ManyWriters

I hurried to the hotel on my beat-up electric scooter, eager to tell my wife that our coffee shop was finally about to land its first big order.
As I pushed open the door to the banquet hall, I froze in shock.
A ragdoll cat was rolling around on the cake I had stayed up all night to make.
My wife walked over, stepping on cake crumbs strewn across the floor. Without even glancing at me, she fastened a platinum collar around the cat's neck, then moved close to adjust that man's tie.
I looked down at my flour-covered work uniform, then at the cheap plastic pendant hanging from my daughter's neck.
So this was the "high-end market" she had been talking about. It was never about our coffee shop.
Ten years of marriage, shattered at a pet party.

The Aftertaste is Not Gone

"Dear, when are you going to divorce that penniless loser? Running a coffee shop and calling it a startup, how pathetic."


"We have Meadow, we can't divorce. Stop making a fuss."


"What are you trying to say then?" Gunner said, displeased.


She didn't answer, only became more passionate.


I watched this scene with a cold smirk. So she wanted to have it both ways.


"Gunner's ragdoll cat needs a playmate."


"Don't you know Orange is terrified of other cats?"


"Asher, my Little Prince is very gentle."


I rushed into the garden and saw Orange in the corner, barely alive.


I tried to save it, but was scratched by the ragdoll cat. It clamped down on my sleeve, refusing to let go. The nanny couldn't control it at all.


She hurried over, and seeing this scene, finally showed some guilt in her eyes.


"Asher, let me take you to the hospital."


I shook off her hand and stumbled to my car to drive to the vet.


But it was too late. Orange had left us forever.The loyal mascot that had accompanied the coffee shop for ten years, watching me make coffee every day from its perch by the counter and keeping customers company as they enjoyed their tea, was gone just like that.


I sat numbly at the hospital entrance, waiting for her to arrive fashionably late.


As soon as she approached, I slapped her across the face.


She stood there stunned, looking down at the now cold Orange.


Gunner rushed over: "How dare you hit her!"


Without hesitation, I slapped him back.


"It's just a stray cat. So what if it died? Who told you to keep such a worthless animal?"


She held back Gunner who was about to speak again: "Enough, you should go now."


Perhaps it was the coldness in her eyes, but Gunner left grudgingly.


"Asher, I'm sorry. Let me take you home..."


I ignored her and numbly took care of Orange's final arrangements. Ten years of companionship ultimately reduced to a small urn of ashes.


Clutching the urn, I dialed my lawyer's number.


"I want a divorce. I have evidence of infidelity."


Back home, Meadow was sound asleep. I gently kissed my daughter's soft cheek, more determined than ever to make her pay the price.


Entering the study, I opened her tablet.The photo album was filled with pictures of Gunner and me, spanning from our high school days right up to the eve of our wedding.


"Meeting Asher gave me new hopes, and then there's Meadow..."


I let out a self-deprecating laugh, but tears flowed uncontrollably.


"So you do remember we have a daughter..."


She didn't come home until late the next night. When I opened the door, she was in the middle of telling Meadow a bedtime story.


Looking at her gentle profile, I was suddenly transported back to the past.


When Meadow was just born, she insisted on doing everything herself, even meticulously comparing different brands of baby formula.


But at some point, she began missing every important moment in our daughter's life, even forgetting the name of Meadow's favorite storybook.


I leaned against the doorframe, watching her lull Meadow to sleep.


Chapter 3