Divorced and Unbound

On the way to my twin boys' parent-teacher conference, I'm informed that my sons, Ricky and Micky Stallone, have already been taken home by their parents.

I'm immediately worried sick about their safety. However, when I look across the road, I suddenly catch sight of a very happy family of four—Ricky, Micky, my husband, Corbin Stallone, and his first love he could never forget, Ingrid Lacelle.

Ricky and Micky both run into Ingrid's arms, cozying up to her and calling her "Mommy".

Meanwhile, Corbin gently kisses Ingrid's forehead with a doting expression on his face.

I join the crowd of envious onlookers, watching the beginning of the end of my marriage.

The door finally opened with a creak after I had reheated the food for the seventh time. Ricky's voice floated into the house.

"Our birthday is so much nicer with Ingy around! I want Ingy to celebrate every birthday with me after this! No, I want her to be with us every day!"

Micky said in a hushed tone, "Shh! Daddy said that it's a secret among the four of us! But Daddy, why can't we let Ingy come home and stay with us? Ricky and I both want Ingy to be our mommy!"

The bowl of mutton stew in my hands slipped to the floor and broke into pieces. That used to be the twins' favorite food I made.

But even though I had spent two hours slaving over it, it somehow seemed to know that it wasn't needed anymore. I crouched down to clean up the mess, but the sharp ceramic cut open the blisters I had gotten on my hand when I was cooking earlier. It hurt so much that I nearly blacked out.

Corbin brought the twins to the kitchen and frowned in disgust. "You clumsy oaf. Stop being so rowdy."

I stood up despite the pain. I hadn't seen the twins all day, and I missed them.

I thought of hugging them, but Ricky pushed me aside while Micky pinched his nose and hurried away.

"Mommy stinks! Mommy stinks like smoke! I don't want Mommy to hug me! Ingy always smells nice. I want Ingy to hug me instead!"

"Me too!" Ricky cried out. "Mommy stinks! But Ingy smells nice!"

They were my twins—my flesh and blood. I had given up everything I had to raise them for five years. I thought that they would be different from Corbin, but I realized then that it was just wishful thinking on my part.

Corbin handed me a paper bag. "Wash these by hand. Return them to their original state."

I opened the bag curiously. It was a snow-white female blazer, the same one that Ingrid had been wearing that morning. There was no mistake about that.

I chuckled bitterly and returned the bag to Corbin. "I can't. Send it to the dry cleaners instead."

Corbin sounded surprised and angry as he replied, "What kind of tantrum are you throwing again? You're just a housewife. It's