The Day I Stopped Loving My Husband

After my miscarriage, I became the kind of wife Ethan had always wanted.

I no longer shared the interesting parts of my day with him. I no longer called him all night when he didn't come home.

Even when Ethan and his mistress Quinn were about to have sex, I could remain expressionless and thoughtfully prepare condoms for them.

But he got angry and viciously threw the condoms on the ground.

"No need for those. I'm planning to have a child with Quinn. Aren't you jealous?"

I replied indifferently, "Whatever."

Ethan was frustrated by my lack of reaction and kept pushing, wanting to see me break down in tears.

But didn't he understand yet?

I had long since stopped loving him. Why would I care about his provocations?

Vivian Shaw POV

After my miscarriage, I became the kind of wife Ethan Blackwood had always wanted.

I no longer shared the interesting parts of my day with him. I no longer called him all night when he didn't come home.

Even when I was falsely accused and taken to the police station, and the officers said a family member had to bail me out, I just said I had no family. I calmly spent a week in detention.

Seven days later, in the evening, the iron door of the police station swung open.

I had just walked down the steps when a black Maybach screeched to a stop in front of me.

The car door opened. Ethan stepped out wearing a tailored suit. He was tall with long legs, broad shoulders and a narrow waist, as coldly elegant and eye-catching as always.

He walked up to me in a few strides, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Vivian, why didn't you call me when you were being bullied?"

I smiled faintly. "Would you have even turned on your phone?"

A week ago on my way home from work, an elderly person suddenly fell in front of my car. I got out to help, but they grabbed my arm and started shouting, "Hit and run! This young lady hit me and tried to run away!"

The surveillance footage proved my innocence, but according to procedure, a family member had to come sign for my release before I could leave.

I said I had no family. The police didn't believe me and looked up my marriage registration information, finding Ethan's phone number.

They called. It was turned off.

They called dozens of times. Always turned off.

Ethan's expression changed slightly. "The night you were detained, Quinn had stomach pain. I took her to the hospital.She doesn't like noise, so I shut my phone off."

He paused, his voice lowering. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine," I said. "I didn't expect you to come anyway. Just do what you need to do."

My tone was too calm as I said this. So calm there wasn't a ripple of emotion.

Ethan looked at me and suddenly grabbed my wrist.

His hand was very hot, and his grip was strong. I frowned.

"Why aren't you angry?" Ethan stared at me, confusion in his eyes, along with a trace of unease he didn't want to admit.

I found it amusing. "Why would I be angry? You gave your reason, I understand it. Nothing to be angry about."

"Vivian..."

"I'm tired. I want to go home." I pulled my hand back and walked around him toward the car door.

Ethan stood there, watching my retreating figure.

We hadn't seen each other in seven days, and I had lost a lot of weight. My shirt hung loosely on my frame.

In the past, whenever he neglected me even a little, I would make a scene with red-rimmed eyes and ask him in an aggrieved voice, "Ethan, have you ever even cared about me?"

Back then he thought I was overreacting, that I was immature.

But now I didn't make scenes, didn't cry. I nodded and said "okay" to whatever he said. And yet he felt... panicked.

The car was very quiet.

The driver drove in front while I sat by the window in the back seat, watching the streetscape fly past in reverse.

I no longer acted like I used to, unable to stop myself from looking at him the moment I got in the car, my eyes full of only him. When we were alone I would search for topics to talk about, and even when he responded coldly, I could chatter on by myself for ages.

Now I just sat quietly, as if he wasn't there beside me at all.

Ethan finally couldn't hold back. "Are you still throwing a tantrum about what happened before?"

I turned to look at him, my eyes calm. "No, it's all in the past."

"Then why are you..."

"Ethan." I interrupted him. "What do you want from me? To cling to you every day like before? Or to be like this now, not fighting or making noise, giving you enough freedom?"

Ethan was stumped by the question.

Of course he wanted me not to fight or make noise, didn't want me always making scenes over Quinn. But when I really became like this, he felt... wrong.

Everything felt wrong.

"I just feel like you've changed," he said quietly.

I turned back to the window.

Changed?

Perhaps.

When you love someone versus when you don't, you're naturally two different people.

Vivian Shaw POV

The car fell silent again. Ethan wanted to say something more, but his phone rang.

It was Quinn.

He answered, and her sugary voice immediately came through. "Ethan, where are you? I'm at the mall and I bought so many things I can't carry them all. Come pick me up, okay?"

Ethan glanced at me.

I continued looking out the window, as if I hadn't heard.

He suddenly felt irritated. "Quinn, you're an adult. Stop always depending on me. And we don't have any relationship anymore."

"But you've spoiled me for so many years, I'm used to it now." Quinn's tone was matter-of-fact. "Before, whenever I asked you to pick me up, you never refused."

"Before was before." Ethan's voice turned cold. "Back then you were my girlfriend, but now I'm married."

