My Birthday Wish Is Divorce

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My husband's mistress and I share the same birthday.

During dinner, our son asked Nathan.

Mom, are we celebrating your birthday a day early again this year?

Nathan said, Can't this time. I'm taking Iris to Mint Island for diving. We need to attend diving classes these next few days.

Five years of marriage, and Nathan had always celebrated my birthday a day early, then spent my actual birthday with his mistress.

But this year, I wouldn't even get that.

Our son jumped up excitedly at that moment.

"I want to go diving too! Can you take me with you?"

Nathan nodded in agreement, then looked at me.

"Hannah, for your birthday wishwhatever you want, I'll make it happen."

And my birthday wish was divorce.

While I was clearing the table, Nathan called Iris.

"Connor wants to come too. Is that okay with you?"

Iris responded cheerfully, "Why wouldn't it be? Unless you're planning to do something naughty."

Nathan leaned lazily against the counter.

"I really do want to do something naughty to you." He smiled as he fiddled with the shelf I'd just bought. "Alright, just wait till I see you."

While they flirted, I turned to Connor.

"You really want to go? You won't stay to celebrate Mom's birthday?"

Connor nodded.

"It's more fun with Dad and Aunt Iris."

I said nothing and went to our room to pack their luggage.

I suddenly remembered my first trip with Nathan. At eighteen, he got scammed out of five hundred dollars trying to buy me a necklace.

Nathan had comforted me. "When I start earning money, I'll buy you a one-of-a-kind necklace."

Our love had been so passionate once. How did it become this?

I still remember when I found those intimate messages between Nathan and Iris on his phone. I cried and demanded a divorce. Nathan had been so scared he knelt before me.

"I was wrong. I promise there won't be a next time. I'll have her leave the company tomorrow."

Later, Nathan openly gave Iris the title of girlfriend. Wearing his crisp suit, he told me:

"Hannah, don't worry. I know the difference between home and outside. I won't let her affect your life."

I was so angry I smashed the matching mugs we'd bought for our wedding.

That night I thought about so muchNathan's awkward confession, his wedding vows, his eyes red from crying when Connor was born.

Looking at the sleeping child in the crib, the next day I bought two acrylic cups and accepted Iris's existence.

Connor interrupted my thoughts, bursting into the room.

"Mom, I don't want to bring these ugly clothes you bought."

I took Connor's little hand. "Your respiratory system is weak. The sea breeze is strong. You need a windbreaker."

"No, no, I don't!"

Connor's crying brought Nathan in. He put away his phone and entered the room.

"Enough, Hannah. Mint Island is hot. He won't need any of this. I'll buy new things at the mall tomorrow. You don't need to pack anymore."

With one sentence, he dismissed all my effort from the entire evening.

I took out the rhinitis medication I'd prepared for Nathan and Connor from the suitcase.

Since it wasn't needed, I wouldn't give them anything.

When I dropped Connor off at his enrichment class, he bragged to his friends:

"My dad, mom and I are going diving at Mint Island soon!"

A classmate glanced at me.

"Your mom doesn't look like someone who can dive."

Connor let go of my hand.

"Not this mom." He explained anxiously. "Another mom who's prettier and younger. If you don't believe me, wait after class. My other mom is picking me up to go shopping for clothes."

So after class, Connor pointed at the Rolls-Royce with Iris inside, her hair in big waves, and shouted:

"She's my other mom."

Connor ran to Iris's side under his classmates' envious gazes.

"Mom."

Iris smiled and responded.

"How could someone as young as you have such a big kid?" Nathan said with his hand on the steering wheel, smiling.

"What? Don't want to be my child's father? I'll find someone else then." Iris raised her eyebrow, and Nathan pulled her into his arms and pinched her waist.

"You dare!"

She immediately acted coy. "I wouldn't dare."

Their laughter reached my ears.

Watching the two most important people in my life gather around Iris, I turned away with self-mockery.

I thought as long as I didn't leave, as long as Nathan loved me most, I could give Connor a complete family.

But now it seemed I was the extra one.

On my way home, the sky opened up with heavy rain. I ducked under a nearby bus shelter.

I remembered the last time I took the busit was with Nathan, carrying our luggage, graduating from college.

There were no empty seats in the bus, so Nathan had me sit on our suitcase while he gripped the handrail tightly, sheltering me in front of him.

