My wife brought home a half-eaten cake, claiming she bought it especially for me. If I hadn’t seen her male assistant post a screenshot of a transfer for “1314” (meaning “forever”), I might have believed her. I casually replied, “Work comes first.” Next thing I knew, I was blocked. My wife even called to berate me: “I’ve never met such a petty man!” As I rubbed my aching abdomen, I thought to myself, “Do whatever you want. I’m done playing this game.” Amber was walking through the door just as I was tossing a takeout box into the trash. Recently diagnosed with early-stage liver cancer, I had been strictly advised by my doctor to stick to a bland diet this month. But I couldn’t resist the temptation. Today marked the fifth anniversary of my marriage to Amber. I had checked out of the hospital early, eagerly booked a hotel, hoping to celebrate properly with her. After waiting all day for a message, if it weren’t for Jack’s boastful social media post and Amber’s accusatory phone call, I’d probably still be waiting at the hotel. As soon as she entered, Amber noticed the empty dining table and immediately frowned. “No home-cooked meal today?” she asked. I nodded casually, my eyes glued to my phone screen. I deliberately said, “I thought you’d already eaten out.” In the past, no matter how late or tired I was, I would always come home early and cook different delicious meals for her. Back then, if she even slightly frowned, I’d feel like the sky was falling. Now, thinking back, it’s laughable how I humiliated myself completely, only to receive no love in return. Oblivious to my change in attitude, Amber placed a cake in front of me, saying she bought it specially because I mentioned wanting something sweet. But one look told me the cake had clearly been tampered with. It was full of dents, and all the fruit toppings had been picked off. I glanced at it and continued playing with my phone. Seeing my cold reaction, she grew upset. “Ryan, what’s your problem? I brought this especially for you, and you’re giving me the cold shoulder? When will this end?” “I don’t want something that’s been touched by others. It’s disgusting,” I said coldly. Her phone rang. I didn’t need to guess who it was. She looked up at me, her eyes cold with a hint of barely noticeable joy. Then, impatiently, she said, “Fine, fine, fine. I’ll go buy you another one, okay? I’m so tired from work, and I come home to this cold face of yours. It’s like I owe you something!” With that, she turned to leave. Remembering I had left the hospital in a hurry without my medication, I said I’d go along. Hearing this, she jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “You want to follow me just to buy a cake? Are you sick? Are you trying to keep me on a leash?” I sighed and explained I just needed to stop by the pharmacy. Only then did she relent, but not before ordering me to get her a blueberry cake before getting in the car. At the pharmacy, I got out. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, and her tone softened a bit. “Wait for me here after you’re done. I’ll pick you up.” With that, the car sped away, splashing muddy water all over me. I irritably wiped it off. I waited and waited outside the pharmacy. The rain got heavier, and my body was frozen stiff, but there was no sign of her. Thunder rumbled, startling me. Just as I was about to call a cab, the downpour began. I was instantly soaked to the bone. Remembering the doctor’s words, I fought through the pain and ran to a convenience store to buy an umbrella, but it was too late. My abdomen started to cramp severely, and I crouched on the ground, curled up in pain. Thankfully, a kind passerby helped me home. Otherwise, I might have needed an ambulance. I had just gotten home, dried off, and taken my medication when Amber stormed in, slamming the door so hard it shook the walls. “Why didn’t you tell me you came back? I’ve been driving around in the rain looking for you for an hour! Did you do this on purpose? Do you think it’s funny?”