"Married?" Quinn laughed mockingly. "Do you really have feelings for her? Ethan, stop lying to yourself. If you don't come, I'll just find another man to help me carry things. Plenty of men want to help me anyway."

Ethan gripped his phone tightly.

Quinn knew him too well. She knew he couldn't stand her going to other men.

"Wait there." He practically ground out the words through clenched teeth, then hung up.

He took a deep breath and turned to me. "Vivian, I..."

"I'll take a cab home." I had already pushed open the car door. "You go pick her up."

I moved too fast for Ethan to react.

"Vivian!" He got out of the car and caught up, grabbing my arm. "There's really nothing between her and me anymore, but she and I grew up together. Our families know each other. I can't completely cut ties."

"I know." I nodded. "I understand."

I always said "I know" and "I understand," like an AI with not a hint of emotion.

Watching me show no reaction whatsoever, the nameless fire in Ethan's chest burned even hotter. But Quinn's call came through again, urging him relentlessly.

"You go home first, I'll be back later..." He wanted to say he'd come back later, but I had already flagged down a taxi.

I got in, closed the door, and didn't even glance at him again.

The taxi drove away while he stood watching from behind.

My phone rang.

It was the HR department from my company.

"Ms. Shaw, your application for overseas work has been approved."

The voice on the other end carried a smile. "Congratulations! You're going to the New York headquarters. It's a rare opportunity. But... won't your husband have an issue with it? After all, who knows when you'll be back. You two would have to live apart."

I looked at the neon lights flashing past outside, my voice soft. "I don't have a husband. The same day I applied to go to New York, I also filed for divorce. Once the divorce is finalized, I can leave."

There was several seconds of silence on the other end.

"Are you serious? You used to like him so much. You gave up so many good opportunities for him. How could you suddenly..."

I smiled and shook my head. "I don't like him anymore."

After hanging up, I leaned against the car window and closed my eyes.

All these years, almost everyone knew I liked Ethan.

Liked him to the point of losing myself, liked him to the point of being as humble as dust.

But I was tired.

Loving someone whose heart was forever filled with someone else was too exhausting.

At eighteen, during my freshman year, I first saw Ethan at the new student awards ceremony.

The sun was bright that day. He wore a simple white shirt and black dress pants, standing on stage with an extraordinary presence. He was the most popular guy at school, and nearly every girl in the audience blushed.

I was one of them.

But no one had a chance to get close to him.

Because everyone knew that Ethan's heart belonged only to Quinn, the girl he'd grown up with.

Vivian Shaw POV

Quinn was temperamental, loved to make scenes, had a terrible temper. But Ethan doted on her, indulged her. Everyone said he was madly in love with her.

For as long as he loved Quinn, I secretly loved him from behind.

Until Quinn ran away from countless wedding ceremonies with Ethan.

The first time, she said she was too young and didn't want to get married so early.

The second time, she claimed to have pre-wedding jitters.

The third time, she said she felt Ethan didn't love her enough.

...

The ninth time, she called from overseas the night before the wedding. "Ethan, I've been thinking, and I still feel freedom is more precious. Let's not get married for now, okay? I want to travel abroad for a few years first!"

That time, Ethan didn't chase after her.

He was depressed for a while, then started accepting the blind dates his family arranged. He went on one after another, always ending things after just one meeting.

When I learned this, my heart pounded wildly.

I pulled strings and managed to get a chance to go on a blind date with him.

That day, somehow I ended up wearing the same dress as Quinn. Sure enough, when Ethan saw me, he froze.

He stared for a long time, then said, "Let's get married."

My wildly beating heart suddenly sank in that moment.

I knew he was seeing someone else through me.

But I still nodded.

Because I liked him too much. Even knowing he probably had no feelings for me, I still wanted to stay by his side.

After marriage, we were polite and courteous.

Ethan treated me well. He was never stingy materially, gave me all the respectability I deserved, but I knew that wasn't love.

He never initiated intimacy with me. Only when I wore clothes similar to Quinn's would he hold me in a daze, calling out "Quinn."

Each time I pretended not to hear.

Five years passed like this.

I thought life could continue this way, until Quinn came back.

At the time I happened to be three months pregnant. My stomach suddenly hurt terribly. I clutched my belly wanting to call an ambulance, but Quinn showed up at the door.

"So you're Vivian Shaw?" Quinn looked me up and down with contempt in her eyes. "I heard you took advantage of my absence to steal my position?"

My face was pale with pain. I had no energy to argue with her, only wanting to get to the hospital quickly.

I tried to go around Quinn, but she blocked me.

During the struggle, I really couldn't take it anymore and pushed her. Quinn stumbled backward, her head hitting the door frame. Blood immediately flowed down.

That night, Ethan locked me in the storage room.

My stomach hurt terribly, like a knife was twisting inside. I pounded on the door, calling over and over, "Ethan... save me... the baby... our baby..."

