The Fight for Status

My husband, Brandon, threw an elaborate birthday party for me. I thought it was also to celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. Instead, he said, Let's get a divorce.

With all our friends and family present, his declaration of divorce clearly demonstrated his resolve.

I was caught off guard, completely bewildered as to why.

He said, "I'm tired. This life of being managed by you it's suffocating. I want to live freely, on my own. Will you set me free?"

The chatter around me seemed to condemn me, saying I controlled my husband too strictly, and no man could endure it.

I was genuinely speechless. I'd never even looked at his phone, I didn't even know his password.

I gazed blankly at Brandon.

Then, I heard Brandon's best friend say, "Elara, just do a good deed and set him free. You manage him too tightly. His mistress is already pregnant, and she still has no legal status."

My husband had a mistress, and I had no idea. It was his best friend who told me, in front of so many people.

Brandon, enraged and humiliated, lunged and punched Mark. "What the hell is wrong with you! What nonsense are you spouting! Whose friend are you, anyway?!"

Mark took the full force of the punch.

"Brandon, I let you hit me once. I've been tolerating you for too long. Every time we go to the club, you bring that girl, and then you come home and put on a show of devoted husband with Anna.

"Elara, you think he's working hard entertaining clients every night, but he's out at the club with us! He only comes home late because he has to be with that woman after work.

"He bought that woman a house, right across from your neighborhood!"

My birthday party turned into a complete farce.

In comparison, I wasn't even the most humiliated.

Brandon was.

He never expected his best friend to betray him so publicly.

Everyone gradually left.

They all had their own thoughts: some pitied me, some mocked me, some cursed Brandon for being a jerk, and some criticized Mark for being disloyal.

Mark, however, responded openly, "How am I disloyal? Was Brandon's public announcement of divorce loyal? He wants a divorce but throws dirt on his wife, making everyone think she controlled him so strictly he felt suffocated and wanted to escape. What, do you all hope your husbands' friends conspire to lie to you when this happens to you?"

He said this loudly, ensuring everyone could hear.

Everyone fell silent.

Brandon gnashed his teeth, clenching his fists, wanting to rush out and fight Mark again.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

I asked Brandon, "How long has it been?"

I actually knew nothing.

Brandon said, "Two years. She's still in college, please don't make trouble for her. She comes from the countryside and it hasn't been easy for her."

"Anna, you're different from her. You can thrive on your own without anyone, but she can't. She has no family but me. Without me, she wouldn't survive."

I let out a short, bitter laugh. "So, I'm supposed to be abandoned, betrayed, and cheated on? If it weren't for Mark, I would have been branded a controlling wife who drove you to divorce at my own birthday party. How could you be so disgusting?"

"I'm sorry, she's pregnant, and I need to give her a sense of security. She's still in college. If I didn't pressure you like this, you wouldn't divorce me."

I laughed softly, and as I laughed, tears streamed down my face.

"What do you take me for? You're already getting a divorce. Do you expect me to beg you to stay? Just tell me you have someone else and want a divorce. Do you think I'd cling to you?"

Brandon didn't say anything more. He just muttered "I'm sorry" and turned to leave.

Only today did I learn that Brandon had another home, right across from our neighborhood. He had bought that woman a house.

I locked myself in my room for three days. I didn't go to work. I saw the office chat group was buzzing with gossip about me.

[Anna Vance's husband actually cheated! And he's got another woman! I saw her social media, all full of travel photos with her husband! They were always together, how did he find time to cheat?]

[You're thinking too small. I've even seen husbands sneak off to a hotel on the way to pick up their kids!]

[They've been together since college, eight years, I heard. They got married right after graduation. The house they live in now, Anna bought it. Her husband had nothing when he was with her. Anna paid for all their living expenses. Now that things are good, men get more fickle.]

[Do you think she'll get a divorce? Would divorcing just make things easier for that scumbag?]

I closed the group chat, refusing to read any more of their gossiping about me.

I opened my social media, deleting every single post about Brandon, one by one.

I used to be that perfect woman, successful in her career, happily married, with a handsome, wealthy husband who was gentle and thoughtful towards me. Everyone envied me, both at work and in life.

Even when I went back to my hometown, I was surrounded by relatives praising me, saying how lucky I wasgood grades, good university, good career, good husband. And having a child in a year or two would make it even better.

They all said I had good foresight, not shying away from a poor young man, knowing how to invest in potential, helping my husband climb to his current position.

He started his own company and became the esteemed Mr. Blackwood.

