Chapter 3

3.

That was the first time we had a massive fight.

Soren swore she kissed him first.

He said he just saw how hard she was crying and couldn't bring himself to push her away.

The fight ended with him writing a letter promising he'd never come home late again.

But I never expected that to be the start of an endless cycle of fights, silent treatments, and making up.

Sometimes it was over a tube of lipstick in the passenger seat.

Other times it was the scent of cheap, unfamiliar perfume on his collar.

He grew more and more impatient, more distant.

And I became more and more hysterical, like a crazy woman.

Now, I was just tired.

Soren had given Josie so much.

Money, love, time.

He might as well give her the title of "Mrs. Caldwell" too.

I forced a smile at our friends, a smile that looked worse than crying.

"We won't be married for much longer."

Soren stared at me in disbelief.

"You're going to divorce me over seventy-five thousand dollars?"

"Clara, there's a limit to this drama! It's a matter of life and death!"

Even now, after he had crossed my boundaries for that woman again and again, Soren still thought our marriage was indestructible.

How absurd.

As we were screaming at each other, his phone rang.

It was the special ringtone he had set just for Josie.

I knew instantly who it was, and my anger flared. I'd spent countless nights staring at the ceiling, listening to that ringtone, knowing it meant I'd be sleeping alone again.

After a few words, he grabbed his coat and started to leave.