2

I took a deep breath and handed the divorce agreement to Rachel. She was concentrating on replying emails on her computer and seemed a little impatient. She threw the document I handed over aside.

"Eric, can't you see I'm working?" she said with a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone.

"How many times have I told you not to disturb me when I'm working?" I didn't back down and interrupted her directly, "This is the divorce agreement. Take a look and sign it if you have no problem."

Rachel was stunned for a moment, then sneered: "Eric, you have improved a lot, and you have learned to retreat in order to advance? What, I provide you with food and drink is not enough, now I have to coax you? Do you want to eat for free?"

I looked at her calmly and said slowly: "Have you lost your memory? When I graduated, I had a better choice. It was you who said you needed my company, so I joined the company I didn't like with you. You are doing better and better in the field you like, and you work overtime every day until you have gastric bleeding, so I quit my job to take care of you. How much does a live-in nanny in Shanghai cost per month? Is that money enough to take care of my food and drink? Don't make yourself sound so great. It's me, Eric , who is taking care of you, not you who provide me with food and drink!"

Rachel looked at me with wide eyes. She obviously didn't expect me to say such a thing. She was so angry that she waved her hand and swept the divorce agreement that she didn't even look at to the ground, and yelled at me: "What are you crazy about? You got the advantage and you're still acting cute! Do you think I'm old and not as beautiful as before, so you want a divorce?"

"The chocolate in your pocket is half eaten," I pointed out calmly.

"What?" Rachel looked impatient, but suddenly she seemed to remember something and felt guilty, "Just because I ate chocolate?"

I looked at her and nodded seriously: "Yes."

I paused, then said, "It's up to you whether you agree or not. If you don't agree, I will file a lawsuit. I'm a househusband and I have plenty of time."

Rachel stared at me hatefully, sneered, picked up the divorce agreement that was scattered all over the floor, signed it and threw it to me. "Get out!" She pointed at the door of the study and said.

I didn't even look at her and turned away.

"Eric, stop begging me like a dog. It's no use regretting once you walk out of this door." Rachel said viciously behind me.

My face flushed, my chest was stuffy and I couldn't breathe, and my heart ached. I had mentioned divorce before when I was desperate, but I couldn't bear to leave our family and the person I had loved for so many years. She always knew where my pain was. Although she always forgot my birthday, she knew how to hurt me the most.

I put on my coat and said, "Let's go. We just have time. Let's go to the Civil Affairs Bureau now."

Rachel stopped humiliating me. She stood up and yelled, " Eric , are you serious?" She pointed at me angrily and said, "I bought the house you live in and the car you drive. You have such a good life because of me! Without me, do you think you can live in a house like this and live a life like this in Shanghai?"

I didn't even glance at her, I opened the door and made a gesture of invitation: "Stop talking nonsense, the Civil Affairs Bureau will be closed if you are any later, please hurry up."

Rachel sneered: "Okay, okay, Eric, don't regret it."

Standing at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau, I sighed. I didn't expect there would be a one-month cooling-off period. Rachel snorted coldly and drove away, leaving me here alone. But I'm used to it.

I took the subway home to pack my things. She looked at me with a gloomy face. Over the years, almost all the things added to the house were hers: clothes, bags, shoes, perfumes, makeup, sunglasses, jewelry, etc. It was not until the day I left that I realized that I only needed to pack a few clothes, a large suitcase and a travel bag would be enough.

I couldn't find a suitable house for a while, so I went to a hotel. After ordering a fast food to fill my stomach, I lay down on the bed to rest. Suddenly I realized that the days away from Rachel were also good. I thought I would toss and turn, be sad, feel heartbroken, and die, but it didn't happen. Instead, I felt a sense of relief, as if the shackles on my body were taken off, and even breathing became much easier.

It seems that after so many years of accumulated disappointment, I no longer love her as much as I thought. It's just that loving her has become a habit for me, and I didn't realize that my love has cooled along with my heart.