Chapter One My wife gave me her male secretary’s underwear as a birthday gift. “Honey, wear it for me when I get back from my trip,” Vanessa said, smirking. Suppressing the nausea that welled up inside me, I snapped a photo of the initials embroidered on the waistband and checked my phone. A notification popped up—Connor Blake had just posted a new update. “My sizzling hot boss insists on teaching me how to swim. Who could resist that?” In the video, Vanessa wore a skimpy swimsuit, clinging to Connor in the pool. Their intimacy was undeniable. I chuckled coldly and left a comment. “So, when does the bedroom yoga lesson start?” An hour later, Vanessa called, fuming. “Ethan Hawthorne, are you looking to get yourself into trouble?” Unbothered, I tossed a divorce agreement her way. She cried. When Vanessa came home, I was in the middle of discussing property division with Julian Scott, my divorce lawyer. She stormed in, slamming the door so hard it echoed through the Tribeca apartment. Kicking off her heels, she peeled off her blazer as she made her way to the bathroom. Moments later, she came out, her face contorted with irritation. She grabbed my phone from the coffee table and threw it down. “Who are you chatting with so intently?” “I told you two hours ago I’d be home. No hot water running? No candles lit? And you didn’t even prepare my pajamas?” In the past, I would have jumped at the chance to cater to her every need. But now, her words sounded like nails scraping against a chalkboard. Perhaps, to her, I was always just an obedient servant she could order around. Swallowing the bitterness rising in my chest, I glanced up. My gaze caught a red mark marring her pale skin—a bold testament to her affair. For ten years, I had loved her faithfully, believing nothing could shake our bond. It was this certainty that allowed her to believe I would never leave her. Realizing my anger, Vanessa awkwardly pulled a blanket from the couch to cover herself. Before I could speak, she offered an explanation, unprompted. “Hotels are full of annoying mosquitoes. I couldn’t stop getting bitten.” I laughed dryly. “Do all the hotel mosquitoes look like your secretary, Connor?” Vanessa’s face turned crimson. She stammered defensively, her voice raising. “What nonsense are you talking about? I was just teaching him to swim!” “Those yoga, cycling, and fitness instructors are men too. Does that mean all of them sleep with their clients?” “Stop filling your head with trash!” she snapped. Watching her panic only amused me further. Tired of the charade, I stood up to pack my things. But Vanessa grabbed my arm, her brows knitting together. “Stop being ridiculous.” “I didn’t forget your birthday. I even got you a gift.” The thought of that “gift” ignited my fury. I put on a pair of gloves, retrieved the underwear from the trash, and threw it in her face. Vanessa screamed, stumbling backward, nearly falling. Chapter Two When she saw the initials “CB” on the waistband, her anger quickly morphed into panic. She stared at me nervously, opening her mouth to speak, but no words came out. I crossed my arms and glared coldly, waiting for whatever excuse she’d come up with this time. The tense silence was interrupted by an urgent knock at the door. Vanessa seemed relieved as she darted to answer it. To my surprise, Connor Blake stepped inside. “It’s pouring out there. What are you doing here?” Vanessa asked, her voice soft and warm as she pulled him in. “You’ll catch a cold wearing that soaked jacket.” Her gentleness made me laugh bitterly. When I was sick with a high fever, she couldn’t even be bothered to get me a glass of water. Instead, she’d complain about how my illness inconvenienced her routine. Back then, I thought it was because she wasn’t used to caring for others. Now, I realized she only reserved her kindness for people she deemed worthy. “Ethan, why are you just standing there like a statue?” Vanessa barked, her tone sharp and impatient. “Get your clothes so Connor can change. Bring a few options so he can pick one.” In the past, I might have exploded in anger. But now, all I felt was icy detachment. I smirked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Why stop at clothes? Take the bedroom. The bed is spacious enough for the two of you.” Ignoring Vanessa’s darkening expression, I headed to the bedroom to pack. Behind me, Connor tried to calm her down. “Don’t be mad. It’s my fault for showing up unannounced. I just wanted to make up for missing Ethan’s birthday.” Vanessa laughed coldly. “Mad? At him? This tantrum is just his way of trying to control me.” Her defiant