But no one came.

The pain made me curl up on the floor. Warm liquid flowed out from beneath me. I reached down to touch it. My hand was covered in blood.

Finally I passed out from the pain.

When I woke up, I was in the hospital. The baby was gone.

Ethan stood by the bed, looking at me with guilt in his eyes.

"It's my fault. After you're discharged, we'll have another baby."

"If you hadn't pushed Quinn back then, I wouldn't have locked you up. She's not in good health. That push nearly killed her. I acted rashly in the moment. I can compensate..."

In that moment, I laughed.

Laughed until tears streamed down my face.

"Ethan, what compensation do you think could make up for a life?"

That was the first time, and the last time, I cried in front of him.

From then on, I changed.

I secretly filed for divorce and applied to transfer to New York with my company.

No matter what happened between him and Quinn, I no longer cared.

Because I no longer loved him.

Vivian Shaw POV

I went home alone.

The house was large, empty, and cold. I changed my shoes, went upstairs, and started packing.

Actually, I had been quietly packing during this time. Now I just needed to finish up.

I took out the clothes from the closet that were similar to Quinn's style, one by one, folded them, and put them in boxes.

I would never wear these clothes again.

The sound of the door opening came from downstairs.

Ethan was back, but he wasn't alone.

Quinn stood at the bottom of the stairs. Seeing me, she gave a sweet smile. "Vivian, long time no see."

I said nothing.

"Quinn said she wanted to come see Snowball." Ethan spoke, his tone somewhat unnatural. "She said it's been a long time."

Snowball was a dog Ethan and Quinn had raised when they were together. Later when Quinn went abroad, the dog was left with Ethan. After I married in, I had been the one taking care of it.

"Whatever." I turned to go back to my room.

"Snowball! Snowball!" Quinn had already crouched down, clapping her hands to call the dog.

A white Samoyed ran out from the corner. Seeing Quinn, it excitedly jumped on her, tail wagging like a propeller.

"Oh my, Snowball still remembers me!" Quinn hugged the dog, her eyes crinkling with her smile. "Looks like even though another woman has been taking care of you all these years, you still only recognize me."

Her words carried obvious provocation.

I stopped in my tracks.

Ethan frowned. "Quinn, you ran off abroad without a word back then and didn't want it. You lost the right to be its owner long ago."

"Now you've seen it. You can go back."

Quinn pouted. "It's dark outside and raining. How unsafe for me to go back alone. Can't I... stay here for the night?"

Ethan wanted to refuse.

But it really was pouring rain outside with rolling thunder.

He instinctively looked at me, wanting to convince me to agree. In the past, whenever Quinn came over, I would make a scene and he would have to put in effort to pacify me.

But this time, before he could speak, I spoke first.

"The guest room is in that room at the far end of the first floor. The sheets and covers are clean." My tone was calm. "If you want to stay, go ahead."

With that, I turned and went back to my room.

Ethan froze.

Quinn was also stunned for a moment, but quickly smiled and wrapped her arm around Ethan's. "Ethan, see? Vivian agreed."

Ethan looked at my closed door, that strange feeling rising in his chest again.

He shook off Quinn's hand. "Behave yourself."

Just then his phone rang with a work call.

He glanced at Quinn. "Stay out of trouble."

Then he went to the study.

Only Quinn was left in the living room.

The smile instantly vanished from her face. She walked to my door and knocked.

I opened the door.

Quinn leaned against the door frame, looking me up and down. "Playing generous? You think letting me stay will make Ethan think you're understanding? It's useless, Vivian. Let me show you just how much of a failure you are. All these years, not only have you failed to win Ethan's heart, you couldn't even win over a dog."

She whistled, and Snowball came running.

"Snowball," Quinn pointed at me, "go, bite her."

The dog hesitated, but under Quinn's urging, it still lunged and bit my calf.

I was caught off guard and cried out in pain, my face instantly turning deathly pale!

Quinn laughed with satisfaction. "See? You can't even win over a dog, yet you foolishly thought you could steal Ethan from me? Just give up already!"

The pain and humiliation made my whole body go cold, but I bit my lip hard, not letting myself make another sound.

I looked up at Quinn, my eyes cold as ice. "Forgot to tell you, Quinn. The public areas of this house, including the stairs and hallways, all have twenty-four-hour surveillance. Both audio and video recording functions work perfectly."

"If you still want to stay here today and rekindle things with Ethan, I suggest you stop provoking me. Otherwise I'll show him the footage directly. Do you think he'd still let you stay?"

Quinn's expression changed.

I stopped looking at her, turned back into my room, and closed the door.

Vivian Shaw POV

I walked to the bed, took out the medicine kit from the drawer, and treated my wound.

The antiseptic stung fiercely on the wound, but my face showed no expression.

After treating the wound, I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes.

