Kate watched his back, a cold smile on her lips. He thought she was surrendering, but in fact, she was positioning herself.

At midnight, the sound of cheers and fireworks rang out. On TV, the ball was dropping in Times Square. The children ran excitedly to the window to watch the neighborhood fireworks. Her in–laws exchanged hugs and well–wishes.

“Leo, Mia, come get your New Year’s gift,” Michael called. He took out some envelopes.

The two children ran over and took the envelopes, saying sweetly, “Thank you, Dad. Happy New Year, Dad.”

“And here’s yours, Catherine.” Michael handed Kate an envelope.

Kate took it. It was of average thickness, probably a check for a few hundred, just like in previous years.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Open it,” Michael said.

Kate opened the envelope. Inside there was a check for $5,000 and a small card that said, “For all you do.”

Kate understood. This was hush money, compensation for his conscience, the price for her to divorce him peacefully and not cause trouble.

“Thank you. It’s too much,” she said, handing the check back.

“Keep it.” Michael held her hand. “You’ve worked hard all these years.”

His hand was warm, but Kate only felt cold.

She withdrew her hand and put the check in her pocket. “Then thank you,” she said.

This gesture completely reassured Michael. He thought that by accepting the money, Kate had accepted all the terms of the divorce. He would never know that what Kate wanted was far more than this.

At 2:00 a.m., after seeing off her in–laws and putting the children to bed, the house finally became quiet. Michael finished washing up and hesitated for a moment.

“I’ll still sleep in the guest room,” he said.

“Mm. Good night,” Kate replied.

She went back to the master bedroom, but didn’t go to sleep right away. From the depths of the closet, she took out a small fireproof box. Inside were various documents: her Social Security card, college diploma, professional certifications, and a few passbooks and bank cards. These were all things she had secretly prepared over the years. The diploma and certifications were her confidence, and the bank accounts were her way out.

At the bottom was an employment contract she had just signed last week— an accountant position at a midsized firm downtown, with an annual salary of $65,000. She would start work after the holidays. The company valued her ten years of prior work experience and her recently obtained certifications and had agreed to give her a chance.

Sixty–five thousand dollars a year might be what Michael spent on a few business trips, but for her, it was the starting point of a new life.

Kate put the things back in their place and then opened her phone to check the messages in her study group. She had scored at the top of her class in the final exam for her certification program. The instructor had sent her a private message asking if she was interested in pursuing a higher–level CPA license.

She replied, “Thank you. I will consider it.”

Turning off her phone, Kate lay down. The sound of fireworks outside had become sparse, with only a few sporadic pops, like the final echo of this marriage. She closed her eyes, and scenes from the past three years flashed through her mind— the shock and pain of discovering Michael’s infidelity, the despair of deciding to endure it, the calmness of making a plan, and the determination of implementing it step by step.

The most difficult moments had passed. Now she just needed to follow the plan and take the last few steps.

On New Year’s Day, Michael didn’t come home until 10:00 p.m., with the faint smell of alcohol and perfume on him. Kate was reading a book in the living room.

Without looking up, she asked, “Have you eaten?”

“Yes,” Michael said a little guiltily. “A client dinner. I couldn’t get out of it.”

Kate turned a page of her book. “The children are already asleep,” she said. “Keep your voice down.”

Michael stood in the middle of the living room looking at her calm profile. Suddenly, he felt an indescribable sense of unease. This unease had started when Kate had readily signed the divorce agreement and had grown stronger with time. None of the reactions he had expected had occurred— no crying, no questioning, no bargaining. Kate was as calm as if she had known this day would come, even as if she had been waiting for it.

“Kate,” he began, “let’s talk.”

Kate closed her book and looked at him. “Talk about what? The divorce agreement is already signed. What else is there to talk about?”

“You.” Michael chose his words carefully. “Can you really accept it? I mean, the divorce and the children going with me?”

“What can I do if I can’t accept it?” Kate asked. “Cry and beg you to come back? Would that work?”

Michael was at a loss for words.

“Michael, we’ve been married for twelve years. I know you,” Kate said, standing up and walking over to him. “You won’t change your mind about something you’ve already decided. Since that’s the case, why shouldn’t I be more dignified and save myself some pride?”

What she said was logical, but Michael still felt that something was wrong. The Kate in front of him was too calm, too rational— not at all like the gentle, even somewhat timid wife he thought he knew.

“As for the children, as we agreed, we’ll tell them after the holidays are over,” Kate said, cutting him off. “During this period, I hope you will cooperate. At least in front of the children, we should still appear harmonious.”

“I will,” Michael promised.

Kate nodded and turned to walk toward the bedroom. After a few steps, she turned back.

“By the way, as for your parents, you explain it to them yourself,” she said. “I don’t want to hear any gossip about me from them.”

