Chapter 1I Filed Divorce When He Saved Her First

During a white-water rafting trip, my daughter and I were thrown into the rapids. Without hesitation, my husband, Craig, saved her first.

At home, I handed him divorce papers.

"Just because I saved her first?" he asked, stunned.

"Yes," I replied coldly.

Our daughter Anna fell to her knees, sobbing. "Mommy, please don’t leave Daddy! It’s my fault!" She banged her head on the floor until she passed out, blood blooming on her forehead.

I kicked her aside, disgusted by the dirt on my pants. Craig, enraged, tore up the papers. "Have you no heart?" he shouted before rushing her to the hospital.

Unmoved, I called my lawyer. "Mr. Davies, are the documents ready? I want a divorce."

* * *

Five days later, Craig called.

His furious roar filled my ear. "Charlotte, Anna has been in the hospital for days, and you haven't even bothered to visit! And you have the nerve to file for divorce? Do you really think I can't live without you?"

I remained silent, offering no response.

After a long pause, he took a deep breath, his tone softening. "Charlotte, I know you're just jealous. You love me so much that you can't stand to see me give attention to anyone else, even our daughter. But we're her parents. When a child is in danger, isn't it our first instinct to protect them? Anna is a wreck right now. She's having a complete mental breakdown. You need to come to the hospital, apologize to her sincerely, and make things right."

I examined my nails, my voice lazy. "If she's having a mental breakdown, she should be in a psychiatric hospital. I'm not a psychiatrist. Do you want me to send you their number?"

He was speechless. After a moment, his voice came again, trembling with rage. "You're a monster. A complete monster. You're not even..."

I'd heard enough. I hung up.

I finished getting ready, my makeup immaculate, and prepared to head out to a new Cajun restaurant I'd been dying to try. Just as I reached the door, my mother called.

Her voice was cold and hard. "You have a good life. Why are you trying to ruin it? Get to the hospital right now, or I swear, we are no longer mother and daughter."

Before I could say a word, she hung up.

Then, a text from my mother-in-law arrived.

"Charlotte, dear, if Craig did something wrong, you tell me, and I'll give him a piece of my mind. But this is a small thing. Is it really worth filing for divorce? Have you forgotten all the sacrifices he's made for you over the years? Anna keeps crying for her mommy. She's terrified you're really going to leave. We're all at the hospital. Please come, and we can talk this through."

My good mood evaporated.

Fine. They all wanted me at the hospital.

How could I possibly disappoint them?