On our fifth wedding anniversary, Vanessa’s junior colleague posted a photo of them scuba diving together on social media. The caption read: “Nothing sweeter than diving with my boss 💕” I commented, reminding them to be safe while diving, but my comment was instantly deleted. Vanessa immediately video called me, her face beautifully made up but full of impatience. “I’m on a company retreat with my employees. Why are you being so passive-aggressive in the comments?” “My employees can make money for me, can you? You’re just a sick man staying at home without earning a penny. How dare you criticize my staff!” In the background, I could see other employees comforting her junior colleague. Before I could explain, Vanessa hung up abruptly and blocked me. The next moment, her junior colleague flaunted a million-dollar watch on social media. I knew it was Vanessa’s way of compensating him. I tossed the anniversary gift I had prepared for Vanessa into the trash. Five years of marriage, it was time to end it. “I’m sorry, sir, but we only have one room left in the hotel today,” the receptionist at the Maldives resort apologized to me. Lucy, standing beside me, looked troubled. “Ryan and I were supposed to share a room, and you with Vanessa…” “Jack Sullivan, what are you doing here in the Maldives?” Vanessa, who had just berated me on video, stepped out of the hotel elevator. Behind her were several employees she had brought on this company retreat. Chris Zhang, Vanessa’s junior colleague and secretary, was carrying her bag and standing intimately close to her. Vanessa furrowed her brows and stormed over to me, her voice a mix of disbelief and anger. “Is this really necessary, Jack? Just because I’m a few days late coming home, you followed me all the way to another country?!” Two weeks ago, Vanessa had left for the Maldives on a company retreat, promising to return two days early to celebrate our anniversary together. But when the day came for her to return, she didn’t show up. I was worried sick at home, wondering if something had happened to them in the Maldives, so I anxiously called her several times. She impatiently accused me: “I’ve only been gone for a few days and you’re calling every day! How annoying! I’ve never seen such a nagging man. I’m not some little wife you can keep locked up!” My heart sank as I realized that my concern for her was nothing but a shackle in her eyes. It was she who had eagerly proposed to me several times, asking me to put a diamond ring on her finger, saying she belonged only to me and would be my wife alone. I coughed lightly, my expression cold as I looked down at her. “You can come to the Maldives for a vacation, why can’t I?” “What’s with that tone? You’re clearly stalking me!” Vanessa glared up at me, indignant. Lucy, standing next to me, quickly tried to smooth things over. Only then did Vanessa notice Lucy and me standing together. She looked at us suspiciously. Chris suddenly chimed in with a smile: “Jack, are you here on vacation with this beautiful lady? What a coincidence that you’re staying at the same hotel!” Vanessa’s face immediately changed, her eyes full of jealousy and envy. She stepped forward and pinched my arm hard, yelling: “How dare you betray me and have an affair with Lucy!?” I shook off her hand, coldly saying, “Are you crazy? Lucy is my buddy’s girlfriend. Don’t spread rumors!” My friend Ryan had just returned from the restroom. Seeing the situation, he quickly pulled his girlfriend into his arms to comfort her, glaring at Vanessa: “Vanessa, have you lost your mind? You know how much Jack loves you. How could you accuse him of being with my girlfriend!” Vanessa frowned, her tone full of arrogance. “Why didn’t you explain earlier!” I laughed bitterly to myself. As if she had given me a chance to explain. Lately, she had been increasingly impatient with me, just like earlier on the video call when she hung up without letting me explain. But I wouldn’t bother explaining to her anymore. There was no point. With only one room left in the hotel, I didn’t want to intrude on my friend and his girlfriend, so I had to share a room with Vanessa. I had been on a long flight, and I could feel my lungs were already overworked. Even breathing was becoming difficult. Back in the room, I sat on the couch, pale-faced, trying to rest. Vanessa urged me to go out for dinner with her employees. “I’m not feeling well, I’ll pass. You guys go ahead.” Vanessa rolled her eyes impatiently, her tone sarcastic: “You insist on coming here even though you’re sick, you deserve it! Fine, stay here then. I’ll bring you some leftovers when I’m done with dinner.” Vanessa left quickly in her high heels without giving me another glance. I opened my eyes wearily, took out my medication from my suitcase, and only felt my breathing ease after taking it. I opened my phone and sent an email to Dr. Zhang, a medical expert