“I won’t. I’ll handle it,” Michael said.

Kate closed the bedroom door. Michael stood in the living room, not moving for a long time. He took out his phone, wanting to call Jessica, but after thinking about it, he put it down. For some reason, he didn’t want to make that call in Kate’s house.

In the guest room, Michael tossed and turned. He recalled Kate’s changes in recent months. She had started wearing makeup and dressing up, enrolled in an online course, and would occasionally go out to dinner with friends. At the time, he thought it was a good thing. It meant that Kate had her own life and wouldn’t be too dependent on him.

Now that he thought about it, these changes might have been premeditated. But he quickly dismissed the idea. How could Kate have premeditated a divorce? She was a housewife. How could she live without him?

He must be overthinking it.

The next day, it was customary to visit one’s own parents. Kate took the children back to her parents’ house. Michael used the excuse of having to work and didn’t go. This was exactly what Kate wanted. She needed some time alone with her parents to talk.

Kate’s parents lived in the older part of town. The house was not big, but it was very clean. Her father had been a factory accountant before he retired, and her mother was an elementary school teacher. They were both honest and down–to–earth people.

“Why are you alone? Where’s Michael?” her mother asked as soon as she opened the door.

“He has something to do at the office and can’t come,” Kate said, putting down the gifts. “Dad, Mom, I have something to tell you.”

Seeing her serious expression, her parents exchanged a look. They both had a bad feeling.

Kate had the two children go to the den to play and then closed the living room door.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” her mother asked anxiously.

“Michael wants a divorce,” Kate said calmly. “I’ve already signed.”

The living room went completely silent. The coffee cup in her father’s hand almost fell to the ground. Her mother’s face turned pale.

“What divorce? Why? Is he seeing someone else?” her mother finally managed.

“Yes,” Kate said. “It started three years ago. I just never said anything.”

“How is that possible?” Her mother couldn’t believe it. “Michael seems so decent.”

“Mom, people change,” Kate said, holding her mother’s hand. “Don’t get too upset. Let me finish.”

She told her parents everything— her endurance for the past three years, the process of discovering Michael’s infidelity, and the recent signing of the divorce agreement. But she concealed the part about her own preparations, only saying that she had been forced to accept it.

“That jerk,” her father said, trembling with anger. “I’ll go give him a piece of my mind.”

“Dad, don’t go.” Kate held her father back. “It’s useless. His heart is no longer in this family. Forcing him to stay is meaningless.”

“Then what about you? What about the children?” her mother said, her face streaked with tears. “You haven’t worked for so many years. How will you live after the divorce?”

“I have a plan,” Kate said. “The house is mine, and he’ll give me $100,000. I can start work after the holidays. I found a job— an accounting position paying $65,000 a year.”

Her parents were stunned. They hadn’t expected their daughter to have a plan already.

“You found a job?” her father asked.

“Yes. I signed the contract before Christmas. I start next week,” Kate said. “Dad, I’ve put all the accounting knowledge you taught me to use.”

Her father’s eyes welled up with tears. When she was young, he had wanted his daughter to study accounting, thinking it was a stable profession. But after Kate got married and became a full–time housewife, he had always regretted that she wasn’t using her skills.

“Good, good,” her father nodded repeatedly. “It’s good that you have a job. With a job, you’ll be okay.”

“But the children are with him,” Kate said in a low voice. “I’ve given up custody.”

“What?” Her mother became agitated again. “How can you give up the children? They are your flesh and blood.”

“Mom, what can I do if I don’t give them up?” Kate smiled bitterly. “I had no job, no income. Would a judge award the children to me? It’s better to be proactive and fight for better terms than to be forced to give them up in the end.”

She paused.

“And I’m only giving them up temporarily,” she said quietly. “When I get back on my feet, have a stable income, and a place to live, I’ll fight for custody again. The law allows for a change in custody.”

Her parents were silent. They knew their daughter was right, but it was hard to accept emotionally.

“You’ve been wronged, child,” her father said, patting her on the shoulder. “It’s all my fault for not being capable enough to support you.”

“Dad, don’t say that,” Kate shook her head. “This is my own choice. I’ll bear the consequences myself. All I need is your support. Don’t go and make a scene with Michael. Don’t give him any leverage.”

Her parents finally agreed. Although they felt sorry for their daughter, they also knew that making a scene would not help Kate. Society was already unfair enough to divorced women, especially to a housewife with no recent work history.

At lunch, the two children were very happy, completely unaware of the heavy conversation the adults had just had. Kate served her parents, peeled shrimp for the children, and acted as usual. Only her mother would occasionally wipe away a tear, which Kate stopped with a look.

After lunch, Kate took the children to a nearby park. The park was cold in winter, but the sun was bright. The children ran on the grass and Kate sat on a bench watching them.