After ten years together, this was the first time my wife ignored my egg allergies and bought a custard pie. I couldn’t sleep all night because of it.
The next day, when I went to my father-in-law’s house to deliver Thanksgiving gifts, I announced a divorce in front of everyone.
Everyone was stunned.
My wife then threw a plate of food directly in my face and shouted angrily, “Just because I bought the wrong pie, you’re asking for a divorce? Don’t you think that’s ridiculous?”
Ignoring the vegetable soup splattered across my face, I replied coldly, “Haven’t you always said in your dreams that a man who eats custard pie has taste?”
“Now I’m granting your wish!”
——
“Noah Griffin!”
“Do you still have a conscience?”
“We’ve been together for ten years and you’re divorcing me just because those custard pies didn’t suit your taste?”
Cindy’s voice cracked with fury, her eyes already red and brimming with tears.
“What’s wrong? Isn’t once enough?”
I gave a cold laugh, flinging the prepared divorce papers at her. “Sign it. We’re going to the city hall today.”
Cindy, who had been seething with rage, suddenly fell silent. A flicker of panic and shock crossed her eyes. She hadn’t expected me to be so decisive.
My in-laws were utterly stunned, never imagining this day would come.
After all, Cindy and I had won the Model Couple Award from the local community. All of our friends and family knew that our love had been as strong as ever for the past 10 years.
“Noah.”
“It’s just a small matter, isn’t it? You’re going too far.”
Cindy’s adopted brother, Joshua, couldn’t stand it any longer. He stood up and said, “When you offended some gangsters and your shop was smashed back then, it was Cindy who stepped in to help you deal with it. Otherwise, you’d be begging for food somewhere right now.”
He continued, “Four years ago, you had a high fever and seizures in the middle of the night. Cindy drove you to the hospital while heavily pregnant. She ended up falling in an accident, losing the baby and becoming infertile for life. Every single one of these things is a debt you owe her!”
Each sentence was a sharp accusation and my in-laws nodded in agreement.
“Noah, we’ve always treated you like our own son. Cindy has been dedicated and hardworking for you. Don’t forget where you came from!”
“If there are problems, let’s sit down and talk them out properly. We promise we won’t be biased, just don’t keep bringing up divorce.”
Although their eyes were filled with displeasure, they still suppressed their anger and tried to mediate patiently.
Cindy quickly rushed to my side, wiping the stains from my face while softly apologizing. “I’m sorry, Honey. I acted impulsively just now. If something’s wrong, we can talk it through.”
“From now on, I promise never to buy custard pie again. If there’s anything else bothering you, just tell me. I’ll fix it.” She compromised as much as she could, trying to save the relationship.
My mother-in-law helped me pull out a chair, assuming I’d finally take the hint.
But I shoved Cindy aside, frowning. “Nothing to discuss. I just don’t love you anymore. Seeing you makes me sick! It’s like looking at a filthy rat; it makes me want to vomit.”
Dead silence. The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.
No one expected me to go that far.
“Noah.”
This time, Joshua erupted in fury, pouncing on me like a leopard and pinning me to the floor.
“Cindy has been so good to you! How could you call her a filthy rat?”
“Without Cindy’s unwavering support, your entire family would still be eating bran in some remote mountain village! Now that you’re living comfortably, you’re starting to despise her, huh? You worthless scumbag!”
Seeing him yell so loudly, I laughed instead. “I heard you love custard pie the most. Those boxes of pies were bought just for you, right?”
“What nonsense! I’ll beat you to death!” Joshua barked.
Joshua swung his fist and started to fight me. Even so, I quickly turned the tables.
But suddenly, a sharp pain struck the back of my head. When I turned around, I saw Cindy clutching a large bowl in her hands.
She hurriedly shoved me aside, helped Joshua up and asked with concern, “Joshua, are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
As soon as Joshua shook his head, Cindy breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she turned to blame me, “Did you take the wrong medicine today? Being unreasonable with me is fine, but how could you hit Joshua?”
I reached up to the back of my head, then countered, “Was I the one who started it?”
My fingers were now stained with warm, sticky blood.
Cindy’s face paled instantly and she hurriedly explained, “Honey, it was an emergency and I didn’t think too much. I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”
“Besides, Joshua is my adopted brother. He was just trying to help me out, so he acted aggressively. Don’t take it to heart.” As she finished speaking, she tried to grab my hand.
“Get out!” I spat out coldly.
Cindy froze in place, her beautiful eyes reddening once more.
“I’m so sorry, Cindy, this is all my fault. I tried to help, but I only made things worse.”