in treating lung conditions. Today was my fifth wedding anniversary with Vanessa. I had originally planned to come here to surprise her. But now it seems this wasn’t a surprise for her, just a shock and annoyance. Fortunately, my trip wasn’t wasted. Dr. Zhang replied that he had time to treat me over the next couple of days. I felt relieved and contacted a lawyer back home, asking him to draft a divorce agreement. When we return, I’ll officially divorce Vanessa. I fell asleep on the couch and when I woke up, Vanessa had just returned. But when I opened the takeout box, I saw cold, greasy leftovers that turned my stomach instantly. Vanessa flew into a rage: “Eat it or not, I don’t care if you starve!” She sat on the couch angrily playing with her phone, chatting with someone, a sweet shy smile gradually appearing on her face. Suddenly she said to me, “It’s too late now and the hotel’s not delivering food anymore. I’ll go out and buy you some supper.” But I had been hungry for too long and didn’t want to wait for her to go out and come back. I decided to go out with her. But Vanessa lost her temper again. “You want to follow me even to buy supper! Don’t you trust me? Do you think I’m going to meet someone? How can a man be so petty, always getting jealous! ” I hadn’t said anything, and she was already on the defensive. I said sarcastically: “You’re overthinking. I just want to eat out, otherwise how would I know what leftovers you’ll bring back this time.” Vanessa still looked unconvinced: “What leftovers? You’re just making excuses to argue with me! Now you’re finding reasons to follow me!” My stomach was cramping from hunger. I looked at her coldly, impatient. “Are you going or not? If not, give me the car keys. I’ll go eat by myself.” Vanessa rolled her eyes and reluctantly drove me to a nearby supper spot. On the way, she kept glancing at her phone while driving. The screen showed a group-buy deal for a famous restaurant nearby. When we arrived, Vanessa immediately shooed me out of the car, as if afraid I’d linger. “The staff called me over for supper. It’s not to your taste, so you eat here. I’ll come pick you up in two hours to go back to the hotel together.” With that, she drove off in a cloud of dust. I ordered a table full of delicious food and enjoyed it alone. It’s my own body, and I won’t ruin my health for her anymore. After eating, I waited outside for Vanessa, but the agreed time had long passed without a sign of her. A gust of cold wind blew, entering my lungs through my nose. I covered my mouth and coughed violently. Spots of blood seeped through my fingers, dripping onto the ground. My heart sank. It seemed my old lung problem had worsened again. Suddenly, it started pouring rain. By the time I hurriedly retreated back into the restaurant, I was already soaked. The cold moisture invaded my lungs again, and I couldn’t help but cough up another pool of blood. The restaurant owner was startled. I had to swallow my pride and ask him to drive me back to the hotel, otherwise if I kept waiting, I might cough up my entire lung. Back at the hotel, I showered, took my medicine, and quickly arranged to see Dr. Zhang tomorrow afternoon for treatment. By chance, I saw that Chris had posted on social media ten minutes ago. Among several food photos was a picture of intertwined hands. One of the hands wore a very familiar diamond ring. The location tag on this post showed it was the trendy restaurant I had seen on Vanessa’s phone earlier. When Vanessa returned, she started yelling at me as soon as she entered the door. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me? You came back without telling me, making me look for you in the rain for hours!” I smirked, directly exposing her lie. “Half an hour ago I was still waiting for you outside the restaurant. Where exactly were you looking for me for hours?” A flash of guilt crossed Vanessa’s face. She bit her lip and glared at me. “Hmph, anyway, you should have called me if you weren’t going to wait!” I laughed inwardly. She had blocked me this morning, how could I call her? But I was too tired to explain. I took a set of spare bedding from the hotel and put it on the couch, lying down to rest. Vanessa sneered, “Don’t want to sleep in the same bed? As if I care!” “Cough cough!” The rain earlier had affected my lungs, which were now throbbing with pain. Vanessa slammed the bedroom door, leaving only a parting shot: “Sick dog, coughing all day! It’s so annoying to hear! When we get back home, let’s sleep in separate rooms!” I would certainly fulfill her wish. After the divorce when we return, I’ll have nothing more to do with her. My lungs hurt with every breath. I couldn’t sleep all night and even coughed up blood again. But my medicine was still in the bedroom and I hadn’t brought it out. I knocked on the door for a good ten minutes, coughing, before Vanessa finally opened