THE TRASH YOU MOCKED

It was 7 A.M in the morning as the Hilton family sat down in their spacious living room, gathered around the glossy dining table, eating breakfast.

There was a sense of peace as the family ate together until suddenly, Clara brought her spoon down with a loud bang on the dining table which prompted everyone to look up.

She looked visibly upset.

"I can’t do this anymore,” she muttered, loud enough for the entire room to hear.

Evan who was seated quietly at the far end of the table looked up, deeply concerned “Do what? Is anything wrong!”

She was his wife and wondered maybe the food triggered her allergies.

He stood up and rushed to her side, to check her out.

She shrugged and pushed him away angrilly.

" I'm tired!" She shouted. Tired of this! You! Everything!" She was clearly irritated.

Evan was confused .

He hasn't done anything to anger her that morning.

He would soon be on his way to work and decided to have breakfast before he left.

And so far, he had avoided anything that might trigger her anger that morning.

Clara continued

“You exactly! You’re a disgrace! I'm tired of living with a man who can’t even feed himself!”she yelled

The table went silent.

Evan's shoulders stiffened, but he didn’t speak.

He felt incredibly hurt but chose not to show it.

Clara’s father, Charles Hilton, cleared his throat but said nothing.

Her two brothers leaned back in their chairs, exchanging smirks like they’d been waiting for this moment.

" You can't even afford to gift me a diamond if I ask and you call yourself my husband? Huh! You're so shameful! " She rested her back.

Evan tried to explain.

“I work 10 hours a day,” Evan said quietly. “I’ll try saving for it. Just give me time. I prom—”

“Oh, don’t start that pity story again.” Clara cut him off, rising to her feet. “ How long do I have to wait before you're able to get one with your meager salary? Two years, three! You’re a grown man. A grown man who can’t afford the basics without asking me for help. Do you know how pathetic that is?”

“ I promise. You just have to give me time! ” Evan said, trying to make her reason. “ You just have to trust me.

, you're my wife"

“And, I regret it.”Clara rushed back.

Her words stung more than they should have.

Her parents and brothers appeared to be enjoying it. Not one of them looked surprised.

He instantly went down on one knee to appease her anger.

" I'll do whatever you want. I'll wash your feet, give you massage, cook your best meals. Just name it, I love you, Clara."

Clara went hot.

“Don't you dare whisper those words again ,” she said sharply. “You're Twenty-nine, Evan. Twenty-nine! And you still can't afford to pay rent or even take me out to dinner? Do you think love is enough to pay my bills!”

He didn’t speak. What could he say that hadn’t already been said?

Clara's voice rose. “I’m tired of carrying you. My family’s tired too. You’ve lived in this house for years, eating our food, breathing our air, doing absolutely nothing.”

That stung deeper. It wasn’t just a house to him.

it was where he grew up after his parents died in a fire when he was eleven.

It was Clara’s grandfather, Old Man Dalton, who took him in and raised him alongside his granddaughter. The old man was the only reason Clara’s family ever tolerated Evan and the only reason Clara married him. When the old man passed two years ago, everything changed.

But everything changed since the old man died two years ago.

Then she reached into the folder beside her plate and threw a stack of papers at him.

“These are the divorce papers,” she said. “I already signed them. You just need to add your name.”

Evan stood up and looked down at the papers again. His name was printed beside Clara’s in clean black ink.

Evan Thomas Blake.

The only thing missing was his signature.

Evan stared at the papers in his hands, the words blurring for a moment.

Divorce.

It felt like someone had poured cold water over his chest and was squeezing his lungs shut.

He looked up at Clara, her face blank, arms folded like she was waiting for a signature on a business deal.

He couldn’t stop himself.

“Clara…” His voice cracked. “Please… don’t do this. I know things have been hard, but I’m trying. I swear I’m trying. Just...just give me time.”

He reached for her hand.

She stepped back like he was diseased.

Jeremy snorted. Carl chuckled.

“Don't you dare touch me! ” she said, crossing her arms tighter.

“Please,” Evan begged. “I don’t have anywhere else to go. I have no one.”

Clara tilted her head. “You think that’s my problem?”

She laughed.

“I never loved you, Evan,” she said, loud enough for her family to hear. “You were a favor. Grandpa’s dying wish. That’s it.”

The words felt like knives gutting every memory they’d shared.

Then, with a twist, she smiled.

she smoothed her hair and turned toward the front door.

“Oh, almost forgot…”

A cruel smirk pulled at her lips.

“I want you to meet someone.”

The front door creaked open.

Evan watched from the floor as a tall man stepped inside, dressed in a sleek navy-blue suit, gold cufflinks gleaming in the early morning sun.

His shoes looked like they cost more than Evan’s monthly salary. He carried confidence and he walked in like he owned the house.

Clara walked straight to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him in front of everyone.

“Morning, baby,” she said.

“Morning, love,” Marcus replied, eyes briefly glancing at Evan like he was looking at a piece of irritation.

Evan couldn’t breathe.

Jeremy clapped lightly. “Now that’s what a man looks like.”

Carl laughed. “A real man with wealth, a future, and a car unlike the loser.”

Even her mother was grinning.

Evan slowly stood, his pride shaking.

Clara didn’t even look at him.

“Marcus is taking me to lunch later,” she said cheerfully, brushing past Evan like he didn’t exist. “He’s the regional manager at OrionTech. He offered to help the Hilton Enterprises secure a huge merger deal soon . Something that sounds like a dream to the likes of you.”

Evan blinked.

He didn't even know how to respond to her.

The shame he felt made him sick to the stomach. He had sacrificed everything for her. Managed to endure every insult at his workplace just to be able to care for her. He once spent his last savings to buy her a sliver necklace. He loved her.

Now she was throwing him out like he meant nothing.

I didn’t think you’d really do it in front of him,” Marcus said with a low chuckle.

Clara replied sweetly. “Evan needed to understand that I’ve moved on.”

Evan felt pain in his chest but he kept his expression blank.

Marcus gave him a smirk. “No hard feelings, Evan but she deserved someone better.”

The whole family laughed.

Evan slowly rose to his feet.

Anger and pain were building inside of him.

He could endure everything, literally anything but not this.

He had had enough.

He no longer cares if he dies on the streets or starves to death after this but he doesn't care.

This was too much for him.

He looked down at the papers slowly. His hands trembled slightly as he reached for the pen.

Then. He signed it.

“Good,” Clara said.

“With this,this marriage is over,” Clara hissed“ Take your useless self and get out of here."

Outside, the morning sun shone in its full glory as Evan stepped out.

Few people passed but none seems to notice the trouble brewing inside of him.

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled it out.

A torn photograph. Faded from too many years in his wallet.

It was them.

Him and Clara on their wedding day. She had her arms around him, laughing. He was grinning like he’d just won the lottery. Back when she didn’t care about bank accounts or materialistic things.

He stared at it for a long second, then slowly tore it in half.And again until the pieces were nothing but confetti on the pavement.