Unlike usual, I didn't make milk for Ethan, didn't wait for him to finish working, didn't say goodnight to him.

I just went straight to sleep.

In the middle of the night, I was choked awake by thick smoke.

I opened my eyes. The room was full of smoke, making me cough violently.

I hurriedly got out of bed and opened the door. The hallway was ablaze with fire.

A fire!

I held onto the wall, moving step by step toward the exit, but after just a few steps, from inhaling too much smoke, my legs gave out and I fell to the ground.

The floor was scorching hot. I struggled to get up but had no strength.

Just when I thought I would die here, a figure rushed into the sea of flames.

It was Ethan!

He wore pajamas, his face covered in soot, anxiously looking around.

I wanted to call out to him, but my throat was too choked by smoke to make a sound. I reached out my hand, wanting him to see me.

But Ethan didn't even look at me. He rushed straight toward the corner of the room.

Snowball was curled up there, trembling.

He scooped up the dog in one motion, turned and left, not even glancing back at me.

I watched his figure disappear into the firelight and suddenly laughed.

Laughed until tears fell.

He had come to save the dog.

In Ethan's heart, I wasn't even worth as much as a dog!

The smoke grew heavier. As I breathed it in, my consciousness began to blur.

I gritted my teeth, braced myself against the wall, and stood up shakily, stumbling toward the door.

But the doorway was already blocked by a fallen beam. There was no way out.

I looked at the burning beam in despair, then turned and rushed toward the window.

I pushed open the window. Cold wind rushed in, clearing my head a bit.

I looked down and happened to see Ethan rushing out the front door with the dog. Quinn threw herself into his arms.

"Ethan! I was so scared!" Quinn was in tears. "I thought Snowball would die in there... We raised this dog for so many years. It witnessed our relationship..."

Ethan's body stiffened. He seemed to want to push her away, but seeing her cry so heartbrokenly, in the end, he still raised his hand and gently patted her back, softly comforting her. "Don't cry. It's okay now. The dog is fine, and you're fine too."

I watched this scene, my heart feeling as if it were being violently squeezed by an icy hand, then suddenly released, leaving only boundless, numb emptiness.

I no longer counted on anyone.

I climbed onto the windowsill, took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and jumped.

The time my body fell through the air was very short. I didn't even have time to be afraid before I crashed heavily to the ground.

BANG.

Intense pain instantly swept through my whole body. I lay on the ground, warm blood spreading beneath me.

"Oh my God! Vivian jumped!"

The maid's scream rang out. Ethan whipped around.

He saw me lying in a pool of blood.

"VIVIAN!!!"

The expression on his face was one I had never seen before. Shock, disbelief, and a trace of... panic.

I looked at him, opened my mouth wanting to say something, but only coughed up blood.

Then I passed out completely.

When I woke up again, the smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils.

I opened my eyes and saw the white ceiling.

I moved slightly. My whole body ached. The pain was excruciating.

"Vivian!" Ethan's voice rang out.

I turned my head and saw him keeping watch by the bed, his eyes completely bloodshot, blue stubble on his chin. He looked haggard.

He grabbed my hand, his voice trembling slightly. "You're awake? How do you feel? Is anything uncomfortable?"

I didn't answer his question. I just slowly but firmly pulled my hand from his grasp.

Vivian Shaw POV

Ethan's hand froze in midair, his expression shifting slightly.

He probably thought I was angry about the fire and my jumping from the building, that I resented him for not saving me first.

"Vivian," he tried to explain, lowering his voice, "when I went into the room, I didn't see you. I thought you'd already escaped, so I only took Snowball. It's not just an ordinary dog, it's..."

What? The token of his and Quinn's relationship? A witness bearing their beautiful memories?

"Since you were in the room, why didn't you call out to me?"

Why didn't I call out?

I finally raised my eyes to look at him.

My eyes were very dark, very deep, containing no resentment, no expectation either. Just bottomless calm.

"Because I've stopped counting on you."

Ethan's whole body violently trembled, as if struck hard by something. His pupils contracted sharply as he looked at me in disbelief.

"What do you mean... stopped counting on me?"

His voice was terribly hoarse.

I looked at him, my gaze calm as if I were looking at a stranger. "Exactly what it sounds like. I don't count on you to save me, don't count on you to choose me, don't count on... you to love me."

Ethan's heart shook. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang.

It was Quinn!

He walked to the window, his back to me, and answered.

I couldn't hear the specific content, could only see the tense lines of his profile, his tone starting with impatience and ending with suppressed compromise and "I understand."

After hanging up, Ethan walked back to the bed, his expression unpleasant. He looked at me, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"You should go." I didn't wait for him to speak first, that suffocating calm still in my tone. "I really don't need anyone here."

Ethan looked at me, his chest feeling like it was stuffed with wet cotton, so stuffy he couldn't breathe.

