The Shape of Happiness: A Family Crumbling Due to the Mother's Infidelity, a Wounded Middle School Daughter, and a Struggling Father Finding a New Form of Happiness. - Episode 30

Akiko leaned back on the sofa, smirking at Shinichi.

“I’ll take everything I can get! Now, hand over the money!”

“Money? What money?”

Akiko looked at him in disbelief.

“Obviously, alimony! After everything I let you do to me, now you’re just treating me badly! I expect at least ten million yen! And don’t forget child support!”

“You want me to pay alimony and child support to you?”

“Of course! The world favors women! Ladies first, women come first in everything! Don’t you know that? It’s a man’s duty to take care of his ex-wife so she doesn’t struggle after divorce!”

Beside Akiko, Atsushi leaned forward with a sneer.

“Hey, Ryoko. If we get divorced, I’ll demand alimony from you too. You ruined my entire life plan, you know that, right? Do you even have that kind of money? You’re just a housewife.”

Ryoko glared at Atsushi.

“Atsushi, let’s use the alimony I receive to cancel out what you owe him!”

“Oh, great idea!”

“Alright then, Shinichi. Take off two million, and just pay me eight million for alimony. Plus, twenty thousand yen per month for child support. Make sure you pay on time.”

Both Akiko and Atsushi grinned confidently at Shinichi and Ryoko.

At that moment, the middle-aged man standing behind Shinichi and Ryoko finally spoke.

“Excuse me, but I would like to explain something.”

“Who the hell are you?”

“Who’s this old man? Why is he even here?”

“I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Sato.”

Sato stepped forward and placed a business card on the table in front of Akiko and Atsushi. They leaned in to read it.

“…Sato Law Office…?”

“Wait… You’re a lawyer?!”

Akiko and Atsushi were both shocked. When they looked closer, they saw a dull, slightly faded badge on his suit—it was a lawyer’s badge. The scale in the center symbolized fairness and equality, while the surrounding sunflower represented freedom and justice. Though originally gold, the worn-out badge hinted at his years of experience.

“First, Mrs. Akiko and Mr. Matsunaga, you both have no right to demand alimony.”

“Hah?! What nonsense are you talking about?! You call yourself a lawyer? Fine, let me educate you! Alimony is—”

“In this case, alimony is compensation for the emotional distress caused by an affair. It is meant to acknowledge the pain and suffering inflicted on the innocent spouse. The word ‘alimony’ itself means compensation for emotional damage.”

Sato interrupted Akiko’s rant.

“Then Atsushi and I refuse to apologize! If we don’t apologize, we don’t have to pay, right?”

“No, you still have to pay.”

“Why?!”

“Because both of you committed adultery, violating Shinichi’s rights as a husband and Ryoko’s rights as a wife. Therefore, under civil law, your actions are illegal, and you must compensate them for the damage you’ve caused.”

“Our love is illegal?! …Then, I’ll accuse Shinichi of emotional abuse—”

“I have already spoken with Shinichi and your daughter, Misaki.”

Sato cut her off again.

“Mrs. Akiko, even though you had a part-time job, you were still a housewife, correct?”

“So what?!”

“For the past year, you have not taken care of the household or your daughter at all.”

“……..”

“In that situation, wouldn’t it be natural for Shinichi to complain? Your daughter even told me that you always lashed out when confronted. Do you really think you can claim emotional abuse in this situation? Do you even have any proof?”

“Then… child support—”

“It seems you misunderstood. Child support is not money for you. It is money for raising your child. Earlier, you said you didn’t want Misaki, right? And Misaki herself wants to live with her father, Shinichi. So, you are the one who will be paying child support.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“Child support is the child’s right.”

“So… I have to pay alimony and child support…?”

“Yes, you are the one who has to pay.”

Akiko turned pale. She had expected to receive a large sum from the divorce, but now everything was the opposite.

Beside her, Atsushi remained unfazed. He smirked and shrugged.

“Fine, I’ll just pay. Now let’s get this over with. Ryoko, we’re leaving. And when we get home… you better remember this. You won’t get away with it.”

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang. Akiko’s mother, Saori, went to open the door.

Click.

Several people entered the house.

“Our next guests have arrived.”

As Shinichi spoke, four people walked into the living room. They appeared to be two married couples.

The first couple consisted of an older man with a bald head, wearing a gray suit, and an older woman with slightly messy medium-length brown hair, wearing a white blouse and a dark navy long skirt. They looked nervous and uneasy.

The second couple seemed more refined. The older man had neatly styled gray hair and wore a black branded suit. The woman had long, slightly wavy black hair in a bob style and wore a white blouse, a light gray knit jacket, and a navy tulle skirt.

The moment Atsushi saw their faces, his smug expression vanished.

“Mr. Matsunaga, I have invited your parents and Ryoko’s parents.”

The four of them glared at Atsushi. Ryoko then stepped forward and spoke.

“…I am divorcing this man.”