Five years into my marriage, my husband Liam had his ex, Seraphina, post a photo of a property deed on social media. Her caption read: “So grateful to Liam for transferring the house to me. My daughter’s school situation is finally sorted out!” But the address on that document was clearly our home address. I was stunned and left a simple “?” in the comments. Liam’s furious call immediately came through. “She’s a single mom—you know how hard it is for her. I just transferred the house to her to help her out; it’s not like it affects where we live.” “How can you be so heartless, so utterly devoid of empathy?” Half an hour later, Seraphina posted again, this time showing off a luxury Mercedes. “Bought it outright! They say a man’s heart follows his money, and he just proved where his truly lies.” This time, I made up my mind. I was getting a divorce. When Liam got home, I was taking the medication prescribed by my doctor, washing it down with birthday cake. These were for my post-gastric tumor removal recovery. It was my birthday, and I’d bought the cake in advance, waiting for Liam to come home so I could tell him about the surgery I’d had while he was away on a business trip. I waited until seven that evening. He didn’t answer my calls or reply to my texts. It wasn’t until I commented on Seraphina’s property deed post that Liam’s call came through instantly. But instead of an explanation, he started chewing me out. I tried to explain, but he hung up before I could get a word in. Then he blocked my number. My freshly stitched wound throbbed with frustration. Liam glanced at the medication and cake on the dining table, frowning. “Whose birthday is this for? Yours?” Silently, I put away the medicine, tossed the cake into the trash, and replied calmly, “Not mine. It’s a friend’s.” He let out a sigh of relief. “I remember yours is September 28th. Today’s only the 8th.” Five years of marriage, and Liam had messed up my birthday every single year. The kicker? He never forgot Seraphina’s. Liam sat down beside me, handing me a small car model. “Seraphina asked me to give this to you. She thinks she might have upset you today and hopes you won’t take it personally.” It was a miniature version of the Mercedes, with a faint smudge on it. I said flatly, “I don’t want it.” Liam frowned, clearly annoyed. “What’s your problem now? She’s extending an olive branch—can’t you just be nice about it?” Seeing I was unmoved, Liam tried to pull me up to call Seraphina. He pulled hard. As I was yanked up, my injured right leg knocked against the cold edge of the coffee table. It was the same spot where Liam had accidentally burned me with hot soup a week earlier. When Liam saw my right foot wound start to bleed again, he looked a little flustered. “I’ll take you to the hospital.” I didn’t refuse. “Okay.” As soon as I got in the car, the Bluetooth connected automatically, and Seraphina’s sweet voice filled the speakers: “Welcome back, my Liam! Work hard and make lots of money for me to spend~” Liam’s expression shifted slightly. “Seraphina set that up last time. I forgot to delete it. I’ll turn it off.” “No need,” I said calmly. The car fell silent. Liam looked at me, surprised. “You’re not mad?” I pressed my lips together. Maybe I would’ve cared before. But now, I didn’t even care about Liam. “Just drive. It’s late.” The hospital was nearby—just a U-turn and a mile straight ahead. Just then, Liam’s phone rang. His tone brightened involuntarily as he answered. I recognized Seraphina’s voice. She was sweet-talking Liam into taking her for a drive in his new car. “Seraphina has something urgent. I’ll drop you off here. The hospital’s just across the street—it’s really close.” Liam didn’t even bother to make a U-turn; he seemed desperate to leave. I stared at him coldly. “I can’t walk.” Liam’s face instantly hardened. “Can you stop being so dramatic? Your leg is hurt, not paralyzed!” He opened the passenger door and practically shoved me out, telling me to call him after I got my dressing changed. The car sped off, splashing mud onto the gauze on my right foot. A light rain began to fall, soaking me and making me feel utterly miserable. Every step of that short distance was agony, cold sweat beading on my forehead. My freshly stitched abdominal wound throbbed with every movement, aggravated by the dampness and strain. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the crosswalk. Traffic whizzed by relentlessly. Luckily, a kind security guard from the hospital entrance helped me up—otherwise, the consequences would’ve been unthinkable. Finally, I made it back from the hospital and collapsed onto the bed. Liam burst through the door, fuming. “Didn’t I tell you to call me after you got your dressing changed? I waited for an hour outside the hospital, and your phone was off the whole time!” I looked at him, overcome with exhaustion.