Joshua then looked at me. “Noah, it was all my mistake. Please don’t be angry with Cindy. If you need to hit me or yell at me, just aim it all at me.”
His selfless attitude and concern for the greater good made my in-laws admire him.
It also distressed Cindy, who quickly spoke to her in comfort, “You were helping me. How can I blame you?”
I, however, still refused to back down. Instead, I retorted, “Hit you? I’d rather not dirty my hands! Yell at you? I’d rather not waste my spit!”
My father-in-law’s face immediately darkened and the fingers gripping his wine glass turned a pale blue. He was clearly suppressing his anger.
Cindy couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. She looked at me and said aggrievedly, “Honey, we’ve been together for ten years, barely ever arguing and our life has always been so sweet.”
“Just because of the custard pie, today you’ve actually gotten to this point. Do you really want me to kneel and beg you before you’ll let it go?”
Her tear-stained face would make anyone feel sorry for her.
Yet, my attitude remained cold. “Even if you kneel and crack your head open, I still want a divorce.”
Bang!
Charlie finally lost his temper. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up, roaring, “Noah! Do you really think our family needs you as a son-in-law? Apologize now and I’ll let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, get out!”
Lucy chimed in, “If word of this gets out, you’ll be the laughingstock wherever you go. Our whole family will be disgraced.”
With that, the conversation reached its climax.
Cindy assumed I’d finally back down, but I gritted my teeth and insisted, “Sign the divorce papers! Cindy Swanson, you will leave with nothing! And compensates me 3 million dollars for emotional damages!”
Charlie’s face quickly turned ashen. He grabbed a wine glass and hurled it at me, screaming, “Get out! Get the hell out! I don’t have a son-in-law like you!”
Lucy even swung a mop and kicked me out. Finally, she threw one last line at me. “You jerk! In seven days, we’ll expose you on our show. Let’s see how you like losing everything!”
As a former TV station director and a retired chief editor of a major media outlet, they certainly had the power to do it.
Outside, the air was gloomy and a light rain began to fall, perfectly mirroring my mood.
Then my phone buzzed with messages from my parents.
[Have you lost your mind? Why ruin a good life for nonsense?]
[Apologize to Cindy’s family immediately, or don’t come back! We don’t have a son like you!]
Seeing how angry they were, I could only give a bitter smile.
Instead of apologizing, I turned and walked into the rain, heading toward the hospital.
The doctor was bandaging my wounds when I finally received the call from my childhood friend, Sharon Salazar. “I visited the shop where Cindy bought the custard pie and it really is quite interesting.”
My spirits lifted immediately, so I responded, “The court hearing is in seven days. Thanks for all the hard work. I’ll triple your fee.”
“Hmph, is this detective short on money? After I help you with this, all I need is for you to fulfill one wish of mine,” Sharon said with a smile.
“Okay.” I agreed right away, since I fully trust Sharon’s professional skills as a well-known private detective.
With seven days ahead, that would be enough time for me to firmly establish myself on the show.
News of my decision to divorce Cindy soon spread among our family and friends and they all began to condemn me.
[You scumbag! My cousin didn’t even look down on you for being a country bumpkin, but you’re the one acting like a jerk now. Seriously, you’re sick!]
[You’re divorcing over a box of custard pie? Have you lost your mind? Or did someone slam your head into a door? How can you betray the Swansons’ kindness all these years?]
[Don’t let me catch you, or I’ll punch you in the face!]
[Scum! Bastard! Shameless! Just die already!]
Each word was more ruthless than the last and I just let them bombard me with those insults.
Ignoring it all, I spent the night in the cramped back room of my restaurant, then got up the next morning to work as usual.
The looks my employees gave me when they entered the restaurant were clearly laced with a hint of disdain. I simply acted as if I hadn’t noticed a thing.
But not long after, Cindy arrived with Joshua.
“Honey, how’s the wound on your head? Does it still hurt? Joshua and I came to apologize. We even made your favorite beef soup.”
She handed me a thermos with concern, then coquettishly added, “Honey, please don’t be angry anymore, okay?”
Smack! I raised my hand and smacked the thermos away.
The soup was now splashed everywhere.
Seeing this, Cindy’s face was filled with shock and she immediately burst into tears of grief.
Behind her, Joshua glared angrily and tried to argue with me, but she stopped him.
Several employees began to murmur. “I really don’t know what the boss is thinking. Just because the boss’s wife bought egg yolk custard tarts, he’s being so aggressive, threatening to divorce her.”
“Yeah, the boss’s wife keeps compromising and trying to please him, but it’s useless. Maybe the boss already has someone else and she’s making a scene on purpose.”
