Chapter 1
My 4-year-old daughter spilled one glass of wine at her grandmother’s birthday party, and before I could reach her, my mother-in-law slapped her across the face in front of everyone.
The whole dining room went silent.
My daughter Emma stood frozen beside the table.
Her tiny hand was still wrapped around the empty glass.
A red handprint was already appearing on her cheek.
“You ruined my dress!” Margaret screamed.
Emma’s lips trembled.
“I’m sorry, Grandma.”
Margaret raised her hand again.
I ran across the room and pulled Emma into my arms.
“Touch my daughter one more time.”
My husband Daniel jumped up.
“Sarah, Mom was just angry.”
I stared at him.
“She hit a four-year-old.”
Margaret pointed at the wine dripping from her expensive white dress.
“That child has never learned manners because her mother lets her do whatever she wants.”
Emma buried her face against my shoulder.
Then Margaret looked at the guests and laughed.
“Maybe humiliation will finally teach her.”
Something inside me broke.
I reached across the table, grabbed Margaret’s enormous birthday cake, and shoved it straight onto the floor.
Cream and frosting exploded across the expensive rug.
Margaret screamed.
“You crazy little—”
“Sarah!” Daniel shouted.
I didn’t care.
I carried Emma toward the front door.
But Margaret suddenly yelled, “Tell her why you really hate me!”
I stopped.
Daniel’s face changed.
“Mom, don’t.”
Margaret smiled through her anger.
“Oh, she still doesn’t know?”
My stomach tightened.
“Know what?”
Daniel stepped between us.
“Sarah, take Emma home.”
But my daughter suddenly lifted her head from my shoulder.
“Mommy…”
She pointed toward Margaret.
“Grandma said Daddy promised her you would be gone soon.”
Nobody moved.
Then Margaret reached into her purse, pulled out a folded document, and threw it onto the cake-covered floor.
May you like
My name was printed across the top.
And underneath it were the words: PETITION FOR DIVORCE.