Back then our destination was a rental apartment. Now we had our own home, but we no longer shared the same destination.

Thinking of this, I stepped onto the bus in front of me, but my rain-wet hands couldn't unlock my phone. As the driver frowned impatiently, Nathan's calls kept coming through.

My vibrating phone fell from my hands. I scrambled into the rain in embarrassment. The driver cursed, "Wasting time."

As the bus drove off, water splashed onto my pants, leaving dark mud spots.

On the phone, Nathan's voice carried blame.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you answering?"

"It's raining outside, I..."

"Whatever."

Clearly Nathan didn't actually want to know my situation. "I just wanted to tell you Connor won't be home for dinner. Iris is taking the little brat out for pizza."

"You tell her yourself."

Connor's childish voice came through. "I'm going to eat pizza with Mom Iris. Don't make me any of that chicken soupit tastes awful."

Then came laughter, and Iris sounded rather smug. "See, I told you no kid likes chicken soup, but you didn't believe me!"

"Fine, you win." Nathan's tone was indulgent.

I could almost picture Iris's triumphant smileworlds apart from my current pathetic state.

I said flatly, "Got it."

I laughed at myself. If I couldn't board the bus, I wouldn't take it.

Instead of going home, I went to a law firm.

I waited on the sofa until ten at night. After Nathan put the sleeping Connor to bed, I brought up divorce.

"Nathan, I won't interfere with your relationship with Iris anymore. Let's end this amicably."

Nathan's usually expressionless face actually showed emotion.

"Hannah, if this is because I didn't celebrate your birthday this year, I apologize."

I shook my head. "It has nothing to do with her. I just don't want to be with you anymore."

Nathan gripped his water cup tightly.

"I don't understand. We've made it through five yearswhy are you making trouble now? We're leaving the country tomorrow. Do you have to ruin tonight?!"

When the cup hit the floor, I was just grateful it was acrylic.

Nathan put on his jacket and walked out.

"Going down for a smoke. Don't wait up."

I saw him again at the airport. I'd brought Connor and ran into Iris.

She wore her usual smiling expression. "Hannah, I was packing last night so I sent Nathan home early. Why did he suddenly come over in the middle of the night and cling to me for ages? Did you two have a fight?"

"Just let him stay at your place from now on." I pushed Connor toward Iris. Connor happily grabbed her hand.

"Nathan's too much. I said we could just celebrate my birthday casually, but he had to go abroad."

I looked toward Nathan checking in up ahead.

"When we get back, I'll have him throw you a proper birthday party."

Iris's face showed smug pride. I swallowed all the words I wanted to say.

I couldn't compete with this young body, so I wouldn't try.

Nathan took Iris's hand with its extravagant manicure.

"Hannah, we're leaving now."

A rare hint of guilt appeared in his eyes.

"Remember to send me your birthday wish. If I can make it happen, I will."

"Dad, hurry up, stop dawdling with her. I want to ride on the big airplane."

Connor pulled Nathan and Iris, bouncing toward security.

After returning home, I developed a high fever. Completely out of it, I could only hide under the covers. In my delirium, I dreamed of Nathan.

He still looked twenty, holding my hand with that playful smile, calling me wife.

"Good girl, take your medicine so you can get better."

He put the prepared medicine to his own lips to test the temperature.

"Perfect. Drink it quickly."

When I woke from the dream, only the noisy phone ringtone remained.

I answered in a hoarse voice.

"Hannah Smith, why didn't you pack the rhinitis medication?"

"Don't you know the sea breeze is strong? Connor and I both had flare-ups."

Nathan pulled me back to reality, shouting impatiently.

"Fine, send me the medicine name. I'll buy it myself. You're such a hassle."

The phone went dead. My long-dried tears finally fell again.

I understood one thing deeplyNathan and I could never go back.

I compiled all our income and assets from our five years of marriage.

I decided not to fight for Connor's custody. I had only one demandthat Nathan couldn't have any more children. This was his promise from the beginning.

I gave these materials to my lawyer, who quickly drafted divorce papers.

Before deciding to leave, I went to see Nathan's mother. When we were students, she would always have Nathan bring me home and would pile food into my bowl.

"Hannah, eat more. Look how thin you are."

Those words gave me, an orphan, the warmth of home.

