She Chose Him, I Asked for Divorce

Chapter 3

Audrey ultimately terminated the pregnancy. Silas couldn't really bear to leave Audrey alone in the hospital anyway. He only felt sorrow for the baby that never even got the chance to enter this world.

But at the same time, he was also relieved that an innocent child wouldn't have to come into this world and suffer.

He had made up his mind to divorce Audrey, and even from his perspective, terminating the pregnancy was the right call.

So right there in the hospital, he brought up divorce with her again.

This time, his voice was perfectly calm. No trembling, no overwhelming emotion, he was just stating a decision he had already made.

Audrey's face paled slightly. "Silas, let's talk about this when we get home. You need to rest right now..."

"No. We'll talk about it right here." Silas turned to look at her. "I know how stuck you are. Your ex-husband is sick. Your daughter is still young. You have responsibilities to them. You feel guilty. I get all of that."

He paused, enunciating every word.

"But getting it doesn't mean I can live with it. Audrey, I can't live with always being last on your list. I can't live with being the one who's supposed to step back every time something happens. I can't live with my kid, before he or she's even born, having to make way for other people's feelings.

"I tried. I tried for three years. I hung in there for three years. I told myself you were worth it. I told myself if I just waited a little longer, things would get better."

He shook his head. "But I can't wait anymore. Because in your heart, that order is never going to change. Ethan's illness will always be more important than me. Mia's feelings will always be more important than mine. Your responsibilities and your guilt will always be more important than our marriage."

Audrey's lips moved, but nothing came out.

She looked at him. Her eyes held shock, pain, and something else, something he couldn't read.

"That's not... that's not true." Her voice came out thick and dry. "I never thought you weren't important. Silas, you are important. You're my husband..."

"A husband shouldn't have to be like this," Silas's voice was soft. "A husband shouldn't be someone who can be sacrificed anytime. He shouldn't be the one who's always expected to understand and give way every time something goes wrong."

Audrey slowly pushed herself up from her chair. The ache in her lower abdomen made her wince, but she stood firm.

A shrill ringtone cut through the quiet of the recovery room. It sounded jarringly out of place.

Audrey instinctively pulled out her phone. "Mia's Head Teacher" flashed on the screen.

Her fingers stiffened. She looked at Silas.

Silas looked at the phone too. Then the corner of his mouth twitched into a faint smile.

There was no mockery in it. Just the bone-deep exhaustion of someone who already knew exactly how this would go.

"Answer it," he said.

Audrey didn't move. The phone kept ringing. Once. Twice.

The woman in the next bed shot them an impatient look.

Audrey clenched her jaw, hit answer, and lowered her voice. "Ms. Miller, I'm at the hospital right now..."

"Ms. Quinn! I'm so sorry to bother you, but Mia just ran out of school!" The voice on the other end was urgent, panicked.

"The school security guard saw her run across the main road. We're searching for her right now. Can you come right away? She's so upset right now. We're scared something might happen to her..."

Audrey stood up sharply.

She looked at Silas.

"Silas, I..." Her throat tightened.

"Go." Silas didn't look up. His voice was soft. "She needs you."

Audrey stood frozen, like her feet were nailed to the floor.

She thought of Mia's swollen, tear-streaked eyes. Of the little girl huddling in the corner last night, whispering, "Mommy, don't give me up." Of Ethan's frantic madness when he had an episode...

Then she thought of the way Silas had looked at her in the bank three years ago.

Back then, he had waited for her to save him. Now he was looking at her again.

"Ms. Quinn? Ms. Quinn, can you hear me? We need you here right now."

Audrey closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. When she opened them again, there was nothing in her gaze but deep, dark seriousness.

"I'll be right there," she said into the phone and hung up.

She reached out to touch Silas's shoulder, but pulled her hand back halfway.

"I'll come back as soon as this is handled."

The words came out fast. Rough. Dry. "We'll talk tonight. I promise we'll figure everything out this time. Just wait for me, okay?"

Silas said nothing.

Audrey stood there for a few more seconds. She gave him one last look, then turned and walked quickly out of the recovery room.

Her hurried footsteps faded down the corridor.

Silas leaned back against the cold wall and closed his eyes.

And strangely enough, his chest felt lighter now.

Like a string that had been pulled too tight for too long had finally snapped. It hurt. But at least he didn't have to stay stretched anymore.