He probably really forgot the hardships and poverty he endured back then, the embarrassment of having not a single penny in his pocket yet wanting to buy me a birthday gift.

Three days later, I received a call from Brandon's lawyer, asking me to sign the divorce papers.

The property division was 50/50.

Except for our current house and the company.

The house we lived in was bought by me, so he wouldn't get a share. The three million dollars for his company's startup fund came from my parents, and he would return the three million with interest, so I couldn't get a share of the company.

He thought this was fair.

"I won't sign. If he leaves with nothing, I'll sign immediately."

"Ms. Vance, you should know that the law does not support a spouse leaving with nothing. As a woman, I sympathize with you and understand you. Right now, Mr. Blackwood feels guilty and is willing to give you half. Once his guilt passes and he clears his head, you might not get this much. Besides, divorcing sooner allows you to start a new life. Why drag this out?"

I chuckled. "He's already started a new life without divorcing. If he can, why can't I? He leaves with nothing, and I'll divorce!"

The lawyer sneered, rising. "Ms. Vance, you're just stalling. Your demands won't be supported in court. If you insist, then we'll see you in court."

I went back to work. My boss already knew about my situation and offered me a month off.

But I didn't need it.

If I had to save one, it would be my career. Since my marriage was over, I would focus on work.

I went to work and left at my usual times every day, showing no signs of the humiliation and distress I was experiencing in my marriage.

My colleagues all thought I must have chosen to swallow my pride and make peace with the mistress.

Because such things were all too common, especially with my husband being so wealthy now. Wouldn't a divorce just benefit the adulterous couple?

Some senior colleagues even offered me advice on how to maintain a marriage.

"Anna, any smart woman should learn to be lenient with her husband. Especially since your husband is rich and successful, and there are so many women eyeing him. You need to humble yourself appropriately, turn a blind eye. That's how you get through life."

"That other woman he's so smitten with, isn't it because she knows how to show weakness and be accommodating? You, my dear, shouldn't always focus solely on your career. You should also have a child with Mr. Blackwood."

"Your child with your husband is the legitimate heir; the other one is illegitimate!"

I found it hard to understand their marital philosophy: finding out your husband cheated, then rushing to have a baby with him to secure your position as the rightful wife.

Even my parents advised me this way, saying that Brandon was different now, not the poor boy he used to be.

He was now a CEO, and his company was facing funding for an IPO.

Divorcing him now, wouldn't it just be a windfall for someone else?

It was strange. Why were they all telling me this? It wasn't about whether I wanted a divorce; it was Brandon who insisted on it to legitimize his mistress.

Then my father said, "So, go be a little accommodating. You've had so many years of history, you've suffered alongside him every step of the way. If you soften up, he's sure to be touched. Men in his position want to be admired. He wants to protect the vulnerable."

I went home for dinner, and all I heard was this kind of talk.

If he wanted to protect the vulnerable, he should do charity work. There were plenty of vulnerable people who needed protecting.

I was about to leave.

Brandon arrived.

"Mom, Dad!"

Seeing me, Brandon froze. "Anna's here too."

"Isn't that a coincidence? We didn't know Anna was coming home for dinner today! Well, you two talk, have a good long chat! Anna has a lot to say to you!"

My parents quickly left.

Brandon sat on the sofa, straightening his clothes, and said, "The court date is coming up soon. We don't have much to talk about. The sooner you sign the divorce agreement, the sooner we divorce, the better for both of us."

"I know you don't want to divorce me, but I've fallen in love with someone else. There's no turning back, Anna. After so many years together, let's part amicably."

I said, "You're overthinking. I came back today not knowing Mom and Dad also called you. Brandon, my dad gave you three million from our family's demolition compensation to start your business. Without that money, you wouldn't be where you are today. You think you can just pay back three million and expect me to divorce you? Don't dream."

Brandon was almost enraged. "Anna Vance! How did you become so materialistic! Yes, the three million was from your father, but I also have outstanding abilities and built up the company! If you invested that three million elsewhere, you probably wouldn't even see a ripple! Now I'm returning it to you with interest, and you're still not satisfied?"

"You want me to leave with nothing? You've read too many novels! Is that even possible?! Dragging out this divorce is just wasting time, wasting your youth! I don't love you anymore, and you still insist on being with me. Is there any point?"

Watching Brandon angrily scold me, I remembered how happy he was when he got the three million, holding me and promising.

"Anna, trust me, once I build up the company, I'll pay you back a hundred, a thousand times over! I'll remember your and your father's kindness forever, and I'll love you forever, always treating you well! Wife, I love you, I love you!"

