On our fifth wedding anniversary, Jacob Carter once again abandons me for his so-called first love, Wendy Miller.

"Wendy's raising a child on her own. It's not easy for her. Can't you be a little more understanding? You're also a woman, aren't you?" Jacob said.

In my previous life, that argument turned into a nightmare. He locked me in the house, and when a fire broke out, I was burned to death.

After being reborn, I don't just give them my blessing. I pack my bags, walk out on my own terms, and apply to study architecture overseas.

And now? Jacob's the one falling apart—crying and begging me not to go.

Jacob Carter left me again—this time to rush over to Wendy Miller's place. I grabbed the sleeve of his jacket as he headed for the door.

"Can't you stay? It's our fifth wedding anniversary."

"Alicia, come on. Try to be reasonable. Wendy's on her own with Oliver, and he's running a high fever. She needs help." He pulled his arm free, feeling irritated.

I fumed. Oliver Ford always managed to fall sick at just the right moments. "He's not even your son. Why is it always you she calls? Doesn't she have anyone else?

"If you walk out that door tonight, Jacob, we're getting a divorce tomorrow."

In our town, "divorce" wasn't a word we could throw around lightly. People would have gossiped for years. But I wasn't afraid.

Jacob flared up. "Do whatever you want! Just don't try to blackmail me with this crap. A woman with zero empathy—who the hell would want you after a divorce?"

I snapped. I flipped the dinner table over as he reached for the doorknob. The candlelit anniversary dinner I had so carefully prepared crashed to the floor in a mess.

Jacob froze. "Are you crazy? How did I end up marrying a shrew like you?"

I marched right past him and yelled, "Yeah, I am crazy! What kind of married man keeps running off to another woman's house every time she snaps her fingers?"

I stormed across the lawn straight to Wendy's front door and banged on it furiously. "Wendy! If you've got the guts to steal someone's husband, you better have the guts to come out and face me!"

Our neighbors started peeking out to watch the drama unfold.

Jacob's face turned bright red in an instant.

Wendy opened the door slowly and timidly with her head down. "Alicia… please don't misunderstand. Oliver's burning up and I… I can't carry him by myself. Jacob's the only one I could turn to."

I yanked her out onto the stoop by the wrist. "Oh really? What amazing timing your son has. Last month, it happened when Jacob finally had a day off and planned to take me to the movies.

"Last week, it was my birthday. And today, our wedding anniversary! Is your kid allergic to me spending any alone time with Jacob or what?

"Why don't you just have Jacob move in with you? That way, you can have him every day!"

Seething with rage, I stomped back to the house and shoved Jacob, who was standing there in shock. "What are you waiting for? Weren't you in a hurry? Go already!"

I slammed the door in his face, leaving him and Wendy staring at each other in the hallway.

The neighbors whispered among themselves, and they glared at the two of them with obvious disgust.

Jacob banged on the door, begging me to let him in. I ignored him. Only when he heard me slam the bedroom door did he punch the wall in frustration and leave.

Calmly, I turned on the bedside lamp and started flipping through a magazine.

The reason I dared to cause such a scene today… was because I had been reborn.

In my past life, it was when Jacob left to be with Wendy that the house caught fire. Locked inside, I burned to death.

Now that I had a second chance, there was no way I'd let them walk all over me again.

He wanted to be with another woman? Fine, go ahead. But I would have made sure everyone saw what kind of people they really were.

Jacob didn't come home that night, but I didn't care.

The next morning, just as I was stepping out, I ran into Wendy coming back with a bucket of water.

Her face was pale and exhausted. The look in her eyes was pure venom. She looked like she wanted to strangle me.

I didn't spare her a glance. I locked the door and headed to work. When I arrived at Martin Smith's office, I handed him my application to go abroad.

Martin looked surprised. "Mrs. Carter, are you sure about this? You're definitely the most qualified to go, but last time you said you couldn't leave because of family obligations."

"Don't worry, Mr. Smith. I've given this a lot of thought. I'm ready to set my personal matters aside for the sake of our country's future.

"Studying advanced technology abroad is the only way we can truly speed up our development—and that's what really matters right now.

"If you approve this, I'll head home and start packing today."

With a frown, Martin stubbed out his cigarette. He signed the form and said, "Alright. Go home, get your affairs in order, and bid farewell. You leave in a week.

"Thank you, Mr. Smith," I said, giving him a firm handshake. "I won't let you down."

Back home, I pulled an old suitcase out from under the bed. It was the one I'd packed my wedding gifts in five years ago.

Back then, I married Jacob despite my family's objections because I thought he was kind-hearted. I even believed he was thoughtful and dependable.

But I hadn't realized his kindness had limits—and it never extended to me. It was always reserved for Wendy, his first love.

Wendy's husband died young. He was crushed to death in a mine collapse.

At the time, she was heavily pregnant. The moment she heard the news, she went into premature labor.