My marriage to Nathan had been natural, without any of love's usual hardships.

That's why I endured those five years in silence, nearly losing myself.

When I entered, my mother-in-law was on a video call. Looking at Nathan and Iris on screen, her face couldn't stop smiling.

"You rascal, Iris is still young. Be good to her."

Nathan ruffled Iris's hair. "She may be young in age, but her temper's bigger than anyone's. She gets mad if I make her eat one more bite."

My mother-in-law's tone was indulgent. "Iris dear, you need to eat more. Look how thin you've gotten."

I froze while removing my shoes. When my mother-in-law looked over, I quickly lowered my head to hide my bloodshot eyes.

My mother-in-law put away her phone and called out, "Hannah, come in quickly."

"No, Mom. I didn't change my shoes. I won't come in."

I opened my umbrella and walked through the park where Nathan and I used to stroll during college.

Under the most lush tree, we'd buried the hamster we'd raised together for three years.

Nathan had wiped my tears and called me useless. "If I'm gone someday, how much will you cry?"

He scattered the last handful of dirt, then held me. I'll never forget how gently his voice was when he said, "Hannah, I'll stay with you forever."

He knew better than anyone that my parents died early, that I'd lived alone for over ten years. He had become my whole world.

But his whole world didn't belong only to me.

I sat on the park bench watching the time. At midnight, I sent him the divorce agreement.

"Nathan, this is my birthday wish."

The next moment, my phone rang. I'd never heard Nathan this angry.

"Hannah Smith, why did you have to send this message now? Because I looked at your stupid message, I didn't hold onto Iris properly. She's in the hospital now from drowning!"

"I don't care what you're doing. Get over here right now and take care of Iris until she's out of danger!"

After he hung up, I received flight information. A 2 AM flight with two transfers.

This was the fastest way to get to the Philippines.

When I saw them, Iris had already woken up. Connor rushed at me first.

"Bad mom! You're the one who hurt Mom Iris!"

"I hate you!"

I let his little fists pound on me, but my eyes went to Nathan.

He clearly hadn't slept all night. He was now carefully feeding Iris water.

"Good girl, drink more water so you'll recover faster."

Iris looked at me. "Hannah, you actually came. I don't blame you. It was my poor skills."

"After three days of diving classes, I still didn't dare let go of Nathan's hand. I'm so stupid."

"Even if you're stupid, I'll take care of you. I'll never let go again."

Nathan's eyes were about to overflow with heartache.

"I was so scared. I almost lost you forever. Without you, I wouldn't want to live either, Iris."

Nathan pressed his head against Iris's face.

Even though I was used to it, I couldn't help but tear upmoved by their love and sad for myself.

The doctor walked in with test results. "Miss Iris, your blood work shows you're pregnant. We estimate about six weeks."

This news was like a bomb, leaving my mind completely blank.

"That's wonderful!"

"Nathan, we're going to have our own child!"

"No!" I rushed forward. "Nathan, what did you promise me?!"

I looked at Connor. He didn't understand what this all meant yet.

"Hannah Smith, is it your place to speak here?"

"Come with me!"

Nathan dragged me to the hallway.

"Nathan, you promised me you'd never have a child with another woman!"

Nathan laughed coldly. "You have my child. Why can't Iris?"

"What about Connor?! Your money, your companywill Connor inherit it, or will Iris's child? Can you guarantee fairness?!"

"I can."

Nathan's tone weakened. I let out a breath.

"Nathan, have Iris terminate it."

The moment the words left my mouth, a slap landed on my face.

"No one is going to hurt Iris again!"

My ears rang. I saw Nathan reach out his hand. "Get out! Get out of here!"

"Nathan." I looked at him. "Today is my birthday."

"You promised you'd make all my wishes come true."

"All I know is today is Iris's birthday!" His eyes filled with disgust. "I don't have time to read whatever stupid wish you sent. Get lost. I never want to see you again!"

Connor heard the commotion and rushed out too. He mimicked Nathan's manner and shouted at me, "Get lost! Get lost!"

But I smiled. "Fine."

"Nathan, remember what you said."

I walked out of the hospital and in the Philippines did the last thing I'd prepared for Nathan.

Half a month later, Nathan received a phone call.

"Hello, is this Mr. Miller? I'm a doctor. We've confirmed that a deceased person is your wife, Hannah Smith."