tone grated on me. At that moment, Julian Scott sent over the finalized divorce agreement. I printed it out, signed it, and handed it to her without a word. Vanessa glanced at the papers dismissively, but when she realized what it was, her arrogant demeanor dissolved. Anger and disbelief flashed across her face. “You’re going all out with this performance, huh, Ethan?” she sneered, crumpling the paper and hurling it at me. “The digital copy is in your email. Print it yourself if you want,” I replied flatly, dragging my suitcase toward the door. Behind me, Vanessa’s voice shook with barely contained rage. “If you walk out that door tonight, don’t ever come back.” I froze, hand on the doorknob. Something clicked in my mind. I turned to face her. Vanessa’s expression shifted—relief mixed with triumph—before she hardened her features again. “This is your last chance. From now on, don’t even mention the word ‘divorce.’” Chapter Three Over the years, every rule in our relationship had been set by Vanessa. I followed them without question, while she took my devotion as a license to break them whenever she wanted. Words like “breakup” and “divorce” were her go-to weapons, wielded at the slightest inconvenience. Last week, I forgot to buy cat food. That was enough for her to threaten divorce and block me on every platform. I resorted to creating multiple burner accounts just to beg her forgiveness. She ignored me for a week, letting her cold shoulder speak volumes. Eventually, I found out the cat food wasn’t for us—it was for Connor Blake. “Stop standing there like an idiot. Go make some ginger tea for Connor to warm him up,” Vanessa snapped, shoving me aside with disdain. I didn’t argue. Instead, I quietly slid off my wedding ring, turning it over in my fingers. It was a ring I’d designed myself—every detail carefully considered. I’d never taken it off, and I’d been insistent that she wear hers every day too. It was the one thing I wouldn’t compromise on, no matter how angry she made me. But this time, it was different. I inhaled deeply and placed the ring in her hand. This time, I was really letting go. Vanessa’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her face turned red, and tears glistened in her eyes. But instead of breaking, she hardened herself, gripping the ring tightly. “Fine, Ethan. I’ll wait,” she said coldly. “Tomorrow, you’ll come crawling back like the dog you are.” She hadn’t realized yet—there would be no tomorrow for us. It was late at night, and the icy wind cut through the streets like a blade. I leaned against my car, fumbling with a pack of cigarettes. Only one was left. Smoke curled around me as my thoughts drifted. When I first moved to New York City to start my career, I didn’t know anyone. My quiet nature didn’t lend itself to making friends, so I spent my evenings in a tiny Tribeca apartment, playing online games to pass the time. That’s how I met Vanessa. She was my support in a team match. Instead of running to safety, she turned back to save me, even though it cost us both our lives in the game. After the match, she added me as a friend and messaged, “Hey, carry me next round, Mr. Pro.” Her sunny, outgoing personality was the complete opposite of my reserved nature. I couldn’t resist her charm. We started playing together every night. Winning matches and listening to her gentle voice as she talked me through her day became the highlight of my life. One night, out of the blue, she said, “What do you think about meeting up?” Chapter Four Her tone was casual, but I could hear her nervous breathing through my headset. Even now, I can still remember her laughter when I agreed. So this is what it feels like to matter to someone, I thought. When we met in person, she took my arm naturally, shaking it playfully. “Who would’ve thought the gaming legend looked this handsome in real life?” she teased, her bright eyes sparkling like stars in the summer sunlight filtering through the trees. The memory lingered as I took a drag of my cigarette. The glowing ember burned my fingers, and I cursed, tossing it to the ground and grinding it out with my shoe. When I looked up, Vanessa was standing in front of me, her cheeks red from the cold. Her wide eyes brimmed with tears, and her expression was full of unspoken hurt. I sighed deeply. After all these years, I had no regrets about the way I’d loved her. So what was she crying for? She had someone else now. If she loved him so much, why not let me go peacefully? Why cling to this broken relationship? “Ethan, don’t look at me like that,” she whispered, tugging at my sleeve. “It scares me.” “I