It took me over two hours for wound care and an IV drip at the hospital. When I came out, Liam’s car was nowhere to be seen. I felt terrible, so I had to take a taxi home by myself. My phone had died right as I got home. So he hadn’t even come to pick me up in the first place. He used to be so attentive—when did Liam become like this? “You blocked me. I couldn’t call you.” Liam paused, the anger on his face fading slightly. “I brought you some late-night snacks in case you were hungry—chicken noodle soup.” I looked at the bowl of soup. It was watery, with barely any chicken or noodles—like he’d scraped it from someone else’s bowl. Half an hour earlier, I’d seen Seraphina’s latest post. The picture showed Liam’s back in the kitchen. “Who says there are no good men left? Someone’s willing to take me for a midnight drive in his new car and even makes soup from scratch when I’m hungry. So happy.” I stirred the soup with a self-deprecating smile, feeling only disgust. “Throw it away. I have no appetite.” Liam’s face instantly darkened. “What’s with the attitude? I specifically brought this for you, and you’re just going to throw it away?” “So what if I transferred the house to Seraphina today? Do you have to act like this? Her kid needed help with school, she made a post to thank me, and you—you had the nerve to leave a question mark! I haven’t even yelled at you yet!” The pain in my abdomen and leg left me utterly exhausted. “You misunderstood. I was just wondering why the address she posted was our house…” Liam cut me off impatiently. “Misunderstand? Seraphina was right—you’re just making a mountain out of a molehill!” “You’re always so paranoid! The second I have any contact with another woman, you never let it go! I think the problem is with you!” If this had been before, I would’ve argued. Now, I just watched him coldly. When he finished his tirade, I said slowly, “Done? Can you turn off the light for me?” He glared at me fiercely, slammed the door shut, and stormed out—leaving the light on. A few minutes later, an even louder slam echoed from the living room. He was gone. Before, when he left like that—to be with Seraphina—I would’ve laid awake all night. Tonight, alone, I slept soundly. The next day, I woke up, contacted a lawyer, and started consulting about divorce proceedings. Liam didn’t show up for three straight days after storming out. The next time I saw him was in a vacation photo posted by one of his friends. In the picture, Seraphina stood beside Liam. They wore matching outfits, and Seraphina was beaming with youthful energy. I quietly liked the post. Not long after, Liam’s call came through. “I’ll pick you up later. I’m taking you to the beach to relax, and you can meet my friends.” He paused, then added, “I wasn’t originally going to invite you, but you’ve been… relatively well-behaved lately.” “Mmhmm.” The divorce process had already started; I didn’t want to complicate things. Liam picked me up as promised. Strangely, Seraphina wasn’t there this time. When we arrived, his friend came over to greet us. “My apologies for not taking better care of you at the last get-together.” The other person was being polite, so I offered a shallow smile. “Work’s been busy lately. A lot going on.” “Heard you’re planning to open a branch in another city—congratulations.” I maintained my smile. Just then, Liam strode over, his voice laced with displeasure. Just then, Liam strode over, his voice laced with displeasure. “You’re moving to another city? Why didn’t you tell me? Did I agree to that?” I turned and looked at him calmly. The atmosphere turned tense. His friend quickly stepped in to smooth things over, inviting everyone to the BBQ. Liam sat next to me, a rare trace of unease on his face. “Seraphina and I agreed that once her daughter finishes elementary school, she’ll transfer the house back.” “Don’t be upset. This house is mine, after all—I have the right to do what I want with it.” “Oh.” I nodded calmly. Just then, a familiar figure approached from a distance, and the smile faded from my face. A young girl, who seemed close with Liam and his friends, jumped up and excitedly waved at Seraphina. “Seraphina, over here! Liam’s here!” For a moment, the surroundings fell silent. His friend kicked the girl under the table, muttering about her lack of tact. “I’m going to the restroom,” I said, getting up—wanting to avoid the awkward scene. Liam glanced at me, then at the smiling Seraphina walking toward them—but he didn’t follow. When I returned, everyone had finished eating and was sitting on the beach, chatting. Seraphina and Liam sat intimately close. I quietly found a spot a little further away. His friend tried to lighten the mood. “Everyone’s here. Let’s play Truth or Dare.” Liam won the first round, and Seraphina lost. Seraphina chose Truth, and Liam asked a safe, meaningless question. Seraphina blinked, looking at Liam. “I’ve met a truly amazing guy lately who makes me feel so secure. Oh, and he even takes me for midnight drives in his new car.” After saying this, she gave me a triumphant glance. Most of the people present caught the implication, but no one dared to comment. Seeing I hadn’t reacted, his friend continued to set up the next round. When it was my turn, Seraphina asked the question. “I choose Truth,” I said. Seraphina walked over, holding her drink. “Cassie, let’s make it exciting. How about Dare?” I frowned. “I choose Truth.” “Oh, come on—just pick Dare! It’s simple. I heard you’re a great swimmer. Why don’t you swim a lap for everyone to see?” Seraphina’s gaze subtly, almost imperceptibly, swept over my abdomen. I firmly refused. “I’m not feeling well. I can’t swim.” Seraphina looked at Liam, feigning hurt. Liam’s voice held a hint of reproach. “Swimming’s your specialty, isn’t it? Why can’t you swim?” “Seraphina’s already made a gesture of goodwill—what’s the big deal if you just swim a little?” Liam said, and together with Seraphina, they started half-pushing, half-dragging me toward