He opened his mouth and finally only said, "Quinn has some trouble. I'll... go handle it and come right back."

After a pause, he added, "I know you're angry about what happened before, so you're deliberately saying these things out of spite. Don't worry, that kind of situation won't happen again."

"In a few days it's your mother's death anniversary. I'll go with you to pay respects."

My lowered eyelashes trembled lightly.

"My mother's death anniversary and Quinn's birthday are on the same day." I laughed once. "Aren't you going to celebrate her birthday with her?"

Ethan clearly hadn't expected me to suddenly bring this up. His expression stiffened almost imperceptibly.

He was silent for several seconds before avoiding my gaze and replying in a somewhat stiff tone, "Her birthday... what does that have to do with me?"

I laughed again.

How could it have nothing to do with him?

Five years of marriage, and every year on that day, Ethan was "busy."

The first year, he said he had a business trip. The second year, he said he had meetings. The third year, he said he had to meet clients.

Later I learned that my mother's death anniversary and Quinn's birthday were on the same day.

Every year on that day, Ethan would fly over ten hours overseas to stand outside Quinn's house all night, then leave gifts and depart.

This year Quinn was back. He could see her in person, could express his love even better.

"Oh, really?"

I responded lightly, said nothing more, just closed my eyes again, assuming a posture that rejected conversation and showed utter exhaustion.

Ethan, frustrated by my complete lack of reaction, felt anger rise in his chest but had nowhere to vent it.

He looked at my pale face and tightly closed eyes. The words "Quinn and I really have nothing going on, don't misunderstand" rolled around on his tongue, but in the end he only said, "Rest well. I'll come see you again later."

Then he turned and hurriedly left the hospital room.

Vivian Shaw POV

In the following days, I peacefully recovered in the hospital.

Ethan came a few times, bringing expensive supplements and flowers. He never stayed long. His phone was always busy.

I didn't make scenes or fuss. I just said "mm" to whatever he said, giving him a feeling of punching cotton with no resistance.

On the day I was discharged, Ethan brought flowers and accompanied me to the cemetery in the suburbs.

I looked at the increasingly familiar scenery outside the window, a sense of absurdity rising in my heart.

Five years. This was the first time Ethan came to pay respects to my mother.

The cemetery was very quiet. Wind blew through the trees with a rustling sound.

Ethan stood before the gravestone, looking at the woman in the photo who resembled me by seventy percent, silent for a long time.

"Mom," he began, his voice somewhat hoarse, "I'm sorry it took me so many years to visit you."

"I'll take good care of Vivian from now on. You can rest assured." Ethan continued, "I won't let her suffer anymore."

I looked at my mother's gentle smile on the gravestone, my expression numb.

Mom, did you hear?

The person I've liked for ten years said he'll take good care of me from now on.

But these words came too late.

So late that I no longer need them.

After paying respects, Ethan took me to the restaurant I'd always wanted to visit.

It was a French restaurant that was very difficult to book. I'd mentioned it many times before, but Ethan always said he didn't have time.

Today he reserved the entire restaurant and arranged a romantic dinner.

"I remember you said you wanted to come here." Ethan pulled out a chair for me. "Try it and see if it suits your taste."

I sat down, looking at the table full of exquisite dishes, my heart completely unmoved.

Halfway through the meal, Ethan's phone rang again.

Still Quinn.

Her angry voice was loud enough that even I could hear it clearly. "Ethan! You spent days throwing me an extravagant birthday party, but you didn't come yourself?!"

Ethan frowned and glanced at me.

I was cutting my steak, movements graceful, expression calm, as if I'd heard nothing.

"I had something to do." Ethan said quietly.

"What could be more important than my birthday? You have to come to my birthday party right now, or I won't celebrate this birthday at all!"

Ethan, pestered beyond endurance, hung up.

He looked at me, wanting to explain, but I had already put down my utensils.

"You should go." I said. "I've finished eating anyway."

"Vivian, Quinn just returned to the country. She wanted to gather all her friends together, but she doesn't know how to organize a party, so I helped her a bit." Ethan explained. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"I know." I nodded. "I understand."

That phrase again.

The frustration in Ethan's chest surged up again.

"I'll take you with me." He suddenly said. "The party is nearby anyway. We'll just make an appearance and leave. Consider it relaxing."

I wanted to refuse, but Ethan had already stood up. "Let's go."

Quinn's birthday party was in a luxury hotel's banquet hall.

When Ethan and I arrived, there were already many people inside.

Quinn wore a red dress, like a proud peacock, surrounded by crowds.

Seeing Ethan, her eyes lit up. She lifted her skirt and ran over. "Ethan! You finally came!"

She directly wrapped her arm around Ethan's, completely ignoring me beside him.

"Quinn." Ethan frowned, trying to pull his arm back.

"Ethan, dance the opening dance with me!" Quinn acted coquettishly. "You haven't danced with me in so long."

