Both of my children had fevers, yet my wife left to check into a hotel with her lover.

Without a word of complaint, I took the kids to the hospital.

When I went home to grab clothes for them, I overheard my wife, lying on our marital bed, chatting flirtatiously with her lover.

"Do you believe me if I say I'll bring you home to sleep with me, and Jeremy won't dare say a thing?"

My heart sank.

Then, I heard her say.

"He's nothing but a stupid fool with money. The fact that I married him is a miracle!"

***

Standing at the door, holding my children's medical records and a bag of clothes, I felt utterly ridiculous.

This was the woman I had loved with all my heart for the past eight years.

Inside, my wife saw my shadow at the door but didn't even stop her video call with her lover.

"Hold on a sec, babe."

She said, wearing nothing but a silk nightgown that revealed everything. Right in front of me, she slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

The force of it felt like a slap across my face.

From inside, her lover's arrogant laughter echoed through the phone.

"Ava, aren't you afraid your husband will get mad, being this brazen?"

Ava chuckled dismissively.

"What's there to fear? He's just my little lapdog. The most he'll do is stop being my puppy for a couple of days, then he'll come running back on his own."

Her lover let out another burst of obnoxious laughter.

I couldn't bear to listen any longer and quickly walked away.

At the hospital, I helped the kids change out of their hospital gowns.

They looked up at me, alone, and asked.

"Dad, where's Mom?"

After getting them dressed, I knelt down and looked them in the eyes.

"Mom's not coming. It's just us now. Son, daughter, I want to talk to you about something. From now on, it'll just be the three of us. How about we live without Mom, okay?"

My seven-year-old daughter and six-year-old son exchanged a glance before saying in unison.

"Okay, we don't need Mom!"

My son added.

"It doesn't make a difference anyway. Mom spends less time with us than the nanny."

I didn't return home. Instead, I took the kids to my parents' house.

My parents could tell something was troubling me. After putting the kids to sleep, they came to check on me.

"Son, are you and Ava having some issues?"

I sighed deeply.

"Mom, Dad, I'm divorcing Ava. Dad, please take back all the connections and resources you introduced to her company. No point in helping an outsider."

My dad looked surprised.

My mom reached over to feel my forehead.

"Are you feeling okay, son?"

I took Mom's hand off my head and patted it to comfort her.

"Mom, you don't need to clean up Ava's mess anymore. Please send me all the evidence of her dabbling in those shady spiritual practices. I might need it for the divorce."

My parents exchanged glances. My mom even pinched herself.

"Ouch, that hurt! I'm not dreaming?"

"Mom, what are you doing? Why are you pinching yourself?"

Dad patted my shoulder with satisfaction:

"Son, you've finally woken up. Ava has no morals. She's never been a suitable wife."

Tears of joy filled my mom's eyes.

"All these years, Ava must've put some spell on you. No matter how awful she was, you were always hopelessly devoted to her. Nothing we said made a difference. Now you're finally seeing the truth!"

Watching the tears stream down my mother's face, my own eyes welled up.

Ava wasn't wrong — I used to be nothing but a hopeless fool, a lapdog beyond redemption.

Despite Ava's betrayal, humiliating me and trampling on my dignity, I still gave her access to all the resources of my family.

My parents didn't like her, and yet, for her sake, I even distanced myself from them.

One day after work, I came home to find my two children collapsed on the floor with high fevers, completely unattended. That terrifying moment snapped me out of my delusion.

After rushing the kids to the hospital, I received a notification on my phone — Ava had used my credit card to pay for a hotel room.

It was at that moment I fully realized just how much damage this leech had caused to my family.

I took a tissue and wiped away the tears from my mother's face.

I hadn't embraced my parents in so long, but this time, I hugged them both and said.

"Mom, Dad, don't worry. This time, I'm truly divorcing Ava. From now on, I will sever all ties with her. We'll focus on living our lives as a family."

This time, not only did my mother tear up, but my father's eyes also reddened.

"Good! Good! Your mom and I fully support you. This divorce is happening, no question!"

"Son, don't worry about the kids. They can stay with us. We'll help take care of them while you get your life in order."

Ava, after all, was still the mother of my children.

I wanted to leave her some dignity, so I didn't expose her dirty deeds. I simply had my lawyer send her the divorce papers.

Back when we got married, my parents had forced me into signing a prenuptial agreement with Ava.

At the time, Ava threw a huge tantrum, and I had to buy her a Porsche to calm her down.

Thinking back now, if it weren't for my parents, how much of my assets would Ava be entitled to? This divorce wouldn't be so easy.

To thank my parents, I booked a luxurious family vacation to Alderland.

In Alderland, our family was filled with joy like never before.

There was a genuine happiness on my parents' and kids' faces that had been missing for years.

During the day, I swam and surfed with the kids.

At night, my parents helped watch them while I relaxed at a bar, sipping drinks and listening to music.

For the first time, I realized that life without Ava could be peaceful and happy.

I thought Ava would fade from my life after that.

But two weeks later, I got an unexpected call from her.

"Jeremy, what's the meaning of this? Are you really divorcing me?"

I was speechless for a moment. It took her this long to notice the divorce papers?

"You even took our son and daughter! This was all planned, wasn't it? Do you really think I'm scared or going to beg for your forgiveness?"

I heard the sound of tearing paper on the other end of the line.

"Hah, you think using divorce to threaten me will make me behave? Look at yourself. If you know what's good for you, bring the kids back, or I'll make sure you're humiliated even more!"

Then, Ava hung up.

Without giving me a chance to respond.

Not that I had anything more to say to her anyway.

I had already given her a chance to leave gracefully — she just didn't take it.

I immediately blocked all her contact information and called my good friend and lawyer, Evan.

"Evan, Ava probably tore up the divorce agreement. Let's skip straight to filing for divorce."

On the other end, I heard the sound of a cup shattering in Evan's shock.

"Are you serious this time, bro? It's about time! I've been betting with others that you'd be blind to Ava's true nature for life. Finally, you're waking up?"

I chuckled bitterly, shaking my head.

"Don't make fun of me now."

But Evan wasn't joking.

"This is no joke! Don't you remember two years ago, when I helped you catch her in the act? I showed you evidence of Ava sleeping with her boss under the guise of a business trip, and worse, participating in some group orgies. And you still forgave her! I almost stopped being friends with you over that!"