the water. Seraphina seized the opportunity to snatch my jacket, then downed a bottle of alcohol herself. “Cassie, I’ll drink to you. Now you better swim well.” She was trying to pressure me by drinking. I lost my patience. “I said I don’t want to swim! Your drinking is your business—why should I have to obey you?” Seraphina’s eyes immediately welled up as she looked at Liam. Liam’s face darkened. He tossed the bottle onto the sand. “What’s with the attitude? It’s just a swim! Seraphina already drank her share as a challenge—why are you being so disrespectful?” Looking at Liam, who was protecting Seraphina, I sneered. “Did I force her to drink? I don’t want to swim, but she’s trying to pressure me. How is that not making things difficult?” I retorted directly, and Seraphina immediately burst into tears. Liam’s face turned ashen. He rolled up his pant legs. You won’t swim? Fine, I’ll go with you! He grabbed my wrist and forcefully pushed me into the seawater. The icy seawater instantly submerged my wound—a searing pain shot through me, and then the water choked my nasal passages. I coughed violently. Liam and Seraphina held me down with all their strength. I struggled desperately. Just as I felt like I was suffocating, Liam finally let go. Unfortunately, a sudden wave crashed over us. I tried to grab Liam, but he kicked me away. I was swept into the sea, swallowing several mouthfuls of water, before using all my strength to fight my way back to shore—gasping for breath, utterly disheveled. Liam, meanwhile, was gently patting Seraphina’s head, comforting her tenderly. “Don’t be sad—I’ve already taught her a lesson.” “She deserved it. I’ll deal with her later.” Then he walked up to me, looking down at me. “Apologize to Seraphina! And drink a bottle of wine as punishment! Otherwise…” Under everyone’s varied stares and Liam’s piercing gaze, I interrupted him, my eyes red. “Liam, expect to hear from my lawyer. We’re getting a divorce.” Liam froze, looking at me in disbelief. I supported my weak, trembling body and walked away step by step. As I reached the edge of the road, my vision went black, and I collapsed to the ground. Before losing consciousness, I heard someone nearby exclaim: “Someone’s passed out!” “Call an ambulance! Oh my God, her abdomen is bleeding!” 4 I don’t know how long passed, but I woke up to my best friend, Chloe, shouting angrily. “Liam, are you out of your mind? You forced her to swim? Didn’t you know she just had gastric tumor surgery?” “She… she had surgery? When? She didn’t tell me…” Liam’s voice was tinged with surprise and a hint of panic. “Are you blind? Couldn’t you see how pale she’s been lately? Your eyes are only for Seraphina, aren’t they!” Chloe was furious. “I really didn’t know…” “You didn’t know? You transferred the house to that woman, bought her a car—you knew all that? She’s so weak because of you! Her stitches tore open!” “I…” “Just get out. I can’t stand looking at you!” The room fell silent. I opened my eyes. Chloe sat by the bed, her brows furrowed. “You’re awake? How are you feeling?” I asked weakly, “You know everything?” Chloe sighed. “I told you not to marry him back then… Sigh, but it’s too late for that now.” My heart ached. If I hadn’t been so stubborn back then, my parents would never have agreed to me marrying Liam—even though his family was well-off. Looking back now, Liam was actually so two-faced. Liam had entered the room at some point and was staring directly at me. “Cassie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you just had surgery…” I looked at his face—the coldness of the seawater seemingly washing over me again. I said coldly, “I know you like Seraphina. After we divorce, you can marry her. I wish you both happiness.” “I don’t want a divorce.” Liam panicked. “There’s really nothing between us. I don’t like her—why else would I have married you?” I gave a cold laugh. “Really? Liam, that night you were drunk—didn’t you say you regretted proposing to me, and that if we divorced, you’d marry Seraphina first thing? Was all that a lie?” That night, Liam got drunk at a work event, and Seraphina brought him home. I was in the guest room and clearly heard their conversation in the living room. Seraphina was about to leave, but Liam pulled her back. “I regret it. I shouldn’t have impulsively proposed to her back then.” Seraphina looked toward the bedroom, asking triumphantly, “If you get a divorce, who would you marry?” “You, of course… Don’t leave tonight.” Seraphina eventually left that night—I knew she left because Liam was drunk. Even then, I had already completely given up hope on Liam. Everything that followed was just to make sure I was absolutely done with him. Liam was eventually escorted out of the room by Chloe. But he didn’t give up. Half an hour later, my phone started vibrating frequently—he’d unblocked me. He sent many messages: “I asked the doctor. Chicken soup is good for recovery. I’ll make some for you later.” “Don’t eat anything cold for a few days. I’ve ordered some supplements for you.” “I was wrong before. Can we make up?” I didn’t reply. I set my phone to “Do Not Disturb” and asked the nurse to help me change rooms, stating I needed quiet rest. Liam kept calling, saying he wanted to see me. I picked up, annoyed. “Liam, I don’t want to see you right now. When I feel better, we can discuss a divorce settlement.” Silence on the other end for a moment, then Liam’s voice softened. “Cassie, I just want to see you from afar—I won’t bother you.” To avoid getting tangled up, I hung up and turned off my phone. Three days later, I was discharged from the hospital. Liam was waiting at the hospital entrance. When he saw me, he forced a smile. “Discharged? I’ll drive you home.” I didn’t refuse and got in the car. The car started, and the car’s Bluetooth automatically connected again—Seraphina’s voice filling the air: “Welcome back, my Liam! Work hard and earn lots of money for me to spend~”
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