it, her face full of anger. She didn’t even look at me, just turned and lay back on the bed with her back to me. I took my medicine and left. Hearing me close the door, Vanessa, lying on the bed, cursed me for being sick. But I really am sick. I tilted my head back and took a pill to treat the lung bleeding. Five years ago, if it weren’t for saving Vanessa, I wouldn’t have gotten this illness. Early the next morning, Vanessa had already changed and applied her makeup, looking ready to go out. Seeing me still lying on the couch, she frowned, looking displeased. “Why aren’t you up yet?” I ignored her, replying to a message from my friend. He said he and his girlfriend were going diving today and asked if I wanted to come see the ocean. Vanessa looked at my cold profile, feeling a bit panicked. She suddenly softened her tone. “Jack, we didn’t celebrate our anniversary yesterday. Let’s go diving together today, we can make up for it, okay?” So she did remember yesterday was our wedding anniversary. But my friend had just said he and his girlfriend were diving in the same area, so I nodded, planning to meet up with them. When Vanessa and I arrived, several employees from her company retreat were already on the yacht. Chris, wearing swim trunks and shirtless, asked Vanessa to help him apply sunscreen. He deliberately showed off his physique, raising an eyebrow at me, then said softly to Vanessa: “Vanessa, can you help me put on some sunscreen? I can’t reach my back!” A tour guide on the yacht joked, “Mrs. Wells, you and your young boyfriend get along so well.” At these words, the few employees present all looked at each other awkwardly. Chris pretended to be embarrassed, scratching his head: “Jack, don’t misunderstand, the guide is just joking. Maybe he thinks Vanessa and I look good together!” I glanced at him coldly, my tone contemptuous: “Indeed, you do look like a kept man.” Chris’s expression changed slightly, flashing embarrassment and anger. “Jack, what do you mean by that? Vanessa and I are purely professional. Are you deliberately mocking me?” Vanessa also frowned at me, her tone unpleasant. “Don’t be so rude. Weren’t you and Chris like brothers when he first joined the diving club? Why are you targeting him now!” Chris was our junior in college. When I first met him, I could tell he liked Vanessa. But this guy went abroad after graduation, so I didn’t pay much attention to him. Who knew that when he returned two years ago, he went straight into Vanessa’s company as her secretary. It seems that from then on, Vanessa became increasingly cold and impatient with me. Thinking back over the past two years, the many times Vanessa stood me up, stayed out all night, perhaps Chris had already replaced me in her heart. Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward, several employees came over to smooth things over. “Jack, I remember you’re good at diving too. Why don’t you come down and enjoy it for a while?” I shook my head, refusing. “No thanks, you guys go ahead.” The employees looked awkwardly at Vanessa. She felt embarrassed and bit her lip, cursing me in a low voice: “Jack Sullivan, how can a grown man be so petty! Can’t you read the room? You’re deliberately making everyone uncomfortable. What’s wrong with you!” Chris also said: “Jack, come down and play with us. Although Vanessa personally taught me yesterday, I still haven’t learned well. Why don’t you try teaching me?” As he spoke, Chris walked over and forcefully pushed me towards the diving suits. I was already annoyed that this pretty boy had cuckolded me, and now he dared to get in my face. Angry, I raised my hand and pushed him away. “Get lost!” “Ah! Vanessa, save me!” Unexpectedly, this pretty boy suddenly tilted towards the railing and fell straight into the sea. Vanessa rushed over, pushing me aside, and jumped into the sea without hesitation to bring Chris back up. Chris lay in Vanessa’s arms, looking panicked and scared. Vanessa anxiously asked if he had swallowed any seawater. Chris spoke weakly: “Vanessa, I’m okay… cough cough! Just swallowed a little water. Don’t blame Jack. Even though I know he dislikes me, he wouldn’t deliberately push me into the sea to hurt me…” Watching Chris’s poor acting, I laughed coldly. “Didn’t you just flip over yourself? If I wanted to hurt you, I would have held you underwater. Would I have let her fish you out?” Vanessa came over angrily, raising her hand high and slapping me hard across the face. “Jack Sullivan, have you gone crazy?! If anything had happened to Chris today, I wouldn’t have let you off!” I probed my cheek with my tongue, raising my hand to wipe the blood from the corner of my mouth, looking down at her coldly. IIn all our years together, no matter how fiercely we argued, she had never hit me. Now, for Chris’s sake, she didn’t hesitate to slap me.
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