was wrong about your birthday,” she continued, her voice softening. “I should’ve picked out your gift myself.” “Please don’t stay angry, okay?” In all our years together, I’d never seen Vanessa act so vulnerable. She’d always been confident that no matter what, I would be the one to apologize first. But it was too late for that now. She still didn’t understand why we’d reached this breaking point. I brushed her hand away and opened the car door. Her desperation flared. She pressed her hand firmly against the door to keep it closed. “You promised me,” she said, her voice trembling. “Every birthday, you’d grant me one wish. Don’t you remember?” “Well, this is my wish: come home with me.” For a moment, I was transported back to the past—back to when Vanessa used to hold me tightly and say, “You’ll never be alone again. I’ll always be here with you.” Maybe this could be my final act of kindness toward her. I decided I would give her one last moment of happiness before leaving quietly while she slept. Vanessa wiped her tears and broke into a triumphant smile, tilting her chin smugly. “I knew it. You could never leave me.” The moment we walked through the door, a loud pop startled me. Streamers rained down from above, and voices shouted in unison, “Happy birthday!” I froze in the entryway, glancing around the living room. Among the faces were Vanessa’s closest friends, including Brielle Hart, Chloe Monroe, and Miranda Tate. “Do you like the surprise I planned for you?” Vanessa asked, her tone almost pleading for approval. For a brief moment, the warmth of the gesture softened the icy walls around my heart. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had celebrated my birthday. Most years, I spent it alone or treated it like any other ordinary day. But the smile didn’t last long. My eyes landed on the dining table, where a bright green cake sat. It was decorated with green grapes and surrounded by matching green flowers. “This is my apology to you, Ethan,” Vanessa said sweetly. “I made it myself.” Across the room, Connor Blake smirked at me, his eyes brimming with smug satisfaction. Chapter Five The others crossed their arms and leaned back, amused by the spectacle. Their mocking gazes bore into me, each one like a searing brand. “Don’t just stand there,” Vanessa urged. “Sit down and have some cake.” I couldn’t tell if she was oblivious to the malice in the room or deliberately ignoring it. Still, I wanted to avoid a scene on what would be my last night here. Quietly, I took a seat at the table. A short-haired woman, Quinn Harper, tapped her nails on the table and let out a derisive laugh. “Ethan, let’s be real. You’re not even good enough for Vanessa’s toenails, and yet she insists on staying with you,” Quinn sneered. “Do her a favor and stop acting like a jealous drama queen. If she and Connor had something going on, do you think you’d even be in the picture?” My fists clenched so tightly my knuckles cracked. I turned to Vanessa, hoping for even a shred of defense on my behalf. But she averted her eyes, ladling soup into a bowl and placing it in front of Connor. My anger boiled over. Just as I began to rise, someone shoved me back into my seat. Connor stirred his soup lazily, his voice dripping with mockery. “Ethan’s not all bad,” he said. “Vanessa just told us that as long as she sweet-talks him a little, he’ll come running back like a loyal dog.” Something inside me snapped. All this time, I was nothing more than her fool. Connor stood, grabbed a handful of the green cake, and smeared it across my face. The hard metal decorations cut into my skin. Before I could react, others followed his lead, smearing cake onto my hair and clothes. “Look at him,” Connor jeered. “Doesn’t he look like a green turtle?” The room erupted in laughter. Connor leaned close to my ear, whispering, “Even if I slept with Vanessa right in front of you, what could you do about it?” The noise around me faded into silence, replaced by the thunder of my pulse. With a roar, I flipped the table, sending dishes and silverware crashing to the floor. Vanessa, trembling with rage, slapped me hard across the face. “What’s your problem, Ethan?” she shouted. “They were just standing up for me. Connor spent all day making that cake! Now apologize to him, or I’ll never forgive you.” I let out a bitter laugh. How ridiculous. When they insulted me, she stayed silent. But now, over a cake, she leapt to Connor’s defense. “Fine,” I said coldly. “I’ll apologize.” Pulling out my phone, I dialed a number I’d been holding onto for a long time.
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