My hand froze midair as I was putting down my water glass, a look of bewilderment on my face. She had blocked my number herself, and now she was blaming me for not contacting her? I had waited for two hours and just got home, and she claimed she’d been looking for me for an hour? Enough is enough. I didn’t have the energy to expose her little game. My face darkened as I coldly said, “If you wanted me to contact you, you should have unblocked me first.” Hearing this, she pressed her lips together, suppressing her anger. She put a rain-soaked matcha cake without its box in front of me. “It’s too late, and the box is gone. I barely found a place that still had any,” she explained. I stared at the cake, feeling nothing but exhaustion, numb to her lame excuses. My phone screen lit up at that moment. Jack had posted another update, a photo of a blueberry cake with a sickeningly sweet caption. I wanted to smirk, but found I didn’t even have the energy for that. A thousand words condensed into one sentence: “Thanks for the effort. You can throw it away.” Her face instantly turned ashen, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. “Are you crazy? I went through all this trouble to get this for you, and you just want to throw it away?” she yelled. “You’re making a fool out of me! It’s just a bonus for an employee, why are you making such a big deal out of it? I’m the boss, can’t I make my own decisions? And don’t think I’ve forgotten about you insulting people in private messages!” She grew more agitated as she spoke. I rubbed my aching head, too tired to argue. “It’s not what you think. I don’t have the energy or time for that. At that time, I was…” Before I could finish, she roughly cut me off. “Enough! Stop talking! It’s always like this. You’re in your mid-thirties, but you’re still as jealous as when you were young. There are so many handsome guys in this world, are you going to be jealous of all of them? You’ve lost your mind!” Her words cut into my heart like knives. In the past, I would always argue with her over these little things, begging her to love only me. But now, I’ve woken up. Between adults, what’s the point of love that needs to be questioned? I sighed, “If that’s how you want to see it, there’s nothing I can do.” With that, I got up and walked towards the bedroom. She ignored me, threw the cake in the trash, and started scrolling through her phone, occasionally letting out suppressed laughter. She went to the bathroom to make a call, and I took the opportunity to pack up my bedding, preparing to move to the guest room. Just as I was leaving, I bumped into her. She looked annoyed, staring at the bedding in my hands, and finally exploded: “What’s the meaning of this? You want to sleep separately?” “I didn’t complain about your alcohol breath, and this is how you act? Looking at you now makes me sick!” she said viciously, “Don’t come looking for me if you can’t sleep tonight!” I ignored her and went straight to the guest room, locking the door behind me. In the past, I couldn’t sleep when she came home late, constantly calling and texting her. She responded by giving me a bottle of sleeping pills the next day. Now, I sleep soundly without any medication. It turns out, those hurdles we thought we couldn’t overcome, when we look back, aren’t such a big deal after all. I’ve found a reliable divorce lawyer and am ready to start a new life. Meanwhile, Amber’s company account was buzzing with celebration videos. In the video, she stood next to Jack, a perfect match. The jewelry around her neck was the anniversary gift I gave her last year. This year’s gift, I’ve already returned, along with those unrealistic expectations.
I was about to turn off my phone when Amber’s call suddenly came through, her voice tinged with excitement: “I’ve sent you the address. I’ll pick you up later. There’s a surprise for you.” A sarcastic smile tugged at my lips. I’ve had quite enough of her “surprises.” Before I could say no, she had already hung up. It’s strange indeed that she remembered to unblock me right before the divorce. I had just finished taking my medicine when Amber’s car roared to a stop downstairs. After receiving her message, I went out in my loungewear. As soon as I got in the car, Amber’s smile froze upon seeing my scruffy face, as if she had swallowed a fly. “Why didn’t you shave or change your clothes? You’re embarrassing me. Are you deliberately trying to upset me?” Her tone was full of reproach. At that moment, Jack poked his head out from the passenger seat, dressed in a flashy suit, looking innocent: “Oh, I’m sorry, bro-in-law. I forgot to notify you… and couldn’t get through on the phone.” I shrugged and smiled, “It’s fine. A man’s dignity isn’t built on a woman’s approval.” I deliberately glanced at Jack, “Besides, with such a capable secretary, Amber’s reputation is already secure.” Amber was left speechless by my retort. I couldn’t be bothered with her and sat directly in the back seat. Throughout the journey, Jack chattered non-stop about the birthday party and how impressive Amber was. His tone was full of boasting and provocation towards me. I couldn’t care less and treated him like thin air. At the hotel, Jack naturally walked to Amber’s side, while I followed behind. At the elevator, the company staff were waiting. As soon as they saw Amber and Jack, the atmosphere became awkward. Mike quickly came forward to smooth things over. As soon as Mike saw me enter, he enthusiastically greeted me: “Oh, Ryan, you’re finally here! We couldn’t have landed this project without your skills! The entire company owes you a debt of gratitude today!” Hearing this warmed my heart, and I smiled, waving my hand: “Mike, you’re too kind. All this ‘bro’ talk feels strange. Who knows, when I return from abroad, I might bring back a new title, but that’s still up in the air.” I responded with a smile, knowing he was trying to help me. But as soon as I said this, Amber’s face changed. She suddenly turned and stared at me: “What do you mean abroad? You’re going overseas? How come I don’t know about this? Did I agree to this?” That look in her eyes, as if I were a stranger who had suddenly appeared. I smiled calmly, offering no explanation. In my mind, I thought: This divorce is definitely happening.
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