Chapter 6

After they left, my mother looked at me with disapproval.

"Pearl, are you really going to stay with Hank?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. "Are you afraid that after the divorce, you won't have anywhere to go? Don't worry. Even if you divorce him, your father and I will still take care of you."

I was touched by her words, my eyes welling up with tears. But I shook my head and gently reassured her.

"Mom, don't worry. I'm not going to stay with Hank. I have my reasons for doing this."

She seemed ready to argue further, but when she saw the determination in my eyes, she simply sighed and shook her head in resignation.

In the days that followed, Hank kept his word. He cut all ties with Susie, deleting and blocking every contact in front of me. He began to dote on me every day, constantly checking in to make sure I was okay, as if terrified that something might go wrong.

After I was discharged from the hospital, I moved back into our marital home with him.

During this