On New Year’s Day, my husband Liam Reed posted a family photo online. But in the picture, Liam stood in the center with his arm around his intern, Chloe. I was nowhere in it. “We should get a divorce,” I told him. He barely glanced up. “Over a photo? How long are you going to sulk this time?” Three years of marriage, and he still didn’t believe I’d actually leave. But this time, I was serious. Minutes earlier, I’d gotten a text from Leo Sterling, the biggest movie star in the world. “Wrapping up my show. Flying in to get you. ETA around midnight.” I immediately typed back, “Okay.” … On New Year’s Day, Liam insisted on bringing his intern, Chloe, to his parents’ house. All the family were gathered for lunch when someone suggested a family photo. Without a pause, Liam nudged me out of the frame and told me to take it instead. He arranged everyone, then pulled Chloe to stand right beside him. It was a family photo of over a dozen people, and I was the only one missing. Seeing how upset I was, Liam signed. “Fine, I’ll delete it. Happy now?” “Can you send it to me first?” Chloe cut in, settling into the seat next to Liam as if it were hers. She noticed my grim expression and immediately asked, “What’s wrong? Liam, did you make Daisy mad again?” Liam pursed his lips but didn’t say anything. Chloe quickly chimed in, “Daisy, don’t be mad at him. I should have been the one taking the picture.” I let out a cold laugh. “You’re so fond of my husband, you even have to show up at my family’s holiday gathering. You can have him.” Chloe bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. “How can you say that? You’ve misunderstood. There’s a blizzard back home, all transportation is cut off. I can’t go back.” Liam shot me a reproachful glance. “Take your anger out on me. Why are you picking on her? If you want a divorce, fine, but don’t drag others into it.” Liam patted Chloe’s shoulder and took her outside for some fresh air. Our conversations about divorce were always so casual. That afternoon, I had a card game scheduled with Liam’s old friends. I didn’t want our issues to affect everyone else, so I bit the bullet and went. As I reached the door, my friends were already complaining about me. “Is Daisy not coming? Did you two have another fight?” Someone laughed dismissively. “She’s mad about this? Well, someone has to take the holiday family photo, so they’re not in it. Daisy is just too petty.” “Exactly. If I were looking for a wife, I’d prefer someone gentle and even-tempered, like Chloe. She’s perfect.” Liam sighed dramatically. “What can I do? That’s just how she is. I’ve spoiled her since we were kids, so I just have to deal with it.” Someone else laughed. “You need to be firm sometimes, or you’ll end up completely henpecked, with no say in the family.” Chloe spoke up. “Daisy is truly so lucky. If someone pampered me like that, I’d never argue with them.” Liam’s friends immediately started egging them on. “Then let Liam pamper you today, Chloe!” “Really? Can you get me a New Year’s gift, honey?” she asked playfully. I heard Liam’s cheerful reply. “I already had a gift for you anyway.” Then Liam warned everyone, “Jokes are fine, but don’t say anything like that in front of Daisy, okay?” I let go of the doorknob. The laughter inside sounded so sharp, so piercing. Liam knew perfectly well that I disliked his ambiguous relationships with others. He’d say he was afraid of upsetting me, yet he let Chloe call him “honey” in front of everyone and even bought her a holiday gift. It was all because he was so certain that I’d get mad, then eventually forgive him. But this time, he miscalculated. A little while later, Chloe posted an Ins story. “Received a New Year’s gift from my boss! It feels so good to be spoiled!” The photo showed their fingers intertwined. I called my dad. “Dad, I want to spend the holidays in Chicago.” He paused, a little surprised. “Why the sudden change of heart? Aren’t you going back to Liam’s parents’ place?” I fought back my emotions, not wanting him to hear the sadness in my voice. “I miss you. I’m thinking of relocating to Chicago. I’ll stay there with you after the holidays.” My dad immediately heard the disappointment, but he didn’t call me out on it. “Your dad supports all your choices. Do you want me to pick you up?” Hearing my dad’s loving voice, my heart finally settled. “No, someone’s already coming for me.”
