After Divorce, No Longer Waiting for Him

Chapter 5

Tom stumbled back, staring at me in disbelief.

"Mr. Carr, my condolences," someone muttered.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

His phone slipped from his hand and hit the ground. He didn't even notice. He moved toward me, trying to hold me.

I flinched away. "Don't touch me. You make me sick."

That night, I called him over and over, begging for help, but he'd blocked me. Mr. Kim's line was busy for hours. And the Carr family? They never truly accepted me as their daughter-in-law because I didn't come from money. They treated me like I was disposable. Same with my daughter, they saw her as weak, frail, unworthy.

I was drowning in fear and hopelessness. If Tom had cared even the slightest bit about his child, he would've known, she had already passed away.

"Amber, I'm sorry. I had no idea things would end like this," he stammered. "The last time I saw her, she was still so full of life... Please believe me. I didn't mean to ignore your calls."

His voice cracked with guilt. My eyes burned as I knelt down, gathering the torn knitted silver sword chrysanthemums.

"Get out," I choked. "I don't want to see either of you."

"I, I'll go," he said quickly. "Just... don't do anything reckless, okay?"

Afraid of pushing me further, Tom left with River.

I clutched the ruined flowers to my chest and broke down, sobbing so hard it felt like something in me cracked open.

After that day, I moved into the house my aunt gave me. She was my dad's half-sister, married to a wealthy man overseas, and unable to have children of her own. She came back to the country recently and wanted me to be her heir. I said no, and she didn't push, but she still transferred a house to me. "A small gift from your aunt," she'd said.

That night, I sat alone, carefully stitching the torn flowers back together, thread by thread. Then the phone rang.

"Amber, when are you coming home?" Tom's voice was soft, almost pleading. "I made dinner. And I found the best cemetery for her, tomorrow, I can take you, "

"That's not necessary, Tom."

"You barely looked at her when she was alive. What's the point of pretending now that she's gone?"

I paused. "If you have time, let's just finish the divorce."

I hung up before he could respond. I didn't block him, I just wanted the divorce paperwork handled without complications.

Since giving birth, my world had revolved entirely around Tom and our daughter. No job, no social life. After my dad passed, my mom spiraled into gambling. And now… even my baby was gone.

I felt like the universe had discarded me.

For half a month, I barely ate. Slept too much. Lived in a haze. Tom called often, but never to talk about the divorce. Just to ask where I was, if I'd eaten. He kept sending expensive gifts to show how "concerned" he was.

"Amber, I had someone knit a giant Hawaiian silver sword flower," he texted. "I left it at her grave. I know I hurt you, but I want to make it right."

I ignored him.

When I loved him, he couldn't be bothered. Now that I've stopped, he's suddenly full of regret. Too bad, I just don't care anymore.

A few days later, I got a package from Tom. Inside was a couture dress worth millions, one of a kind. There was a note attached: My grandfather's birthday banquet is coming up. I want you to come with me.

I sent it right back.

All these years, he never took me to a single public event. But River? She was always on his arm. The media still speculates about them, some say she's his real love, some say they grew up together, others think she is the true Mrs. Carr.

Tom never once clarified it. Never once defended me. I went numb a long time ago.

It's been over twenty days since my daughter passed. I'm still grieving, but I'm not paralyzed anymore.

Just this week, I heard from Aiden Davis, an old mentor from my biochemistry days. He invited me to join a national product development project.

Before I married Tom, I was at the top of my class in biochem. But I gave it all up to be a wife, a stay-at-home mom.

"Amber," Aiden said, "you've got real talent. You've been out of the game for six years, but it's not too late. We're still in the prep stage. Think it over. If you pass this up, it'll be a lot harder to return later."

Aiden's led several major breakthroughs in the field. He's well-respected, driven, and honest. His encouragement meant everything.

For the first time in years, I felt like maybe I had something left in me.

But before I take that step forward, there's something I need to end, for good.