"Affair? Financial support? Divorce? You had an affair? You're getting divorced?"



I looked at Tom helplessly. "Can you stop eavesdropping?"



Tom ignored me and stared at Jack sternly. "Speak up!"

"This is between me and her. Stay out of it."

"Stay out of it?!"



As soon as he finished speaking, Tom punched Jack in the face. "You stupid idiot!"



Jack was never one to take a beating passively. Even though he knew he was in the wrong, he fought back. I calmly closed the door while watching them fight. 

Later, I didn't know when they stopped or when they left.



The next day, I arrived at the civil affairs bureau at 8 a.m. on time, got a number, and waited for Jack. 

About ten minutes later, he showed up. He sat down beside me silently, with bruises on his face and a dejected look.



Soon, our number was called. I stood up, but Jack suddenly grabbed my wrist. 

His voice was strained.

 "I lied to you that day. I didn't go to see her. We've broken up. She called me and said she lost her scholarship. I knew it wasn't you. I was just happy to have an excuse to see you. I never wanted a divorce. I never thought about leaving you."



Jack's voice became softer and softer, and there was a sob in it. 

I've always had a hard time seeing Jack cry. I agreed to be with him because he was so in love with me at that time. But now...



"Jack, your crying makes me sick!"



Jack tightened his grip on my hand. He was stunned for a moment and then asked blankly, "What did you say?"



I pulled my hand away, tore up the number ticket, and got a new one. 

"In fact, since this whole thing started, we haven't really sat down and talked. You never asked me how I found out about your affair or what I knew.



"Let's go through it. Our married life hasn't been great since six months ago. 

You were unhappy and met Sarah when you were drunk. Maybe it was because she looked a bit like me, or maybe because she was younger and more energetic. 

You couldn't resist and had an affair. To excuse yourself, you found faults with me. 

You said that once I turned 30, I seemed 'dirty' to you because of the wrinkles on my face and my less - perfect figure. 

You said I was like a withered flower, and the smell was unbearable from afar.



"Jack, do you know how disgusting you sounded when you said those things about me?

 I started to doubt myself. I was so stupid to have fallen for you. 

It's like stepping in dog poop, and then the poop complains about the smell of my shoes."