Kick out the ex-husband, love doesn’t come with discounts.

Divorce, Just as Easy as Marriage

As I walked out of the courthouse, I clearly saw Leo’s smug smile. He must be feeling incredibly pleased, thinking I, Ella, must care so much about him that I even deliberately forgot to bring the marriage certificate for the divorce.

What nonsense! Stop flattering yourself. Everyone knows who did the wrong, and who’s been wronged here. The truth is clear to everyone! The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became.

No choice. Without the marriage certificate, I couldn’t get the divorce certificate, so I had no option but to head home first.

When I got home, I saw Uncle Li and Aunt Li from across the hall, carrying their luggage and leaving. When they saw us, Uncle Li put down his bags and said, “Leo, Ella, just in time to see you two, I’m moving out.”

“Moving out? Uncle Li, where are you moving to?” I asked in surprise, feeling a little reluctant. I’m a sentimental person.

“My son-in-law bought a villa in Los Angeles, and he wants us to move there with him,” Uncle Li said with a grin, his smile reaching his ears.

Los Angeles? A house worth over a million dollars, and it’s a villa... A mansion. I was so envious, jealous, and frustrated. When will my dad ever live in a house like that, bought by his son-in-law? I glanced at Leo beside me. Not only was I not living in his house, even our wedding home was bought with both our parents’ money. My dad didn’t get a single benefit from his son-in-law.

“Brother Kent is really something...” I forced out a smile. This was the time to praise Uncle Li’s son-in-law, even though I didn’t want to.

It was clear Uncle Li would miss us. “Let’s keep in touch, and feel free to visit us anytime. By the way, there’s something I’d like to ask you…”

“Uncle Li, just say it. You’ve always looked out for us, and we’re lucky to have such great neighbors and elders,” I said sincerely. It was true, not flattery. When we first moved in and were renovating, Uncle Li even came over to tell us which walls we could knock down and which ones could bear weight.

“So, I’ve listed the house for rent with an agency. Someone should come by soon to check it out,” Uncle Li said, handing Leo a set of keys. “These are the keys. When they come, could you let them in? Also, take a look at the new neighbors. The furniture and appliances are still there. I’ve listed the rent at $2,000 a month, but you can adjust it to $1,500 if needed. The house is just sitting empty anyway; what matters most is finding a good tenant.”

I couldn’t help but think, $2,000, so expensive! People with money buy houses instead of renting, and those who can’t afford to buy a house can’t afford to rent such an expensive one.

Leo took the keys and nodded. “Got it.”

After Uncle Li and Aunt Li left, I looked at the tightly closed security door across the hall, feeling empty inside. Let them go, let everyone go. In the end, you can’t hold onto people who want to leave. Why force it? It’s just like my marriage.

Leo slipped the keys into his pocket, the sound of metal scraping against metal. I wondered if our house keys were inside too.

Ah, our house keys...

We walked in, and I immediately saw the entire living room of our 80-square-meter home. My marriage certificate was quietly resting on the coffee table. That’s right, both marriage certificates had been taken out. But Leo had grabbed the one on top, while I had forgotten to take the one underneath.

I lowered my head, bent down to pick up the certificate, and then turned to Leo. “Let’s go, we need to go again.”

Leo’s expression was pained, which was oddly comforting—at least he still had a little conscience. He casually threw his briefcase on the couch and waved lazily. “I’m tired. Let’s take a nap before we go.”

“Then tell me, when did you start using condoms with someone else?” I snapped, my words sharp. He was the one who made the mistake, he was the one who disappeared, so why shouldn’t I be a little proud?!

Leo helplessly ran his hand through his hair. “Ella, do you really have to do this? After all, we’re still a couple…”

“Heh, a couple... Why didn’t you think of that when you were in bed with someone else? Why didn’t you think of it when you didn’t come home for a week, God knows where you were?”

Leo didn’t argue. He never liked to argue, and I had known that for a long time. But what he didn’t know was that I didn’t want to be the kind of woman who yelled like this. Who wouldn’t want to maintain a dignified image? My heart was bleeding. Ten years... ten years! Ugh, I was so blind.

At that moment, Leo’s phone rang. His eyes flashed, and my nerves tensed up. It must be that woman who accused Leo of cheating. I wanted to snatch the phone and ask her who she was, but I held myself back. For the sake of my last shred of dignity, I held back. We were getting a divorce anyway—why should I care about these things?

Leo didn’t answer the call. He just dismissed it with a press of the button and stood up, decisively saying, “Since you’re in such a hurry, let’s go…”

What kind of woman could change his mind with just one phone call? I thought, my anger rising even more.

It was sweltering hot, especially at noon. May was already this hot—how could anyone survive the scorching summer heat? Leo’s car had only been parked in the neighborhood for half an hour, and the inside felt like a sauna. I got in reluctantly, but there was no other choice; we still had to go through with the divorce.

I grabbed a napkin and gently wiped the sweat from my forehead. If it were before, Leo, who had always been so dutiful by my side, would have handed me my favorite Häagen-Dazs ice cream, smiling crookedly as he’d say, “Baby, eat up, it’ll cool you down.”

But now, I glanced at Leo. He was digging for his car keys, starting the engine without a word. Ella, stop dreaming. The man in front of you is no longer the Leo you once knew.

Okay, I admit it, I’m a sentimental person. The thought that after today, we’d have nothing to do with each other made me want to cry.

I pulled another napkin from the box and wiped my damp eyes. “It’s just so hot, all this sweat!” I tried to cover up my emotions.

Leo didn’t say anything, but he turned on the air conditioning.

From then on, everything went smoothly—surprisingly smoothly. I almost wished there had been a hiccup somewhere. But... we signed the papers, stamped them, and just like that, we were divorced. Just as simple as getting married.

Walking out of the divorce office, I saw a couple leaving the marriage registration office next door, both with big smiles and eyes full of happiness. A wave of sadness hit me. Just about a year ago, Leo and I had walked out of that same office, holding hands, our faces full of happiness.

I thought to myself, hmph, don’t get too smug. Maybe in a year or two, you’ll be back here with your divorce certificate!

“Ella, how about we have one last meal together?” Leo, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. I could hear the lump in his voice. Ten years... even though our marriage only lasted a year, we had spent ten years together. Maybe, between us, the passion had already turned into a kind of family bond.

I shook my head and stubbornly said, “No need, there’s no point…”

At that moment, I didn’t want to see him at all. Every time I looked at him, it reminded me of those wretched condoms.

“Okay, then. Let’s go back together. I still need to pack my things.”

We verbally agreed that he would move out first, while I, with my $2,000 monthly salary, couldn’t afford to live independently in this city. So, he agreed that I could stay in the old house for now. Once I earned a higher salary and rented a place, we would sell the house and split the money.

Then, we’d split the money and... really have no further ties. Sigh, life really is a live broadcast—low ratings and full of tragedy.

“I don’t want to go back. You go ahead. I want to walk alone for a while...” Now that the divorce was final, I suddenly didn’t feel as relieved as I thought I would. I thought getting divorced would be a punishment for Leo, but I didn’t realize it was also a punishment for myself.

I left Leo behind and walked along the road, my heart and eyes bleeding. Leo, the more I love you, the less I can forgive you. How could you be with someone else? How could you betray me? Didn’t you promise that you’d never betray me for life? How could your vows be so cheap?