Ethan looked at me.

I was looking elsewhere, as if admiring a painting on the wall.

"Vivian..." Ethan started.

"Go ahead." I said. "I'll get something to eat over there."

With that, I turned and walked toward the food table.

Vivian Shaw POV

Ethan stood in place, seemingly frozen.I know that before, even if he just said a few words to Quinn, I would look at him with red-rimmed eyes.

But now, I had actively pushed him toward her. He simply couldn't believe it.

Ethan belatedly let Quinn pull him into the dance floor.

The music started. He held Quinn's waist but couldn't help frequently glancing toward me in the corner.

I was standing at the food table, eating cake in small bites, my expression calm, my eyes indifferent, as if I were attending a stranger's party.

Quinn noticed his distraction and grew displeased. "Since you care about her so much, just go find her. I'll go dance with another man."

With that, she let go of Ethan, turned, and walked toward a man in a white suit.

The man was Quinn's college classmate who had always liked her. Seeing Quinn approach, he immediately extended his hand attentively.

Quinn placed her hand in his, and the two glided into the dance floor.

Ethan stood in place, watching Quinn laugh and chat with that man, his expression gradually darkening.

Quinn seemed to be deliberately provoking him, getting closer and closer to that man. Finally, she even leaned to the man's ear and said something. The man laughed, lowered his head, and kissed her cheek.

The wine glass in Ethan's hand shattered with a crack.

Blood mixed with wine dripped down, but he felt no pain.

He rushed forward, grabbed Quinn's wrist, and dragged her out of the dance floor.

"Ethan! What are you doing?! Let me go!" Quinn struggled.

Without a word, his face livid, Ethan practically dragged Quinn out of the banquet hall to the empty, deserted balcony outside.

Ethan pressed her against the cold railing, his voice suppressing violent rage. "Quinn, do you have any sense at all?!"

Quinn was startled by his shouting, then got angry herself and forcefully shook off his hand. "I have no sense? I'm not married. He's not married. We're both willing. So what's the problem? Who are you to me, Ethan? What right do you have to tell me what to do? As my ex? Or as some other woman's husband?"

"You!"

Quinn's words stung Ethan until his eyes turned red, and the string of rationality snapped completely in that moment.

He abruptly lowered his head and fiercely kissed Quinn's lips!

It wasn't a gentle kiss. It carried punishment and plunder, fierce and domineering.

Quinn stiffened at first, then a gleam of triumph flashed in her eyes. She didn't struggle. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and began kissing him back passionately.

The balcony glass was frosted. People outside couldn't see clearly what was happening inside, but I stood in the corner, and through a gap in the glass, I could see everything clearly.

I watched Ethan kiss Quinn, watched Quinn wrap her arms around his neck, watched them kiss inseparably.

There was no pain in my heart, only a numb sense of absurdity.

The kiss lasted a long time, until both were breathless.

Ethan suddenly pushed Quinn away, as if jolted awake from a dream. He looked at Quinn's glistening red lips and dazed eyes, his heart lurching sharply, followed by overwhelming panic and self-loathing.

"I'm sorry," he turned his face away, his voice terribly hoarse, carrying a kind of awkward evasion. "I... I drank too much. I mistook you for Vivian."

Quinn obviously didn't believe his explanation. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, looking up at him, her tone carrying tears and pleading.

"You've never had Vivian in your heart. How could you mistake me for her? Stop lying to yourself, okay? You still love me. You can't let me go at all!"

"Ethan, let's stop torturing each other, okay? Divorce Vivian and let's get back together. I swear I'll never be as willful as before. I'll love you properly, be a good wife to you, okay?"

Vivian Shaw POV

Divorce? Get back together?

These two words exploded like thunder in Ethan's ears.

As if scalded, he violently pushed Quinn away and said sternly, "What are you talking about! I won't divorce Vivian!"

"Why? Just because she followed you without any boundaries for five years?" Quinn shrieked, "Ethan, how long will you keep running from your feelings? If you really don't have me in your heart anymore, don't care about me at all, then I might as well just die!"

As she spoke, she turned and rushed toward the edge of the balcony, as if she really meant to jump.

"Quinn! Are you crazy?!" Ethan's expression changed drastically as he rushed forward to pull her back.

Just then, the huge crystal chandelier overhead, used for decoration, suddenly made a groaning sound, unable to bear its weight, then crashed downward! And it was falling directly toward Quinn's head!

"Watch out!"

Ethan's pupils contracted sharply. Without thinking, he used his body to shield Quinn tightly in his arms and rolled to the side!

The heavy crystal chandelier smashed to the ground, instantly shattering, fragments flying everywhere.

Ethan's back was sliced by several larger shards, blood immediately gushing out, staining his expensive suit red.

"Ethan! Are you okay? You're bleeding!" Quinn's face turned deathly pale with fright as she cried out.

