I Was Said to Be an Embarrassment Chapter 1

I had been a housewife for ten years. Every day, I delivered lunch to my husband, Jackson Holloway, at his workplace.

One day, it stormed heavily when I delivered his lunch. I said I would wait in the lobby and leave once the rain lightened up.

Jackson frowned. “How will it look if you just sit there? It looks bad in front of my colleagues.”

“But it’s raining too heavily.”

“Leave quickly. If people see you looking like such a wretch, I’ll be so embarrassed.”

He pushed me toward the exit.

Right then, his colleague walked past and asked, “Hey, is this your wife?”

Jackson’s expression changed. He coughed dryly and said, “No, this is my cousin. She’s just dropping by.”

After that, he tossed me an umbrella and said quietly, “Leave now, and don’t make trouble for me.”

I was soaked through in the downpour.

After ten years of making and delivering lunch to him, Jackson told his colleagues that I was just his cousin.

That afternoon, I took the two kids and moved into a rented apartment.

That night, Jackson called to shout at me, but I only said, “Since I’m your cousin, it wouldn’t be right for me to stay with you, would it?”

* * *

Jackson Holloway’s voice was urgent and worried on the other end of the line.

“What’s the meaning of this, Cerise? Did you really run off with our children in the middle of the night because of that little thing this afternoon?

“Do you have any idea how hard it is at work? My colleagues and higher-ups were all there. Do you know how embarrassing it was for me that you sat in the lobby in that get-up?”

I stood by the window of my rented apartment and looked at the drizzle outside.

“That little thing?” My voice was calm.

“You think that was just a small thing, Jackson?”

“I only told you to go home. It couldn’t have been raining that hard. You can survive a little rain. Was it so bad that you had to run off with our kids?”

Jackson’s voice got louder and louder.

“Come back immediately! Stop throwing a tantrum. It’s honestly embarrassing.”

I looked down at my ring finger.

After ten years of marriage, I was still wearing the silver ring he had bought me for our wedding.

Back then, he said he would get me a gold one once his finances improved. I had waited ten years for that to happen.

I would not have to wait any longer.

“I’m not going home. Get ready for a divorce, Jackson.”

A stunned silence hung for a beat, then Jackson sputtered out a laugh.

“What nonsense is this? Divorce? Have you gone mad, Cerise?”

“I’m perfectly sane.”

I turned around, put my back to the cool glass, and regarded the cramped apartment.

The two children were squeezed together on the small bed. They slept soundly. The younger one was clutching his teddy bear tightly that he had brought from home.

“You said I was your cousin. Well, it isn’t right for your cousin to live in your house with her children, is it? Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“You’re really doing this because of what I said? Get a grip, Cerise! I was only trying to smooth things over with my colleagues. Are you really going to take something I just said that seriously?”

“Something you just said…” I parroted and burst out in laughter.

“Did you consider my feelings when you said that, Jackson? You know very well why I’ve ended up this way.”

“What do you want, exactly?”

“I told you. I want a divorce.”

“Alright then, you witch!” Jackson’s voice was icy. “I’m warning you, Cerise Snowden. Don’t you try coming back after leaving like this. Don’t come crying back to me after this.”