At the family dinner, my husband slammed the divorce papers onto the table…
The Sunday family dinner at the Miller estate had always felt like a formal show, something stiff and suffocating, where everyone pretended to be better than they truly were. That evening, the air inside the huge dining room felt even heavier than usual. The tall wooden walls, the gigantic crystal chandelier, the thick carpet under the long table—all of it seemed to press down on me as if the house itself wanted to swallow me whole.

The smell of burnt roast beef still drifted in the air, mixing with a quiet tension that had been building for years. Above the fireplace hung a large portrait of David’s father, painted with a stern look that always felt like he was judging me personally. And of course, on that night, the painted eyes seemed even more disapproving than usual.

David, my husband, had recently been promoted to CEO of a small but fast-growing tech company called Innovate Dynamics. His ego—always huge—had grown into something much worse. He walked differently, spoke differently, and looked at people as if the world had finally realized he was the most important person alive.

The promotion didn’t change him—it amplified the worst parts of him. He waited on purpose until dessert plates were taken away. He always loved dramatic moments, and that night he wanted the biggest one of all.