People in the banquet hall were startled by the loud noise and ran out, creating chaos at the scene.

Some called for an ambulance, others came forward to help.

I stood at the edge of the crowd, not a ripple of emotion in my heart, only finding the farce before me absurd and glaring.

I didn't step forward, didn't inquire, didn't even stay a second longer.

Amid the ambulance's piercing siren, I quietly turned and left.

Ethan was hospitalized.

I didn't go see him.

I stayed home alone, doing my own things, reading books, watching movies, packing my luggage.

Until that evening, Ethan's assistant Jeff suddenly called.

"Vivian, could you come to the hospital to see Ethan? His stomach condition flared up again. The pain is severe, and the medicine the doctor prescribed isn't helping much. He's breaking out in cold sweat from the pain and won't let the nurses near him. In the past, only when you massaged him would he feel better... We really don't know what to do. Could you..."

I walked to the window, looking at the city completely shrouded in the rain curtain outside. Raindrops pounded against the glass as if to drown the entire world.

After he finished speaking, I calmly replied, "The rain is too heavy. I won't be going."

The other end was clearly stunned, silent for several seconds, as if unable to believe what they'd heard.

"M-Ms. Shaw... what did you say?" the assistant stammered.

"I said the rain outside is too heavy. I don't want to go out. I won't be coming tonight."

"But Mr. Blackwood, he..."

"I'm going to sleep now." I interrupted him. "Good night."

I hung up, turned off my phone, went to bed, and no longer paid attention to any disturbances.

The next day, Ethan checked out of the hospital early and returned home.

His face was still somewhat pale. Seeing me sitting on the living room sofa reading, he paused, then walked over and stood before me.

"Last night..." he began, his voice somewhat low, his gaze heavy as he looked at me. "Jeff called you?"

"Yes." I turned a page without looking up.

"Why didn't you come?" Ethan asked, suppressing some emotion in his tone. "Before... no matter the weather, even if I just casually mentioned feeling unwell, you would rush over immediately."

My page-turning motion stopped.

I finally looked up at Ethan, my eyes calm and still.

"You said it yourself. That was before." I looked at him, my voice light, yet like a small hammer gently tapping on Ethan's heart. "Ethan, people change."

Vivian Shaw POV

Ethan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found nothing to say.

Yes, people change.

I had changed.

He probably just didn't know why I changed, or when I changed.

"In a few days," he tried to ease the atmosphere, as if wanting to prove something, "it's our wedding anniversary. Didn't you always say you wanted to celebrate it properly? This year, I'll throw you a party, invite everyone, make it lively, okay?"

As he spoke, he observed my reaction.

I looked at him, my eyes calm. "Whatever."

Whatever again.

Ethan's expression turned unpleasant, as if the irritation in his heart was surging up again.

But he still began preparing for the party.

He booked the most expensive hotel, hired the best planners, ordered me the most expensive gown, bought the most expensive, sky-high-priced jewelry.

On the day of the party, I wore the gown he'd chosen, adorned with that priceless diamond jewelry set, and walked into the banquet hall on his arm.

Everyone looked at me with envy.

"Mrs. Blackwood is so fortunate."

"Ethan treats her so well."

"I heard that jewelry set was bought at auction. An astronomical price."

I listened to those comments, a proper smile on my face, but my heart felt nothing.

Midway through, I went to the balcony for some air.

I had only been standing there a moment when footsteps sounded behind me.

It was Quinn.

"Why are you here?" I turned to look at her.

"Ethan invited me." Quinn walked to my side, leaning against the railing. "He said today is your wedding anniversary and asked me to come witness your happiness."

As she spoke, she smiled. "Vivian, are you happy?"

I said nothing.

Quinn leaned close to me. "I know you're not happy. Ethan's heart only has room for me. You're just a pitiful, laughable substitute! Last night he even because of me..."

"Quinn," I finally spoke, interrupting her words, my voice terrifyingly calm. "You know what? You're really noisy, and really pitiful. Like a child who throws tantrums when they can't get candy. What's between Ethan and me is our business."

"As for you, an eternal failure living in the past who needs to provoke others to prove her own existence, you're not worth me wasting any emotion on."

"You!"

Quinn was thoroughly enraged by the undisguised contempt and pity in my eyes. She glanced at the low, decorative balcony railing behind me, a vicious glint flashing in her eyes.

"Go to hell!" She suddenly reached out and used all her strength to violently push me!

Caught off guard, I instantly lost my balance and fell backward!

In the moment I fell off the balcony, survival instinct made me reflexively reach out and grab wildly. I happened to catch Quinn's wrist, which she hadn't pulled back in time!

"Ah!"

Both of us screamed simultaneously.

Half my body was already suspended in air, hanging on only by my hand desperately gripping Quinn's wrist. Quinn was also pulled down and collapsed at the railing's edge, scared out of her wits, her other hand desperately clawing at the railing to avoid falling together.

