She Divorced Me to Marry Up—Now No One Wants HerChapter 1 The Upgrade
On New Year's Day, during the wedding reception for Caroline Henson's best friend—her third marriage, to be precise—I overheard a conversation that shattered my reality.
"Caroline, honestly, women are meant to trade up in life," her friend said, voice dripping with condescension. "Why are you still wasting your youth on a dead-end like Harrison Gilbert?"
"Look at me," the friend continued, gesturing to her lavish surroundings. "Last time, I married a wealthy bachelor. This time? I snagged a second-generation heir from the Manhattan elite. And the best part? He's younger than me."
Caroline fell silent. She didn't offer a single word in my defense.
That night, the betrayal deepened.
Her phone screen lit up on the nightstand, revealing a search history that turned my blood to ice. She wasn't just consulting a divorce lawyer; she was messaging her friend, asking for introductions to wealthy suitors.
A chill settled in my marrow, colder than the winter wind rattling the windowpanes.
So that's it, I thought, staring at her sleeping form.
Caroline Henson. Since you firmly believe marriage is nothing more than a ladder to climb, I won't stand in your way.
——
The final blow came during the holiday dinner at my in-laws' house.
Gifts were exchanged, pleasantries offered. Then, right in the middle of the meal, Caroline placed a document on the table.
"Harrison, let's divorce."
Her face was a mask of calm. Her tone held no ripple of emotion, no hesitation. She had clearly made up her mind long before this moment.
The room went deathly silent.
Every member of the Henson family froze, forks hovering halfway to their mouths. To them, Caroline and I were the model couple, the gold standard for the younger generation. In five years of marriage, we had never quarreled in public.
No one expected us to implode over dinner.
"Caroline!" my mother-in-law shrieked, dropping her chopsticks. "Why are you divorcing for no reason?"
She didn't wait for an answer. She immediately turned her glare on me. "It's because Harrison bullied you, isn't it? That man did something, didn't he?"
She clutched Caroline's hand protectively, then barked at me. "Harrison Gilbert! What are you standing there for? Bow your head and admit your mistake! Do I really need to teach a grown man how to beg?"