Page 30 of The Housewife's Robot
Daniel finally finishes putting together his midnight snack and carries it to the table. He sits across from me, taking a large bite before finally making eye contact. Crumbs cling to the corner of his mouth, and I resist the urge to point them out. That’s not my job anymore.
“Talk about what?” he asks after swallowing, his voice neutral, bored.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “Since our marriage is over, we need to talk about the divorce.”
The word ‘divorce’ sounds heavy, and it doesn’t feel real as I say it out loud.
Daniel’s eyebrows rise slightly as he takes another bite of his sandwich. He chews thoroughly, making me wait for his response.
Another power play. Behind him, Caspian’s movements become unnaturally still, his hand frozen above the fish tank.
“Divorce is not happening,” Daniel finally says, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
My stomach drops, fear and confusion swirling together. “What do you mean? Why not?”
Daniel sighs as if explaining something simple to a child. “Because it’s unnecessary. And messy.”
“Unnecessary?” I repeat, my voice rising. “You’ve been fucking your co-worker for almost a year! Our marriage is a sham!”
“Calm down,” Daniel says slowly. “This doesn’t need to be dramatic.”
From the corner of my eye, I notice Caspian turning toward us. His head tilts slightly, a gesture I’ve come to recognize as his way of processing something unexpected. He seems as surprised as I am by Daniel’s refusal.
“Then explain it to me,” I say, fighting to keep my voice level. “Explain why divorce isn’t happening when we both know this marriage is over.”
Daniel sets down his sandwich and leans back in his chair, studying me with cool detachment. “We can continue living together as we have been. Without the intimacy, of course. It’s a practical solution.”
“Practical for who?” I ask, incredulous.
“For both of us,” he says. “You avoid the embarrassment of explaining a failed marriage to your family. I maintain my image at work. We both keep this house. It’s win-win. And well… I’ll give you a baby.”
I stare at him, unable to believe what I’m hearing. After everything, he thinks we can just coexist? And toss a baby into the mix. A total recipe for disaster.
“That is the most insane thing I’ve ever heard,” I say, pushing away from the table so forcefully my chair scrapes against the tile floor. “I don’t care about embarrassment. I want a divorce.”
I stalk to the sink, grabbing my water glass to rinse it, needing something to do with my shaking hands. The cool water runs over my fingers, and I focus on the sensation, trying to calm the rage building inside me.
“Rose, be reasonable,” Daniel says, his voice closer now. He’s stood up, following me to the sink. “You’ve always wanted ababy. Why go through the stress of getting to know someone new when you can still live a comfortable life with me?”
“You cheated on me for a year! While I begged you for a baby, while I tried to fix whatever was wrong between us. Do you understand how crazy you sound right now?”
Suddenly, Daniel’s arms slide around my waist from behind, his chest pressing against my back. The contact is so unexpected that I freeze, water still running over my hands and the glass they’re clutching.
“Get away from me,” I say, my voice low as my heart pounds faster.
But he tightens his grip, his mouth close to my ear. “If sex is what you need, Rose, we can still have that. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.”
His hands slide up my torso, toward my breasts, and revulsion rises in my throat like bile. I drop the glass in the sink with a clatter and try to twist away, but his grip is too strong.
“Let go of me!” I scream, struggling against him, my elbow connecting with his ribs. “Don’t touch me!”
Daniel grunts but doesn’t release me. “Stop fighting,” he hisses. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it? My attention? My touch? My baby?”
“Not anymore!” I cry, clawing at his hands. “I don’t want anything from you! Let me go!”
One of his hands slides down to the waistband of my pajama pants, and pure panic explodes through me. I scream again, louder, more desperate.
And then suddenly, Daniel’s weight is gone.
