Better Life Without You. novel Chapter 1

laura's mother's chemotherapy had failed, and her last wish was for the family to have a reunion dinner together. However, on the very day of the reunion dinner, Henry's new lover, who was heavily pregnant, came to provoke them.

laura's mother was so enraged that her condition worsened, and she passed away that very night.

laura called Henry several times, but no one answered.

It wasn't until she had arranged everything for her mother's funeral that he finally called her back.

Nonchalantly, he said, “She's just a little girl. She's young and doesn't know any better. You and Mom, don't bother arguing with her."

“She's emotionally unstable during her pregnancy, so don't make trouble for her."

“If you can't accept her, I won't let her appear in front of you again."

“But she is, after all, the mother of my child. I still have to spend time with her. I'll be home to accompany you on weekdays, and I'll stay with her on weekends."

Hearing his tone, which left no room for negotiation, laura didn't argue or shout. She simply murmured, “Mm."

As she listened to Henry talk about his arrangements, she calmly browsed through the requirements for applying to Doctors Without Borders.

She found that she met all the criteria, and without hesitation, she began filling out the application form.

After Henry finished speaking, he heard the sound of laura's fingers tapping on the keyboard, accompanied by a hint of displeasure in his voice. “laura, did you hear what I said?"

She gave a faint "Mm" in response.

He fell silent, seemingly surprised that she agreed so readily.

After a while, he lowered his voice and sighed lightly. “laura, if you had been this obedient before, things would have been different."

laura froze, momentarily forgetting what she was doing.

Suddenly, memories of their countless arguments came rushing back.

In the five years of their marriage, countless women had come to provoke them.

She still remembered the first time someone came to challenge her. She was so distraught that she destroyed everything at home, hysterically demanding to know why he treated her this way.

Back then, all he had in his eyes when he looked at her was exhaustion, and he explained time and again, “It was just a casual fling with her because of work. Our relationship is pure and clean. How many times do I need to say it for you to believe me?"

She thought about divorcing him and letting go of this absurd and miserable marriage once and for all.

However, her mother's greatest wish was to see her happy.

Her mother endured so much pain every day that laura couldn't bear to let her worry about her issues.

So, she kept enduring. She deliberately avoided anything related to Henry and turned a blind eye to the women who came to provoke them.

She thought that by doing so, she could maintain the appearance of happiness.

Until the moment before her mother passed away, her body frail and emaciated, lying silently on the hospital bed with tears in her eyes. She murmured faintly,

“Daughter, it's all my fault… I just want you to be happy… If you're sad, let go of yourself…"

Her last wish, which had shifted from a simple reunion dinner to a desire for laura's happiness.

Remembering her words before she passed away, laura's eyes welled up with tears, and her voice trembled with a hint of choking.

She told Henry, “Henry, you can't give me the happiness I want, can you?"