RETURN OF DON' CARA FROM USELESS TO GREATNESS

Chapter 5

“I want a divorce, Joshua, and I want it now!” She yelled, holding her ground with finality lacing her voice.

With a racing heart, Joshua stood in the dim light of the room as he processed the words on the paper he had just read.

He crumpled the document in his hands and flung it to the ground. Tightness gripped his throat, forcing him to swallow a hard storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

Elizabeth, seeing his expression, scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I don't want to hear anything, just sign the damn paper!”

Joshua's voice trembled as he faced her, the woman he thought he knew so well. “I… Is this funny to you?” he stammered.

His eyes searched hers for any hint of humor, any trace of warmth that might suggest it was all a joke. But her expression was as unyielding as stone, and the coldness in her gaze cut deeper than he imagined.

“Why would you want to divorce me, Elizabeth?” he questioned, desperation creeping into his tone.

Elizabeth retorted, her irritation palpable in the air between them. “Which girl on earth would want to stay with a man like you?!” The bitterness in her voice was clear with disdain.

Joshua stepped forward, but she shrank away with her arms crossed defensively over her chest. “You don’t have anything useful in my life, and that means I can live without you.” Her words felt like a dagger, slicing through Joshua's gut.

“What do you mean?” Joshua's voice was filled with disbelief. Every syllable felt like a plea to understand what had led them to this moment.

“You’ve always relied on me, Elizabeth,” Joshua half-shrieks, his voice thick with a mixture of frustration and hurt. “I’ve stood by your side through every obstacle and challenge that has come your way. Do you remember the sacrifices I made? I sold all my assets just to keep your family business from the edge of bankruptcy! I even held this event just to help!”

Elizabeth, hearing his words, turned to him. She knew full well her words hurt him, but she showed zero remorse. "That's what a real man would do, why are you now complaining!" She retorted. “By the way, I never asked for your help, you did all that because you're always trying to please me!”

“You are blaming me for trying to give you the best life?!” he asked as her words slammed at him.

His chest tightened as memories flooded back to him. A few months ago the Marshall family had turned to him, desperate for assistance. Without hesitation, he had stepped in since he considered them as family.

He ran his finger through his hair. “How can you say that to me, Elizabeth? I have always made sure you have a comfortable life!” Joshua said.

“Comfortable life!” Sarcasm dripped from her tone as she sized him up. “How can you give me a comfortable life when you can't even afford to buy me a luxurious gift anymore?!”

Joshua was about to reply, but her words beat him to it. “I need someone like Mark who can afford those, not you!”

Her words rang deep in his head. “You said you're just friends, and now you're comparing me to him?!” Incredulity washed over Joshua's face as he finally understood his wife's intention.

She and her family didn't regard him since his current balance isn't hitting millions.

“I don't know why you suddenly want to make such a decision, Elizabeth, but please don't, this is not you,” Joshua replied.

Elizabeth, hearing his words, averted her gaze to the open window; the wind that slipped in made her adjust her clothes due to the cold. Meanwhile, Joshua, who noticed her shudder from the weather, forced back the urge to give her his jacket.

“The past is the past, Joshua. My family has made the decision, so sign the damn paper,” she said.

Joshua, with a heavy lump, remembered the vow he had taken the day he married Elizabeth Marshall. The thought made him shake his head. “No, Elizabeth, I won't sign the paper,” he replied, walking past her.

“Don’t you dare walk out on me, Joshua!” She shouted, but before she could utter another word, Joshua slammed the door behind him, silencing her voice.

As he stepped into the hallway, the group of people lingering around made him clench his fist. The mockery expression pasted on their face made his blood run cold, but he took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger. Without a word, Joshua forced himself to walk past his in-laws, who had been eavesdropping on his conversation.

As he made his way past Mrs. Marshelled, he noticed the low growl that escaped her lips.

“Did you sign the paper?” She asked, hoping her daughter had persuaded him to.

Joshua, with a dead expression, directed his gaze to her. He knew she was the one who had stimulated the divorce of her daughter but didn't know why, even when she was the only one in the family who wasn't ashamed to ask him for help.

“No, Elizabeth is still my wife!” Joshua spouted, the pain of betrayal creeping in. “Instead of trying to destroy my marriage, why don’t you focus on yours?” He added, his voice hardening as he turned his gaze sharply towards her husband.

Mr.Marshal didn't say anything but remained quiet, and the look on his face told Joshua he knew what he was talking about.

“How dare you talk to me like that?!” Mrs.Marshall yelled, but before she could continue ranting, Joshua was halfway through the hallway.

When Joshua was out of sight, he entered a restroom, shutting the door behind him. With rage, he slammed his hand continuously on the wall as the words of his wife replayed in his mind.

He knew living with his in-laws was a terrible idea and was against it from the start, but it was a wish he granted when Elizabeth requested it on a sick bed. Now everything made sense as she had planned it.

Deciding to shrug off the thought, Joshua straightened his tie before stepping out of the restroom.