Divorce Him Before We Even Marry - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of breakfast—Ethan had actually cooked.
My favorite: fried eggs and eight-treasure porridge.
In the three years I'd lived here, this was a first.
I sat down without a word.
The only sound at the table was the occasional clink of spoons against bowls.
Then, out of nowhere, Ethan spoke up.
"I'll take the day off and go back with you."
I flinched, shaking my head instinctively.
"I'll drive you. It's not safe for you to go alone," he said, frowning.
Just as I was scrambling for an excuse, a little girl burst into the room.
"Uncle Ethan!"
She had two pink bows in her hair and launched herself straight into his arms.
"Lily? What are you doing here? Where's your mom?" Ethan's eyes darted toward the door.
From the safety of his embrace, Lily peeked at me. "Mom said Auntie doesn't like her, so she didn't dare come."
I studied her quietly—my daughter-in-law from my past life, a face I'd never actually seen before.
At just three years old, she was already stunning.
No wonder my son, four years her junior, had worshipped them.
Ethan was on his feet in an instant.
"Linda's not feeling well," Lily said.
Without another word, Ethan swept the child up and rushed out.
I scoffed.
At least now I didn't need an excuse to leave alone.
I grabbed a pen, strode to the calendar, and slashed a thick X over today's date.
Nineteen days left.
I emptied my room, bundling up every textbook, notebook, and scrap of paper. After selling them, I walked away with thirteen dollars in my pocket.
Then I headed back to the village.
Today was the day I'd finally break off the engagement.
Ethan's parents had always been kind to me, but convincing them wouldn't be hard.
I'd just tell them the truth: Ethan was about to make it big.
And the two of us?
We didn't belong together anymore.
The countryside lay still under a heavy, somber sky.
A bonfire crackled in the courtyard, its flickering light drawing swarms of mosquitoes into a dizzy dance.
I sat slumped against the rough mud wall, pressing dried tobacco leaves flat with a wooden board before slicing them into fine shreds with my machete. The rhythmic chopping filled the silence.
My aunt and uncle perched stiffly on the doorstep, their faces drawn. After a long pause, they heaved a sigh and tried again.
"Sarah," my uncle began, voice gruff, "even if that boy's heart belongs to someone else, you're promised to him. If he dares back out, I'll make him regret it!"
My aunt clutched her apron, eyes wet. "Your parents—God rest their souls—entrusted you to us. How can we let you throw this away? You... you..." Her voice broke. "Oh, child..."
When I stayed silent, they exchanged a helpless glance. "Why must you be so stubborn?" my uncle muttered.
Finally, my aunt stood, brushing her skirt. "Come on. We're going to the village office."
I followed without a word.
The officials stamped the papers, and in front of the village elders, the betrothal gifts were handed back. A weight lifted from my chest as I guided my aunt and uncle home, their steps slow with disappointment.
I knew they meant well. To them, Ethan was the dream match—even his own parents couldn't fathom why I'd walk away.
But how could I explain?
How could I tell them I'd already lived that nightmare—that in another life, I'd endured every heartache, even surrendered my only child to Linda, watching them become a perfect little family while I faded into the background?
Alone.
Forever.