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Novel Catalog
Chapter 2: No One Is an Easy Target
Ainsley lowered her head, listening to the conversation from outside the study. After marrying Cason, she had dedicated herself to taking care of his family—Lindsay and Kaitlin, especially.
When Kaitlin had been in a car accident, it had been Ainsley who stayed by her side in the hospital for days on end. She had been respectful and considerate to Lindsay, always careful not to overstep, yet always present.
But despite everything she had done, nothing could change the Baldry family’s view of her.
Not long after, her phone rang. It was Lainey Salter. Ainsley could hear the tiredness in her friend’s voice.
“Aisy, are you really not coming? I remember how much you used to love hunting in the wild. And you could still fit in some drag racing—what’s stopping you?”
Ainsley froze, her mind briefly drifting back to a different time.
Before marrying Cason, she had indeed enjoyed hunting, racing cars, and even drinking. But after meeting Cason at the Salter family home, everything had changed. She had fallen for him instantly. Over time, she learned that Cason liked his women gentle and virtuous. So, she had slowly given up her old habits in favor of becoming the woman she thought he wanted.
Now, three years later, Ainsley had nearly forgotten the person she had once been.
On the other side of the phone, Lainey’s voice came through, persistent. “Aisy, if you don’t want Cason to know, just hide it from him. You don’t have to change everything about yourself for him. And Cason…”
“We’re divorced,” Ainsley interrupted softly, cutting her off.
There was a brief pause, then Lainey gasped. “Wait, what? Are you serious? Did you think this through, or is Cason just out of his mind?”
Ainsley smiled, her voice barely a whisper. “He asked for a divorce, and I agreed.”
Lainey was stunned, a sharp breath escaping her. She couldn’t fathom why Cason would end things with Ainsley—she was everything anyone could want in a partner. “Congratulations, I guess… but you deserve better. I’ll pick you up soon. We’re going out to celebrate that you’re finally single again.”
Ainsley laughed quietly and hung up the phone. The room felt colder now, emptier. She stood there, looking at the master bedroom—the room that had never truly felt like hers. Despite being married for three years, she had lived alone.
It was time for the marriage to end.
She walked to the guest room to begin packing. Her things were few—after all, she hadn’t had much time or reason to dress up in the past years. It didn’t take long to pack. Ainsley removed her wedding ring, holding it in her hand for a moment before placing it on the bedside cabinet. Her eyes were unreadable—was it relief or regret that she felt?
With her suitcase in hand, she made her way toward the door. As she passed the living room, she hesitated for a moment. Maybe she should say goodbye to her former mother-in-law. But before she could make up her mind, Kaitlin’s sharp, sarcastic voice cut through the silence.
“Well, well, someone is finally willing to leave. Doesn’t she know her place? She’s been living in our house all these years, and what does she want? Money. She comes from an impoverished family, but thinks she deserves to live a life of luxury…”
Ainsley stopped in her tracks. Without a word, she grabbed the nearest cup of water from the table and splashed it across Kaitlin’s face. The cold water soaked Kaitlin instantly.
Kaitlin shrieked in fury, “Ainsley, are you out of your mind? How dare you do that?!”
Ainsley calmly wiped her fingertips dry, meeting Kaitlin’s stunned expression. Her voice was steady, but there was a cold edge to it. “There’s nothing I don’t dare to do. No one is an easy target.”
Kaitlin stood frozen, mouth agape, unable to process what had just happened. Ainsley had always been the quiet, compliant wife—meek and obedient. No one had ever expected her to fight back.
Ainsley felt a flicker of satisfaction as she watched the disbelief in Kaitlin’s eyes. For three years, she had endured insults, scorn, and neglect. She had done everything she could to please the Baldry family, without ever voicing a complaint. She had swallowed their harsh words, their disdain, and had kept quiet, always playing the role of the dutiful wife.
But not anymore.
The years of submission had drained her, and now, for the first time, Ainsley was standing up for herself. Her patience had run dry.
She smiled quietly, the soft chuckle escaping her lips, and walked out of the room.
It was over.
