to divorce Sarah."

I printed out the divorce papers, left them on the nightstand, and left.