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Jason opened it, his eyes scanning quickly before snapping toward me.
“Divorce?” he shouted. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“This is our invoice for the deep cleaning,” she said evenly. “Payment has already been made. Your wife paid it herself.”
Then Maria raised a second folder.
Medically unable.
Heads turned—from Jason, to me, then back again.
Jason charged toward me, waving the papers.
“You can’t do this!” he yelled. “Not today. Not on my birthday!”
“This was the only way you were ever going to hear me,” I said.
“You’re embarrassing me in front of everyone!” he shouted. “We could’ve talked this through!”
I let out a short, humorless laugh.
I lifted my cast slightly.
I looked around the room.
“So let’s be clear,” I said calmly. “I didn’t ruin your birthday. You did.”
One of his coworkers stared at him like he was seeing him for the first time.
I turned to Linda.
“And you,” I said. “You told me I should still cook with a broken arm. You warned me men ‘look elsewhere’ if women don’t try hard enough. If that’s your idea of marriage, you’re welcome to keep him.”
Her mouth opened. No words came out.
I walked down the hall to the bedroom.
My bag was already packed—I’d done it earlier while Jason was in the shower.
I returned with it slung over my left shoulder.
Jason stared at me. “Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving,” I said. “I’m staying with a friend. My lawyer will handle the rest.”
“You can’t just leave—we have guests!” he sputtered.
“No,” I corrected him. “You have guests. I paid for the food and the spotless house. You’re welcome.”
His father muttered something about “working it out,” and I shook my head.
“You raised a man who treats his wife like staff,” I said. “I’m done.”
I headed for the door.
“Don’t do this,” Jason called after me, his voice cracking. “We can fix this. I’ll help more. I’ll shovel next time, okay? Just… not like this.”
I didn’t turn around.
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