"Help! Ethan! Help!" Quinn shrieked and cried.

People in the banquet hall were alarmed and rushed toward the balcony.

Ethan ran at the front. Seeing this dangerous scene, his face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Ethan! Save me! I'm going to fall! Pull me up quickly!" Quinn cried, tears streaming down her face, extending the hand clinging to the railing toward Ethan.

Ethan's gaze swept rapidly between me, gritting my teeth silently, and Quinn, crying and calling for help.

In that split second, with almost no hesitation, he lunged forward and grabbed the hand Quinn extended toward him!

"Vivian, hang on a bit longer!" Ethan looked down at me, his voice trembling. "Once I pull Quinn up, I'll save you right away!"

I looked at him and suddenly smiled.

I let go.

My body fell through the air, wind roaring in my ears.

Finally, I crashed into the swimming pool below.

Water splashed everywhere.

The icy pool water engulfed me. I closed my eyes and lost consciousness.

Vivian Shaw POV

When I woke up again, I was lying in the bed in my own room.

The blood and mud on my body had been cleaned away, replaced with soft silk pajamas.

The room was empty. Heavy curtains were half-drawn, letting in a dim ray of light.

I stiffly turned my head, reaching for my phone on the pillow. The screen lit up, the glaring light making me squint.

There was only one text message, from Ethan.

"Vivian, Quinn was frightened and her emotions are unstable. I'm taking her to the hospital first. Rest well. I've had the butler treat your injuries. I'll explain everything when I get back. I'll compensate you."

Compensate.

Compensation again.

I stared at those words, finding it utterly laughable, absurd to the extreme.

When did "compensation" become all that was left between us? When you truly like someone, you cherish them. There's no need for the word "compensation" to make up for debts.

Ethan, I don't like you anymore.

So your compensation. I don't want it at all anymore.

I only hope to sever all ties with you as soon as possible, leave this place, get far, far away, and never again endure this bone-cutting torture.

Just then, my phone vibrated again.

This time, the notice came from the court.

"Ms. Shaw, your divorce from Mr. Ethan is now final. The divorce decree will be mailed to your address."

It was really over.

I gripped my phone, my knuckles turning slightly white from the force. I looked at that short text for a long, long time, so long that the screen's light automatically turned off, and I lit it up again.

Then I tilted my head back and slowly, gradually, exhaled a long breath.

That breath seemed to expel all the grievances, pain, struggles, and unwillingness accumulated over these five years of marriage, along with the last trace of hope for that person, all expelled from my body.

I threw off the covers and, enduring the bone-deep soreness throughout my body, got out of bed and began final preparations.

Actually, there wasn't much left to pack. Those things belonging to "Mrs. Blackwood," the luxurious clothes and jewelry, I had already picked out and left in the closet. Most of the things belonging to Vivian Shaw I had already packed.

I folded the last few pieces of old clothes I wore regularly and put them in the suitcase, pulling the zipper closed with force.

Three o'clock in the afternoon. Takeoff.

I dragged my suitcase downstairs. The butler was directing servants to clean the living room. Seeing me, he was clearly stunned. "You're..."

"I'm leaving." I stopped and looked calmly at this old man who had taken care of me for several years. "Thank you for looking after me all these years."

"What are you saying?! Does the sir... does he know?" The butler looked completely bewildered, trying frantically to stop me.

"He and I are already divorced." I smiled faintly. "Starting today, I'm no longer Ethan's wife."

I dragged my suitcase out the front door. The morning breeze blew in my face. I took a deep breath of free air and hailed a cab straight to City Hall.

When I received that divorce certificate, my hands trembled slightly. I opened the thin booklet and glanced at it.

On it, my name and Ethan's were finally side by side, yet completely separated by that certificate.

How wonderful.

This long dream that had flayed and dismembered me was finally over.

I took a cab to the airport, completed check-in procedures, checked my luggage, and sat in the departure lounge watching planes take off and land outside.

My phone suddenly rang urgently.

Caller ID: Ethan.

I looked at those three words, not a ripple rising in my heart. I didn't answer, letting it ring until it automatically disconnected.

He called again, over and over, hysterically, relentlessly.

The phone vibrated in my palm, annoyingly noisy. Expressionless, I long-pressed the power button, slid the screen, and decisively turned it off.

A sweet boarding announcement came over the loudspeaker.

I stood up, dragging my suitcase, and walked toward the gate without looking back.

When the plane took off, a huge roar filled my eardrums. I turned my head to look out the window.

That city that had trapped me for five years grew smaller and smaller until it was completely obscured by white clouds. In my heart was an unprecedented calm.

Goodbye, Ethan.

Goodbye to that humble, people-pleasing past.

The plane pierced through thick cloud layers, flying toward the sky, toward the blinding sun, flying toward my new life.