Bab 16: Chapter 16
Director Gu cleared his throat as General Liu began to unbutton his coat.
Man, this is tough, but what did I expect? Normally, they'd spend a month at the negotiation table just for a percentage point. This is nothing compared to that.
"William cried yesterday," Director Gu began. "This guy, who can grit his teeth and dig a bullet out of his own flesh without shedding a tear during missions, was bawling like a baby. He said he was sorry, that his conscience was eating him alive, that he shouldn't have joined the military. He really feels remorse."
Brian finally reacted, glancing at William with a curious expression.
"Let's see those tears now," Brian taunted.
William's face turned red. Truth be told, he had faked his tears yesterday by smearing spit at the corners of his eyes, just to get these two higher-ups involved.
"Don't look at me, I can't cry on command," William grumbled.
Embarrassed, he felt like a grown man being teased in the way a man would flirtatiously tease a young girl.
"He was fooling you guys. Can't believe you fell for it," Brian added.
"He knows he screwed up and he's sorry. Can't you let bygones be bygones? What do you say, Brian?" Director Gu coaxed.
"Look, I've had my share of issues with my wife too. We were young, busy with work, and she complained a lot. I get where you're coming from. But we didn't divorce for the sake of our child. Now we're older, our kid is married, and we made it through. Tough times don't last. From now on, we'll lighten William's workload so you two can spend more time together. How about you drop the divorce?"
"What about having a child? Surrogacy is legal now. Have you thought about having a kid?" General Liu chimed in.
"General, having a child isn't the solution. It would only add to Brian's burdens. Look at him, running a huge company. He doesn't have the time. He's still young. Once William's assignments decrease and his job stabilizes, and Brian gets his emotions in check, having a child after 35 isn't too late. Brian, would you prefer a boy or a girl?"
"Boy or girl, it doesn't matter to me because we're getting a divorce," Brian replied, his voice calm and his smile faint, as if the topic of divorce had nothing to do with him.
Round three of persuasion: failed.
Brian's mind was made up. Nothing anyone said would change it.
He was set on divorce, no matter whose feelings it might hurt.
General Liu and Director Gu sighed and shook their heads. They had said all they could.
"Brian, can you tell us why you're so adamant about the divorce? Is it because of his job? You have to understand, if he doesn't have time to be with you, we can make time. Why won't you reconsider?" Director Gu pleaded.
Brian hesitated for a moment, then decided to speak up.
"You both have said a lot. Let me share my thoughts, so I don't get labeled as someone who doesn't support his work.
First, I know he's a soldier, and I've always supported his career. I'm proud that he works for national security. He's exceptional, and I understand that as his partner, I need to hold down the fort at home so he can serve without worries.
But let me lay it out for you. I want to give you a glimpse into the life of someone married to a person who puts his life on the line for the country but leaves his family in the lurch. In three years, I've received at least ten notifications that his whereabouts were unknown and that I should prepare for the worst. The day after our wedding, he left for a mission. No honeymoon, no words of farewell. He couldn't call while on a mission, and I had no idea where he was. I understand it's for security and his safety.
But, gentlemen, he's also my partner. Every time I received news that he was missing, I thought he was dead. I wondered how I would console his family, how I would keep the company running, and how I would face the board of directors. Anxiety, worry, fear, terror – a whirlwind of emotions, my heart constantly on edge. I desperately wanted to know if he was safe. But even when he returned unharmed, he wouldn't let me know.
The only time I knew he was alive was when I received another notification that he was missing and possibly in danger again.
I worried every single day. Maybe your families can relate to how I feel – no news, and when there is news, it's that he might be dead. Three years of this, every day.
Please, just let me go. I need a life where my heart isn't perpetually racing. I just want to sleep peacefully and eat without worry, not be on tenterhooks every day for him. It's simple – we divorce. He doesn't have feelings for me, and maybe I had feelings once, but they're gone. Once we're divorced, we're strangers. His life or death won't concern me anymore."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone