Just an hour ago, I’d rushed home, exhausted, to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. Now, sitting at the dining table, staring at a spread of vibrant, colorful dishes, I couldn’t help but sigh. “Chloe, you know I can’t eat chili…” I’ve never been a picky eater. But there wasn’t a single dish on that table I could touch. I’m allergic to chili, a fact my wife, Chloe Spencer, knew well. That’s why, for all these years, the meals I’d prepared were usually mild. But this time, every single dish Chloe ordered was heavy, spicy Sichuan food. She pushed the only chili-free bowl of tomato egg soup toward me, her voice edged with annoyance. “You know how busy I am with work. I don’t have time for these little things. This huge company relies on me. I finally carved out some time to have dinner with you tonight, so don’t make a big deal out of nothing! Besides, that bowl of tomato egg soup isn’t spicy, is it?” Even though I knew her heart had changed, or rather, that Chloe had never truly cared for me, I never expected her to be so cruel, completely disregarding our five years together. And on our fifth wedding anniversary, with a table of twelve dishes, I was only “allowed” to eat one. I was about to speak when Chloe’s phone rang, interrupting me. She glanced at her phone, then instantly broke into a delighted smile. Muttering words of welcome, she went to the kitchen, grabbed an extra set of silverware, and placed it beside her seat. Only after she hung up did she look at me and “ask”: “Leo’s home alone, and the power’s out, so he has nowhere to go. I invited him over for dinner. You don’t mind, do you, Adam?” It was supposed to be a question, but Chloe delivered it like a statement. I forced a bitter smile. Chloe had gone this far, even setting out the silverware. What good would refusing do now? “Oh, right, Adam, what were you about to say?” Chloe suddenly remembered I’d been about to speak, interrupted by the call, and now she actually asked. Today was our fifth wedding anniversary. I cherished this rare opportunity for us to have dinner alone, and naturally, I didn’t want anyone else to intrude. I knew saying this would displease Chloe, but after some thought, I said it anyway. “Chloe, it’s our fifth anniversary today. I just wanted it to be the two of us, to talk properly, and have dinner…” Sure enough, I hadn’t even finished my sentence when Chloe cut me off. She frowned, slamming her silverware down with an angry thud. “I know it’s our fifth anniversary. You don’t need to buzz like a fly, constantly reminding me.” “There are so many dishes; you can’t possibly eat them all yourself anyway. That young man has been running errands for me all day and must be starving. This is practically a bonus meal for him.” Seeing Chloe’s resolute tone, I could only lower my head. I didn’t say anything more, just bowed my head and started eating the bowl of tomato egg soup in front of me. My eyes welled up without me realizing. Tears silently dropped into my soup, and I swallowed them, along with my pain. So many dishes, I really couldn’t eat them all myself. Not even if I ate until I died. I quickly spooned down the tomato egg soup. When I looked up again, I seemed normal. Only the slight redness and puffiness around my eyes would give me away if Chloe looked closely. “Chloe, why don’t we get a divorce?” Chloe, sitting opposite me, had her eyes glued to her phone. She seemed absent-minded, a slight smile playing on her lips. She didn’t seem to have heard me, didn’t even lift her head, just gave a questioning “Huh?” My face was expressionless, but a bitter ache slowly welled up in my heart. I took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of hurt. I was about to repeat myself when Chloe cut me off again. “Oh, Leo’s here. Whatever you have to say, save it for later tonight.” My mouth was still open, words caught in my throat. But Chloe didn’t even wait for me to utter a single word, hurrying out of the room. Watching her decisive back disappear, I forced a wry smile. I tapped a few times on my phone screen and sent a message. “I’ll meet you at the law firm later.” From now on, Chloe wouldn’t have to worry about me interfering with her relationships with other men. The five-year term was up. Mrs. Spencer’s dying wish, which had led to our marriage, ultimately wasn’t fulfilled, but I genuinely couldn’t wait any longer. **Chapter 2** Not long after, Chloe reappeared in the house with a young man. I recognized him. The young man was Leo Miller. We were actually colleagues at the same company. Chloe was the company CEO, and Leo was her personal assistant. And I was the company’s CFO. However, to keep things professional, no one in the entire company knew about our relationship. Even coming and going from work each day, Chloe would deliberately adjust her schedule to avoid me. “Adam! You’re here too! I thought Ms. Spencer was just kidding.” Leo walked right up and grabbed my arm. His tone sounded friendly, but it was laced with an underlying cunning. “Adam, tell me quietly, what exactly is your relationship with Ms. Spencer?” I uncomfortably pulled my arm away, about to tell Leo the truth about Chloe and me. But Chloe, standing nearby, spoke first, her tone affectionate and slightly exasperated. “Adam and I are just colleagues. I was going over the company’s finances, and you just happened to walk in on us. Not everyone gets to lounge on the couch watching TV after work like you do, Leo.” Chloe casually dismissed our relationship as mere colleagues. I stood opposite her, staring for a long time, my whole body growing stiff. Even though we always addressed each other as colleagues at the office, hearing Chloe say those words, one by one, felt like daggers piercing my heart. I gritted my teeth, full of resentment, and began, “Chloe, we clearly are…” “Shut up!” Chloe cut me off before I could finish, giving me a cold, emotionless glance. “Don’t say what shouldn’t be said. I believe I still have the right to decide this matter.” I shook my head in disappointment, the last flicker of hope deep in my eyes slowly dying out. Leo, meanwhile, smiled sweetly. Hearing that Chloe and I were just colleagues, he unhesitatingly sat down at the dining table beside Chloe, his voice brimming with delight. “Wow, it’s all my favorites! You’re so good to me, Chloe.” With that, Leo leaned in and pecked Chloe on the cheek. Chloe froze for a moment. When she recovered, she cautiously glanced in my direction out of the corner of her eye. Only when she saw that I seemed to be looking down the entire time, as if I hadn’t noticed, did she finally relax. “Eat up. I know you like these; I ordered them all for you.” Leo, his mouth full of food, mumbled, his tone laced with a hint of dissatisfaction. “Chloe, you love teasing me. You knew the power would be out at my apartment today, but you didn’t tell me in advance. I almost slipped and fell while showering!” “Oh no! Are you hurt? My fault, I didn’t think it would happen so coincidentally.” “Heh heh, I was just kidding. I’d already finished showering when the power went out.” “This was a surprise I prepared for you today. Do you like it?” … The two chatted away, oblivious to my presence. I hadn’t realized their conversations were so intimate, so boundary-less. It wasn’t until Chloe filled Leo’s bowl with food that I belatedly realized: every single dish on that table was Leo’s favorite. Our much-anticipated fifth wedding anniversary… I was just a supporting character in Leo’s meal. Chloe coming home early today and arranging this feast wasn’t for me at all. In that instant, I felt like I knew exactly when Chloe’s heart had changed. The terrifying realization pressed on my chest like a giant stone, suffocating me. I stood up, a bitter taste in my mouth, preparing to leave. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head out.” Leo remained seated. “Adam, aren’t you going to eat something before you leave?” “No, it’s fine. It’s not appropriate.” “Then let me see you out.” Leo started to stand up, as if he were the man of the house. But Chloe pressed him back down onto the chair. “He knows the way; you don’t need to see him out.” That was the last thing Chloe said as I left the villa. Not a single word of retention. Standing outside the villa, listening to the laughter and joyful voices inside, I dialed my lawyer’s number: “Mr. Henderson, can you draft my divorce agreement for me today?” On the other end, the lawyer sighed. “Mr. Thompson, let’s discuss it in person.” **Chapter 3** I went directly to a law firm. I took the elevator, familiar with the route, to the law office. Clearly, it wasn’t my first visit. “Mr. Henderson, can my divorce agreement be drafted today? Do you need any more documents?” The lawyer, sitting opposite me, frowned, flipping through old records. “It’s already halfway done. If I work overtime today, it should be ready.” “However, looking at your previous requests, you were planning to file for divorce next month. Why the rush now?” I gave a faint smile. “Better a sharp pain than a lingering one, right? It’s bound to happen sooner or later.” I stayed at the law firm until late into the night. When I left, I carried a black folder in my hand. Since leaving the law firm, my brow hadn’t unfurrowed. “This divorce agreement requires both parties to sign.” I had already signed my name the first chance I got. But the next, most crucial step was getting Chloe to sign hers. Suddenly, my phone rang, breaking my train of thought. It was Chloe. “Where are you? Why aren’t you home so late? Give me your address; I’ll come pick you up.” After a moment’s thought, I gave Chloe an address. “Alright, come pick me up. I also have something to tell you.” I thought that if Chloe truly came to pick me up this time, I would confront her directly, openly discuss everything, including my intention to divorce. But one hour, then two hours, slowly passed. I still didn’t hear from Chloe. When I opened my phone to call her, I saw a new photo on SnapChat. It was a picture of Leo’s apartment, completely dark, lit only by a single candle. The faint candlelight illuminated Chloe’s left hand. Although it was too dark to see her face, I knew it was her. I couldn’t possibly mistake the wedding ring on her finger. [Power outage at home is so dark, the boss is spending a candlelight evening with me!] I stared blankly for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh. No wonder Chloe hadn’t come; she was occupied elsewhere. I “liked” Leo’s SnapChat story and walked home, step by step. I returned home, showered, and lay in bed. It wasn’t until I was half-asleep that Chloe finally came back. She got into bed and, quite naturally, grabbed my hand. Chloe forcefully pressed herself against my chest, pulling my hand to her waist. Her cold, thin lips brushed against my neck. “Adam, it’s been a while since we’ve been intimate…” The moment Chloe spoke, A scent of men’s cologne I didn’t recognize made me involuntarily sneeze. Coincidentally, it was the exact same cologne Leo wore. It made me feel a little sick. Tiredly, I pushed Chloe’s embrace away, my voice calm. “Not tonight, I don’t feel well.” This was the first time I had ever refused her. A flicker of surprise crossed Chloe’s eyes. However, after I sneezed several more times, Chloe remembered her broken promise from earlier, and a look of guilt crossed her face. “Adam, are you catching a cold? I should take you to the hospital.” “I’m so sorry, Adam. I broke my promise today. Something came up at the company; I was going to pick you up, but then I got too busy and couldn’t make it.” I closed my eyes, nodded, and said, “No need,” then fell silent. The woman I had shared a bed with for five years no longer spoke a single truth to me. Any lingering guilt I had about secretly drafting the divorce agreement vanished. **Chapter 4** The next morning, we both left the villa one after another for the company. As I arrived downstairs at the office building, I saw Chloe getting out of her car with Leo. Chloe would explain her relationship with me to everyone, but she never bothered to hide her intimacy with Leo. In her words, she was “acting with integrity,” and their relationship was “pure and innocent, nothing to hide.” Meanwhile, her relationship with me was like something stolen, meant to be kept in the dark. Seeing me, Leo jogged over and handed me a bag of bagels. “Adam, what a coincidence! These are for you, a thank-you for liking my SnapChat post yesterday.” Chloe, who had been following behind Leo, heard this and grew curious. “What SnapChat post?” Leo then pulled out his phone, showing my “like” on his story from yesterday. Chloe’s pupils contracted. Perhaps she remembered her lie from yesterday; her expression grew flustered as she looked at me. However, seeing me calmly accept the bagels from Leo, she visibly relaxed. Chloe reassured herself. Maybe I hadn’t connected all the dots. I took the bagels, said “Thanks” with a smile, and squeezed into the elevator. Chloe frowned as I left. She felt something was off about me today, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Once Chloe arrived at her office, she called someone from the finance department to inquire about my recent work performance. “I saw Mr. Thompson at Mr. Henderson’s law firm last night. I wonder if there’s a family issue he needs to deal with.” Those words immediately piqued Chloe’s interest. She and I were family, so she would naturally know if I had any need for a lawyer. Chloe harbored a growing suspicion. She remembered the address I’d given her yesterday was right near the law firm. She was about to call me in for questioning. Unexpectedly, I knocked on her office door first. “Ms. Spencer, here’s the employee salary disbursement report for last month. It needs your signature.” I took a black folder from my bag and handed it to Chloe. Every page that required a signature had been marked by me. “Ms. Spencer, the pages that need your signature are right here…” “I know, I’ll just take a quick look.” I don’t know what went wrong. Chloe, who usually didn’t examine things too closely, was unusually meticulous this time. “I heard you went to a law firm yesterday?” Chloe’s sudden question made my heart leap. If Chloe knew this was a divorce agreement, would she sign it? I didn’t dare risk that chance. All I wanted now was to get away from Chloe as quickly as possible. “You know the company is about to sign a big project. I asked the lawyer to check the contract for any loopholes.” Perhaps my calm demeanor dispelled Chloe’s doubts. She turned to the last page that needed a signature and quickly frowned again. “What kind of contract is this? Why is there only one page?” There wasn’t much information on it, just the usual boilerplate legal jargon about “three copies” or “standard procedures.” But I had prepared for this. My face was impassive, but my voice carried a slight urgency. “I just found an error in this contract this morning, so I took it to be corrected. Please sign it quickly; this contract is urgent.” Chloe looked up at me. She trusted me not to lie to her, but she still felt something was off. Unbeknownst to her, as Chloe hesitated, my relaxed heart tightened again. Although the contract content was minimal, a closer look would reveal the faint words “Law Firm Divorce Agreement” in the top left corner. “Chloe, I think Leo just fell outside.” I used Leo to distract Chloe. Just then, a faint noise came from outside the door, unsettling Chloe. She didn’t have time to inspect or question the contract further, hastily signing it. I breathed a sigh of relief, satisfied, and left. Before I left, I saw Chloe carefully, repeatedly checking Leo’s body. It was just a spilled water glass, but she reacted as if her beloved treasure had been hurt. This time, I felt profoundly calm. The moment I decided to divorce, I had already let Chloe go. **Chapter 5** That afternoon, I immediately contacted Mr. Henderson. “Once the divorce agreement is signed, there’s nothing else. However, there’s a thirty-day cooling-off period. During this time, if either party disagrees, you’ll have to continue negotiating.” I was already well aware of these divorce regulations. Back at Chloe’s villa, I immediately started packing my bags. I decided to keep it a secret from Chloe. Living in this villa for five years, at first glance, there were traces of my life everywhere. But as I packed my belongings, I found I had surprisingly few things. It made me realize once again how reluctant Chloe must have been to marry me. Otherwise, our five-year marriage wouldn’t have been filled only with resignation and no happiness. When Chloe returned, I was smiling bitterly as I placed a towel into my suitcase. She frowned. “Adam, are you packing? Where are you going?” I hadn’t expected Chloe to come home so early today. But I remained composed, calmly continuing to pack. “Nowhere special. Some clothes have gotten moldy or old, so I’m just going to donate them.” “Donate them? Why?” I looked up, smiling. “Didn’t I tell you? I actually grew up in a…” I hadn’t finished my sentence when Chloe cut me off. A phone call, ringing at that moment, diverted Chloe’s attention, leaving her no time to investigate further. The instant Chloe picked up the phone, I saw the caller ID and name: [My Leo]. A unique nickname, affectionate and intimate. Unlike me, whose contact name in Chloe’s phone was simply “Adam Thompson.” “I’m home. You wait patiently there; I’ll be right over.” With that, Chloe smiled and hung up. She looked up, realizing I had overheard the entire conversation. “Leo’s looking for you?” I asked. Chloe immediately became flustered, trying to explain. “Adam, don’t misunderstand. It’s just that Leo’s apartment suddenly had another power outage, and I don’t feel safe being alone at home. If I accidentally trip and fall, it wouldn’t be good, so I…” I quickly cut off Chloe’s rambling. I smiled and said I understood. But the more I did this, the more uneasy Chloe became. My odd behavior these past few days made her increasingly frustrated. It was like a sheet of paper in front of her, ready to tear with a gentle touch. But she couldn’t quite touch it; she couldn’t find the answer. She watched me finish packing my suitcase, then looked around. The entire house seemed to be exactly as it was, unchanged. My clothes for daily wear were ironed and neatly arranged. Even the jewelry to match each dress was meticulously placed beside it. Chloe couldn’t find an answer and suspected she was too busy lately and imagining things about me. “Oh, right, Adam, what were you about to say? How about we go to Leo’s place together?” I was silent for a moment. I had actually been about to tell Chloe that I grew up in an orphanage. My occasional departures over the years were to return to that orphanage, to visit the director and the children. But now, it seemed, there was no need to say any of that. As for going to Leo’s place together, I quickly refused. I patted the suitcase I had just packed. “I won’t go. I still need to find a place to donate these clothes.” My excuse once again left Chloe with no grounds for suspicion. This time, however, she didn’t drop the subject. “Then I’ll go with you. It’ll be easier with the car.” She looked at me intently, as if trying to read my thoughts. But this time, I lowered my head and didn’t refuse. I understood Chloe well. I knew she had already sensed that something was wrong. With only thirty days left, I didn’t want all my efforts to be in vain. We got into the car, one after the other. Just as I was racking my brain to find a way to get rid of Chloe, A message from Leo called Chloe away. Chloe looked at me with an apologetic expression. “Adam, I’m so sorry. I can’t go with you to donate clothes this time. Something at the company needs my attention.” I nodded with a smile, agreeing. Chloe always thought she was keeping her secrets perfectly. Just as she was about to get out of the car, I suddenly asked her, “If I hadn’t saved Mrs. Spencer six years ago, would you have married me?” My question didn’t seem to catch Chloe’s attention. Her mind was entirely focused on Leo, wishing she had wings to fly to his side. “Of course, not! We got married because I loved you.” “Just like that?” “Just like that!” I suddenly laughed. I chose to let go of Chloe, whose mind was already elsewhere. To let go of this person who spoke to me with such obvious perfunctory indifference. It wasn’t until Chloe’s car disappeared around the bend that I allowed my red-rimmed eyes to shed tears, whispering, “Liar.” **Chapter 6** Speaking of how Chloe and I first met, it was quite a coincidence. When I first arrived in this city, after much searching, I ended up renting Mrs. Spencer’s house. On my very first day there, Mrs. Spencer collapsed due to a sudden illness, falling unconscious. Thankfully, I discovered her in time and rushed her to the hospital. Later, Mrs. Spencer’s surgery was successful, but her health had deteriorated. She required long-term care. Coincidentally, having just arrived in the city, I didn’t have a job. So, at Mrs. Spencer and Chloe’s urging, I took on the job of caring for Mrs. Spencer. Sadly, due to her severe illness, Mrs. Spencer passed away a year later. And Chloe, following her mother’s dying wish, married me. Five years had flown by since then. Filled with youthful ambition, I always believed that one day I could warm Chloe’s cold heart. But after five years, I was tired. I couldn’t fight anymore. I slowly pulled my suitcase back to the villa and made a call. “Dave, could you please help me find a rental? Nothing too big, just enough for one person, and ideally, I can move in next month.” Dave’s puzzled voice came through the phone. “Rent a place? Adam, you have a few properties listed for sale, why are you looking to rent?” Dave was the real estate agent who helped me find Mrs. Spencer’s house back then. All the properties I’d accumulated over the years had been managed by Dave. He was one of the few friends I could truly talk to in this city. “If you don’t have a place to stay, and want to clear your head, you can always go to Mrs. Spencer’s old house.” “It’s quiet, the environment is nice, and it’s not far from your workplace…” Of course, I wouldn’t agree to Dave’s suggestion. I wanted to draw a clear line between Chloe and me. Why would I stay anywhere connected to Chloe? “Dave, please find me a place elsewhere!” My tone was calm but firm. On the other end of the line, Dave seemed to sense my intentions, sighed, and said no more. Just then, Chloe’s voice came from behind me. “Adam, who are you talking to?” I flinched. I quickly said goodbye on the phone and hung up. I looked at Chloe, my face unreadable. “Just catching up with Dave. We’re planning to grab dinner this weekend.” My words were half-truths, making Chloe frown. She knew Dave was one of my few friends and we’d occasionally keep in touch. But I was a reserved person; I never had much enthusiasm for going out. In these five years, the number of times I’d gone out with others was countable on one hand. “Why the sudden urge to have dinner?” Chloe took off her coat, turned, and looked at me, sitting on the couch without moving, her frown deepening. In the past, whenever she came home, I would always greet her immediately, taking her coat and hanging it on the coat rack myself. But recently, she hadn’t received that treatment. This time, Chloe’s heart began to flutter with unease. “You’ve always disliked going out, haven’t you?” I looked down at my phone. “I just donated all my old clothes, and the weather’s changing, so I need a couple of new pieces. Figured I’d catch up with Dave while I’m at it.” Chloe stared at me intently, as if trying to find a flaw in my words. This feeling of knowing something was off but being unable to pinpoint it made Chloe uncomfortable. “I should have time this weekend. How about I go with you? It’s been ages since we went shopping together.” I finally looked up at Chloe, a flicker of wariness in my eyes. After a moment, I spoke, my voice laced with a hint of petulance. “You’re too busy with work. Let’s not. After all, such a big company, so many people are waiting for you to lead the charge, to support all of us.” These were the exact words Chloe had often used to refuse me in the past. Hearing them from me now, Chloe seemed to relax. Chloe smiled and linked her arm through mine. “Are you still mad?” “I know I’ve been too busy lately and neglected your feelings. I promise I’ll spend quality time with you this weekend.” But Chloe didn’t see the disappointment that flickered in my lowered eyes. I silently thought to myself. Soon. Soon, I’ll be free of you, Chloe. **Chapter 7** The weekend arrived in a flash. Only twenty-four days remained until the divorce was finalized. These past few days, Chloe had been spending noticeably more time at the villa. But she was also increasingly distracted. Under my careful concealment, She hadn’t noticed anything even slightly amiss in the entire villa. The suitcase, full of clothes, leaning by the villa door, had sat there for a whole week, untouched and unnoticed. Today, Dave and I had planned to look at houses. Chloe followed me closely, as if she intended to keep her promise. I had no choice but to take Chloe to the mall. The mall was bustling with activity, yet neither of us was truly engaged. I was focused on escaping, while Chloe’s mind was preoccupied with browsing trendy clothes that only young people would wear. “Chloe, how about we invite Leo to come shopping too?” At my words, Chloe’s eyes seemed to light up. “Really? Is that okay? I said I’d spend the whole day with you, no work talk.” I sighed inwardly. Chloe already had her phone out, preparing to make the call. So why had she bothered to pretend reluctance, to deceive herself just now? Leo arrived quickly, in less than ten minutes. I wasn’t naive; I could guess Leo had probably been waiting in the mall all along. The person who notified him was obvious. This was exactly the kind of thing Chloe would do. A trio outing, where only two people truly enjoyed themselves. Suddenly, the fire alarm blared through the mall. Fire! Thick black smoke billowed, and the crowd in front rapidly retreated. Chloe tightly shielded Leo. Meanwhile, I was jostled and pushed in the surging crowd, nearly falling to the ground. I turned back, and my gaze met Chloe’s across the chaos. Chloe’s face was anxious, wanting to move forward, but with Leo’s continuous urging, she hardened her heart and turned away. “Adam, wait for me! I’ll get Leo out, and I’ll be right back to save you!” My face was expressionless. I calmly watched as Chloe and Leo disappeared into the crowd. Using the panicked crowd as a cover, I quietly left the mall. I met up with Dave, and we went to several places to look at apartments. By the time I returned home, it was late at night. I hadn’t expected Chloe to still be waiting for me. Seeing me enter the house, Chloe rushed over. After only half a day apart, Chloe’s face looked much worse. “Adam, where were you? Your phone was off; I was so worried about you.” Chloe grabbed my arm, checking it repeatedly until she noticed a faint red mark on my neck. She suddenly slapped herself across the face. The sharp sound made me momentarily lose my composure, though it quickly turned into a pang of regret. “I’m sorry, Adam. Today was all my fault, all my fault…” I gave a hollow laugh. I didn’t feel any emotion; I just felt a profound lack of interest. “I’m fine. I just wasn’t paying attention while shopping with Dave, and my phone died.” Then, I suddenly stepped forward, avoiding Chloe’s attempt to take my hand. “I’m a bit tired today. I’ll go rest in my room.” Chloe stood there, somewhat flustered. She suddenly felt me drifting further and further away, slipping through her fingers. **Chapter 8** In the following days, I stayed quietly at home. To avoid raising Chloe’s suspicion. I didn’t go anywhere, just waited for time to pass. The apartment I planned to move into had already been settled. But on the last day before signing the contract, the landlord backed out. Dave called me, “The landlord said a woman named Spencer, with a young man named Miller, offered a higher price and rented the place on the spot.” I understood my relationship with Chloe. Coupled with my strange behavior lately, I had my suspicions. I didn’t say much, just asked Dave to find another apartment. That evening, I deliberately tested Chloe. “I heard you rented an apartment for Leo?” I didn’t have any ulterior motives for saying this. I just wanted to confirm it so I could specifically avoid that area in the future. Chloe, however, seemed flustered, her hands nervously fidgeting. “Adam, don’t misunderstand. You know Leo’s previous rental had terrible conditions; the power would go out every other day.” “I just considered that Leo is a company employee, and this counts as an employee benefit.” I nodded, indicating understanding. I didn’t argue or raise my voice, even sharing a couple of jokes with Chloe. Chloe looked at me, seeing my unusually calm demeanor, and a hint of fear suddenly appeared in her eyes. “Adam, are you hiding something from me?” The hand I was playing with on my phone paused slightly, but quickly resumed its calm motion. I looked up, smiling. “No, why would you say that?” Chloe remained silent. She always felt I was hiding something from her. But she couldn’t find any evidence, so she forced a smile and said, “Nothing.” In the following days, with Dave’s help, I found an apartment far from that area. Once it was confirmed, I immediately moved all my belongings from the villa into the new place. In Chloe’s villa, I didn’t leave behind a single towel or a pair of slippers. That night was my last in Chloe’s villa. I had messaged Chloe earlier, planning to tell her everything that night. I cooked a table full of dishes, considering it our last dinner before the divorce. Unfortunately, Chloe still stood me up. As the clock struck ten at night, Chloe still hadn’t come home. I took out my phone and saw a SnapChat story of Chloe celebrating with Leo. That’s when I realized it was also Leo’s first day moving into his new apartment. I watched it all calmly. Not even willing to spare a little time for me, for Leo? All the dishes on the table were dumped into the trash can. Chloe, if you knew that after today, our thirty-day divorce cooling-off period would be over… Would you regret standing me up again today? I left a letter for Chloe. But then I thought, we were already getting a divorce; there was no need to bring up old matters. I tore the letter into shreds and threw it into the trash, leaving only a photocopy of the divorce agreement. And my wedding ring. I erased every trace of my existence from the villa. Finally, I closed the door and left. It wasn’t until I had gone that Chloe finally arrived, fashionably late. She habitually tidied her makeup, checked herself over, and then put on an apologetic smile. Pushing open the door, she immediately began to apologize. “I’m so sorry, Adam. I was just about to come home when I ran into Mr. Zhang, a major client, and we ended up chatting over dinner for a bit.” But this time, in the empty house, there was no sound other than her own echo. Chloe called my name several more times. The house remained silent. Her face quickly changed, becoming somewhat distorted with fear. A cold draft swept through the house, Flipping over the divorce agreement and a resignation letter on the coffee table. The scattered divorce agreement revealed her signature. **Chapter 9** Chloe’s pupils widened instantly, and she murmured to herself, “Impossible! This must be fake! I never signed anything like this!”
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