Getting the money then, saying he loved me, was true.

Now, successful with a mistress, saying he didn't love me, was also true.

My parents realized Brandon was determined to divorce me. They stopped trying to persuade me, only urging me to divorce soon, start a new life, and not waste time on meaningless things.

I said, "I want him to leave with nothing."

My parents thought I was delusional, because that was simply impossible.

Moreover, with Brandon's current financial power, he had ample time and resources to fight me in court.

I also found a lawyer: Brandon's former best friend, Mark.

After the events of my birthday party, the two of them had a complete fallout.

I repeated my demand: "I want him to leave with nothing."

I expected Mark to laugh at me like everyone else: "Stop dreaming, that's impossible!"

Then Mark said, "Alright! He'll leave with nothing!"

At that moment, I smiled.

But as I smiled, tears started to fall. I said, "They're doing road construction outside your law firm, and sand got into my eyes."

Mark handed me a tissue. "Why is this damn sand piled outside my door? I'll get someone to clear it!"

And then, sure enough, someone came with an excavator and cleared the sand.

At that moment, I cried even louder.

The excavator driver, not knowing how he'd offended me, sped off, *chug-chug-chugging* away.

Seeing the excavator drive off so quickly, I laughed again.

I was both crying and laughing, looking utterly absurd.

Mark, however, suddenly hugged me, holding me tightly.

"Don't be afraid, you have me."

I listened to his heartbeat tapping against my chest, and for some reason, I felt a strange calm.

Mark and I were actually childhood sweethearts, growing up in the same alley. Mark was raised by his grandparents, his parents abroad. Later, in high school, Mark was also taken abroad.

He only returned in the last two years. Because of work dealings with Brandon's company, the two became close friends.

That day, I received a friend request from a stranger.

Looking at the profile picture, I already had a guess.

I accepted the request.

Then the person sent a series of photos.

Photos of her and Brandon together, photos of her secretly kissing him as he slept on the sofa.

And of them embracing in bed.

There were even explicit videos of them.

[Elara, your husband doesn't love you anymore. Please divorce him gracefully, okay?]

[Brandon has always carefully protected me, just afraid you'd hurt me. But I know you're a kind person. If your husband cheats, you'll only blame him, not me. After all, if it wasn't me, it would be someone else, right?]

[You know I live across from your neighborhood, yet you never came to bother me. I knew you were a good person. Elara, let go. Grant me and my baby's father peace. I truly love him, and he loves me too.]

[I told Brandon to give you more money. Get the divorce. You're still young, you can find another man who loves you.]

[...]

She wrote a lot, I didn't read all of it.

She sent me all the crucial evidence of Brandon's infidelity. These proofs were taken by her, not me, so they were perfectly legal.

I forwarded them to Mark.

Mark burst out laughing. "How could she deliver such important evidence right to our doorstep? One step closer to that jerk leaving with nothing. Worth celebrating, let's go out for a late-night snack!"

"Coming!"

Her name was Lena. She was a third-year student at Capital University, from a poor family. By chance, she received sponsorship from Brandon and became his sponsored student.

Mark sent me all of Lena's information, including her university's contact details and her academic advisor's.

Mark ate a skewer and casually said, "Send her chat logs to the university; they'll handle it. She said you're a kind person and wouldn't make things difficult for her."

"Of course, I also think you're kind and wouldn't trouble her."

Then Mark reminded me, "However, her being a mistress is a personal life and moral issue; the university usually won't expel her. At most, it'll be a reprimand and education."

I immediately exposed all of Lena's affairs to her university.

As Mark said, the university gave Lena a reprimand and education, with no other disciplinary action.

Only school staff and her advisor knew about her being a mistress.

A few days later, a banner appeared outside the university.

[Lena from the third-year Finance Department deeply loves my husband and is carrying his illegitimate child. As his rightful wife, I hereby formally propose a concubine!]

Someone was also banging gongs and drums at the entrance, instantly attracting the attention of the school's faculty and students.

Lena instantly shot to fame, even making it onto local news trends, notorious for being a mistress.

But it wasn't my doing.

Lena didn't believe it, and neither did Brandon.

When Brandon came to confront me, Mark opened the door. It was raining outside, and he had gotten wet, so he was showering at my place.

He really was just showering.

Brandon, however, exploded, forgetting the reason he came.

He threw a punch.

This time, Mark didn't tolerate it. He dodged, caught Brandon's fist, and easily pushed him away.

"Mark! What do you mean! Why are you alone in my house!"

I said, "We're getting a divorce. This house is in my name alone. It's not your home anymore."