2#02

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He wouldn't sign the documents, forcing me to prolong the process. I sought help from a friend who had spare time.

The presence or absence of affection was always clear.

Eventually, I declared, "Chris, as you desire, we're finished... our relationship is over."

I nearly made the mistake of mentioning divorce.

After all, we only had a hasty wedding ceremony.

We never even obtained a marriage certificate.

Chris assumed I was envious of Sharon and didn't even look up. "What's your new strategy? Can't use your son to intimidate me, so now you're using yourself as a bargaining chip?"

Twelve months ago, Aaron was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Since then, he's received numerous critical condition notices.

He desperately phoned, yearning for a moment with Chris.

But Chris never came to see him.

So he believed I was exploiting Aaron to elicit sympathy and control him.

After ten years together, this was his low opinion of me.

I dried my tears. "Believe what you want. I'm going."