“By the way, Joshua is a really good brother. Yesterday, he stood up for the boss’s wife and even got into a fight with the boss.”
Hearing this, the customers’ gazes toward me gradually turned to disgust.
They said they might know me, but not with my heart. They even said that I disguised myself too well, but I was actually a real jerk.
I remained cold and kept urging Cindy to leave.
But Joshua suddenly dropped to his knees before me with a thud. “Noah. Please, don’t blame Cindy. I got into a fight with you yesterday because I was impulsive. If you want to punish me today, just take it out on me!”
Everyone who witnessed Joshua’s action gave him a thumbs-up. They thought he was kind-hearted and highly responsible. At the same time, they saw me as lacking integrity and being far too petty.
Cindy clenched her fists. She hoped I would let it end here and not cause any more trouble.
Yet, with a look of utter disgust on my face, I turned away, fetched a basin of water and directly threw it all over Joshua.
Everyone was stunned.
Cindy’s beautiful eyes widened in an instant and she flared up in anger. “Noah! Have you lost your mind? Joshua is kneeling before you and this is how you treat him?”
“He deserves it.” I smiled coldly, without a trace of regret on my face.
This made Cindy tremble with rage; she staggered back several steps, nearly collapsing to the ground.
Joshua wiped his face and was just about to speak when his phone rang.
After taking the call, his eyes immediately welled up with tears. He turned to Cindy and said, “Cindy, someone reported me and my civil service exam qualification has been revoked.”
What?
Cindy was utterly shocked. She immediately looked at me, completely furious. “I never knew you could be so despicable! How could you secretly report him? Do you have any idea how much effort he put into preparing for that exam?”
“It has nothing to do with me,” I chuckled softly. “But honestly, it’s a good thing someone like him got reported.”
“Still denying it, huh?” Cindy’s voice rose again. “Noah! I’ve had enough! I was wrong about you! Don’t you want a divorce? Okay, I’ll divorce you!”
“Let’s settle this on live television! I’ll make sure you walk away with nothing, humiliated and ruined, unable to survive in this city!” She spat out her threats, then dragged Joshua away without looking back.
The customers in the restaurant also stood up. “I’m afraid I’ll get diarrhea if I eat noodles made by someone like you.”
“Everyone, leave! Don’t let this jerk make money,” another added.
They left one by one, some even spitting at my feet as they passed by. The way they looked at me was as if I were a disgusting cockroach.
Seeing this, a few employees also left. The restaurant, which had been so lively, suddenly became desolate and quiet.
Over the next few days, not a single customer came in. Instead, someone actually poured feces and urine at my door.
I became infamous overnight. Even before the show began, my name was already trending in local news headlines. This angered my parents so much that they threatened to cut ties with me.
To make matters worse, my in-laws used their connections to launch a TV program specifically targeting me, turning the whole incident into a national sensation.
Numerous reporters came knocking for interviews beforehand, but I only told them I’d appear on the show as scheduled. Beyond that, I refused to say another word.
On the day of the show, the entire studio was packed and millions of people waited in front of the live stream to see me make a fool of myself.
My parents didn’t come, but they gave me an ultimatum. They said they couldn’t bear the shame and demanded I apologize before the show started, or they’d truly cut me off.
“Noah. Seven days have passed. Have you come to your senses? Apologize to me and Joshua now and I’ll pretend nothing happened.”
Cindy looked at me, her brow tightly furrowed.
As our eyes met again, I remained completely indifferent.
“Noah,” Joshua chimed in. “This is your last chance. You’d better take it.”
My in-laws stayed silent, clearly giving their silent approval.
I stayed unimpressed and simply sat across from Cindy.
My action made the entire Swansons glare at me with icy displeasure.
Everyone present praised Cindy’s family for their kindness and righteousness, saying that she had a difficult life as a woman, having to deal with a psychopathic husband like me.
Then, the host stepped onto the stage.
My father-in-law promoted her, so she naturally favored Cindy. She said to me with a venomous tone, “Look at how ungrateful you are. Aside from that small error of buying the wrong flavor of pie, can you provide any more convincing evidence?”
“Of course, you can’t!”
“After all, everyone witnessed Cindy’s unwavering love for you over the past decade!”
“So, you are nothing but a total jerk.”
Clearly, the theme of this show was to criticize me in every possible way.
Everyone looked at me with mockery, especially Joshua, whose lips subtly curved into a slight smirk.
I stayed calm, staring intently at the studio door.
A moment later, Sharon walked in.
I finally let out a long, deep breath.
“Convincing evidence, you say? I have plenty.”
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