I'm Done with You Chapter 1

It was three in the morning. I sat on the sofa, listening to the sound of a key turning in the lock.

Marcus pushed the door open, a rare smile on his face as he carefully placed a pink hair tie on the entryway table.

When he saw me, his brow furrowed instinctively before smoothing out again.

“Why are you still up? I told you not to wait for me when I’m working late.”

His voice faltered when he saw my lit-up phone screen.

It was a social media post from ten minutes ago. The author was his student, Nina.

“Let’s get a divorce.”

I never thought I would say those words to my husband on my 35th birthday.

He stopped in his tracks, then sank onto the sofa, rubbing his temples in frustration.

“Is this because I introduced her to my friends and I never introduced you?”

“You could say that,” I replied coldly.

A smirk played on his lips. “Fine by me. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Life won’t be easy for you and the baby in your belly once you’re on your own.”

I let out a cold laugh. If I didn’t even want him, what made him think I’d keep his child?

…

As I slid the divorce papers across the table, he chuckled.

“You’re serious about this? Over something so small?”

I nodded. “Yes. Over this one small thing.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow, his expression one of utter indifference. “Nicole, stop the act. You’ve been stuck to me like glue since you were in diapers. You really think you can live without me?”

He leaned back, his voice dripping with condescension. “I get that you’re trying to get my attention, but don’t overdo it. Threatening divorce every day is a bad habit.”

“I’m not kidding, Marcus. I’m serious.”

His face darkened. “Fine. Have it your way. Just don’t come crying back to me later.”

With that, he snatched a pen and signed his name with a flourish.

Before I could say another word, his phone rang with the custom ringtone he’d set exclusively for Nina.

Her sweet, gentle voice came through the speaker. “Professor Kane, our little kitten ran away. I’ve been looking for him everywhere. What if a big dog got him? I’m so scared.”

“It’s okay, Nina. Don’t be afraid. Stay right where you are, and don’t wander off. I’m on my way to help you find him.”

The man who was always so decisive and commanding was now speaking with a gentleness I had never heard. He grabbed his coat and headed for the door.

There was a time when he would at least glance my way, gauging my reaction. But my constant compromises had emboldened him. Now, he felt entitled to leave me for her without a second thought.

I sat on the sofa and watched him go, not saying a word.

Now that I had chosen to let go, I wouldn’t cling to him anymore.

I began to pack. The few things Marcus had ever given me, I left behind. The many things I had given him, I listed on eBay.

Around noon, Marcus returned with Nina and her cat.

Years ago, before we were married, Marcus had forced me to give my own cat away, claiming it was dirty. Now, he was cradling the cat he and Nina had adopted together, unable to put it down.

“Why haven’t you cooked?” he demanded, seeing me eating takeout by myself.

“I’m your ex-wife now. Am I supposed to cook for you and your new girlfriend?”

Marcus’s temper flared, but Nina gently tugged on his sleeve, and he visibly reined it in.

“Nicole, please don’t misunderstand the professor and me,” she said, her voice soft. “It’s my first time in this city for college, and I often don’t know who to turn to for help. He’s just a very kind person.”

She looked at me, her eyes pleading. “I really don’t want to cause any trouble between you two. He cares about you a lot.”

I put down my fork and gave her a cold smile. “You don’t want to cause trouble, so you have your professor use his family privileges to get you a special apartment. You don’t want to cause trouble, so you have him abandon his wife to drive you to and from school every day. You don’t want to cause trouble, so you drank from the same glass with him at the freshman welcome party in front of everyone?”

My voice dripped with sarcasm. “Nina, as Mrs. Kane, I should really thank you for being so very, very thoughtful.”

My words made her burst into tears. “I’m… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Marcus immediately pulled her behind him, shielding her.

“Nicole, stop looking at everyone with those bitter, accusatory eyes,” he spat. “You have a dirty mind, so you see dirt everywhere.”

He turned his back on me and started cooing at the sobbing Nina, not sparing me another glance.

This drama had been on repeat ever since she appeared. I was just so tired of it.

I grabbed my bag and walked out. I had an appointment at the hospital.