When Liam brought Chloe home, I was with his relatives, watching TV. “Daisy, you and Liam have been married for three years now, right? Why haven’t you had kids yet?” “Yeah, hurry up and have one!” Mrs. Reed chuckled. “Daisy used to run that vet clinic, and I was worried about her being around all those cats and dogs, you know, germs. But Daisy closed the clinic this year. So, she should have a baby soon.” At that moment, the popular actor, Leo, appeared on TV. I looked up sharply, his familiar face on the screen. A reporter interviewed Leo. “How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?” Leo smiled gently. “With the most important person, of course!” Mrs. Reed couldn’t help but exclaim, “That actor is so handsome!” Chloe interjected, “He’s every girl’s dream guy! I’ve binge-watched so many of his shows.” They had no idea that Leo’s “most important person” was me, and he was coming for me tonight. A long time ago, Liam had also told me I was the most important person to him. On my seventh birthday, my mother died in a car accident. My father was lost in grief, sometimes sitting at home all day, completely oblivious to me. I didn’t dare cry at home and often found myself spacing out alone in the park. Liam would always find ways to cheer me up. Later, my dad’s business relocated to Chicago, and after college, I chose to marry Liam. But last year, he missed my birthday. That day, Chloe had made a huge blunder, and he stayed late to clean up her mess, then took her to dinner to comfort her. It wasn’t until he saw the unopened cake on the table late that night that he realized he’d forgotten my birthday. That was our first real fight. After that, our conflicts grew more frequent. Liam always complained that I was petty and jealous, unable to tolerate even an intern next to him. Time and again, he left me behind to help Chloe move, celebrate holidays, or take her to the doctor. My phone vibrated, pulling me back from my thoughts. Someone in my group chat posted a photo, asking if the person in it was me. I clicked on the photo. It was a recent Ins post from Leo. “Family Photo,” the caption read. The accompanying picture was a large group shot of volunteers, and I was standing right next to Leo. In front of us was a group of abandoned cats we had rescued. Before I could respond, Liam replied to the group. “No way! It’s just someone who looks a bit like her. How could Daisy possibly be in a celebrity’s family photo? Impossible.” Seeing him so flustered and angry, I found it almost laughable. He finished his message and tossed his phone onto the table, accidentally knocking over a can of soda and soaking his pants. Chloe quickly grabbed some tissues and, without thinking, gently dabbed his leg. Liam cleared his throat awkwardly, and she finally stopped. I let out a soft laugh. “Why don’t you just wash them for him?” Chloe’s face instantly flushed. “Daisy, what are you saying? I treat Liam like a big brother. Don’t get the wrong idea.” I ignored her, simply explaining a few things in the chat. I’d been helping out at an animal rescue, and a celebrity doing charity work happened to be there. Unexpectedly, the group chat became even more frantic. “Oh my god, Daisy actually met Leo!” “What kind of cologne does he wear? I need to know!” I was so overwhelmed, I stopped typing. Just then, Leo messaged me: “Finished recording. Heading to the airport now.”
At dinner, Chloe flirted with Liam. “Liam, pass me the lemon juice.” Then I noticed the bracelet on Chloe’s wrist. I said sarcastically, “Nice bracelet! Did Liam give it to you?” Chloe said awkwardly, “It’s nothing expensive. If you like it, I can give it to you.” Liam stopped Chloe. “That’s my gift to you. How can you give it to her?” Then he turned to me. “Daisy, what do you want for a New Year’s gift? Anything you want, just name it.” Chloe suddenly tugged on Liam’s arm and exclaimed, “Oh no, what time is it? Are we going to be late? We promised the team we’d go pray at a church in the suburbs. Shouldn’t we be leaving?” Liam’s eyes darted nervously, and he stammered an explanation to me. “I promised my colleagues I’d go with them. If you’re not too tired, you can come with us too.” Chloe quickly cut in, “Daisy doesn’t know your colleagues well, it would be awkward for her.” I sneered, declining the invitation. Liam patted my head, like comforting a loyal dog. “You’re right. It’s pretty cold out. Just wait for me at home, I’ll buy you a New Year’s gift.” Chloe leaned in, deliberately showing me a condom box in her purse. Don’t worry, Daisy,” she said with a smile. “I’ll take good care of Liam.” Liam hurried her out and drove off with her. I sat by the TV, watched Leo’s show, then went to my room and printed the divorce papers. When Leo called, I kept my voice low. “I’ll see you at the airport.”
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