"Mom, Dad, I'm divorcing Ava. Dad, please take back all the connections and resources you introduced to her company. No point in helping an outsider."
My dad looked surprised.
My mom reached over to feel my forehead.
"Are you feeling okay, son?"
I took Mom's hand off my head and patted it to comfort her.
"Mom, you don't need to clean up Ava's mess anymore. Please send me all the evidence of her dabbling in those shady spiritual practices. I might need it for the divorce."
My parents exchanged glances. My mom even pinched herself.
"Ouch, that hurt! I'm not dreaming?"
"Mom, what are you doing? Why are you pinching yourself?"
Dad patted my shoulder with satisfaction:
"Son, you've finally woken up. Ava has no morals. She's never been a suitable wife."
Tears of joy filled my mom's eyes.
"All these years, Ava must've put some spell on you. No matter how awful she was, you were always hopelessly devoted to her. Nothing we said made a difference. Now you're finally seeing the truth!"
Watching the tears stream down my mother's face, my own eyes welled up.
Ava wasn't wrong — I used to be nothing but a hopeless fool, a lapdog beyond redemption.
Despite Ava's betrayal, humiliating me and trampling on my dignity, I still gave her access to all the resources of my family.
My parents didn't like her, and yet, for her sake, I even distanced myself from them.
One day after work, I came home to find my two children collapsed on the floor with high fevers, completely unattended. That terrifying moment snapped me out of my delusion.
After rushing the kids to the hospital, I received a notification on my phone — Ava had used my credit card to pay for a hotel room.
It was at that moment I fully realized just how much damage this leech had caused to my family.
I took a tissue and wiped away the tears from my mother's face.
I hadn't embraced my parents in so long, but this time, I hugged them both and said.
"Mom, Dad, don't worry. This time, I'm truly divorcing Ava. From now on, I will sever all ties with her. We'll focus on living our lives as a family."
This time, not only did my mother tear up, but my father's eyes also reddened.
"Good! Good! Your mom and I fully support you. This divorce is happening, no question!"
"Son, don't worry about the kids. They can stay with us. We'll help take care of them while you get your life in order."
Ava, after all, was still the mother of my children.