Jacob was there for her, running around the hospital, doing everything he could. The neighbors pitched in to help too.

It all seemed reasonable at first. But no one expected that barely after her husband's body went cold, Wendy had already had her sights set on Jacob.

From the moment Oliver was born, everything became Jacob's responsibility — formula, clothes, and even doctor visits. Eighty percent of his salary went straight to Wendy and Oliver every month.

Meanwhile, our own home didn't have a single decent appliance. The rusted old bicycle in the corner was part of my wedding gifts.

When I mentioned it to him, he looked at me like I was heartless. "You're a woman, too. So why can't you be a little bit more understanding?

"Wendy's husband died while she was pregnant, and she nearly died giving birth. How can I not help? If I don't step in, what chance does that baby have?"

But everyone in town knew Wendy had received a massive payout after the accident. And yet our household scraped by on my salary alone.

There was a time I'd cry and fight with Jacob over this, but not anymore.

I packed my bags, neatly placed the divorce papers on the coffee table, and waited for Jacob to return.

He came home late. I didn't ask where he'd been—not this time.

The moment he entered, he saw me sitting on the couch, then noticed the papers on the table. His face tightened.

"Alicia, come on. Let's not do this. I know I've been difficult, but you can't seriously want a divorce over something so minor, right?”

I gave him a weary smile. "Minor? Her son's about to start calling you 'Dad,' and you think this is still something minor? This divorce is happening, Jacob. There's nothing to talk about."

Realizing I wouldn't back down, he snapped, "Don't be ridiculous! Oliver likes me. What's wrong with that? It just means I'm a good person. So what if I'm like a godfather to him?"

"A good person? Or just a fool? And is it really Oliver who likes you, or is it Wendy who's trying to reel you in?"

Jacob's face darkened. "You're impossible. You never listen. I can't even reason with a woman like you anymore."

I smiled. "Then consider this your chance. Go be with a woman like her.

"I married you against my parents' wishes because I thought you'd treat me well. Instead, I get to watch you play husband to someone else.

"Look around this house, Jacob. The apartment belongs to the company. And the furniture is all mine. Every bite of food, every drop of oil—I paid for it. Even the clothes on your back came from my wallet.

"And your money? It went to Oliver for toys and snacks. It went to Wendy for her hair appointments, new outfits, and makeup.

"Even when we visited my mother for New Year's, you couldn't bother to buy a cheap gift. But you had no problem buying new clothes for Oliver and stuffing money into his hands!"

I took a deep breath, finally letting out what I'd been holding in for years.

I sighed. "Jacob, if your heart's no longer with me, then there's no point dragging this out. Divorce me. Then go marry her—openly, proudly.

"Let her son call you 'Dad.' At least then, all that money you spent won't go to waste."

I stood and walked toward the bedroom. "It's over, Jacob. I'm done."

He stood frozen for a long time, then stumbled after me. "Alicia, let's not get divorced, okay?”

I couldn't understand him. His heart clearly was with Wendy, so why would he refuse to divorce me?

But it didn't matter. In a week, I'd be leaving the country. Sooner or later, Jacob and Wendy would have been married.

The next morning, I was still half-asleep when I heard the sound of clattering pots and pans.

In five years of marriage, Jacob had never stepped foot in the kitchen—unless it was to cook soup for Wendy during her recovery.

I ignored him, grabbed a basin of water, and went to wash up. Afterward, I snatched two eggs off the table, stuffed them into my bag, and headed for the door.

"At least have some breakfast before you go." Jacob's tone was unusually gentle.

But it was far too late for tenderness. "No thanks. We're practically divorced—no need to sit down and play happy family.

"Oh, and make sure you chip in for groceries. I bought every spoon, every grain of rice, and every drop of oil here. If you want to eat, you pay."

Five years of marriage, and not a single cent of Jacob's money had been spent on me.

I supported him—and in doing so, supported another woman too.

My hand had just touched the doorknob when I heard a knock from outside. I opened the door to find Elizabeth Larson standing there with a bright smile.

"Alicia, these eggs are from the hens back home. Thought you could use a little nourishment."

But I knew she hadn't come all this way just to bring me eggs. There was something else on her mind. "Come on in, Elizabeth. Have a seat."

As soon as she stepped inside, her eyes landed on Jacob.

"You're here too, huh? Now, don't take this the wrong way, but a married man shouldn't be keeping other women in his thoughts. Taking care of your own wife is what matters most."

Jacob didn't say a word. He kept his head down, eating, but the guilty look he shot me told plenty.

I brought over some juice and set a cup in front of Elizabeth, who waved her hand politely. "I won't stay long. I just wanted to say a few words before I run off to take my grandson to school."

I smiled and thanked her. After she left, I noticed someone else standing just outside the door—Wendy, hovering like she wasn't sure whether to come in or run.

"Jacob," I called out into the house, loud and clear, "Wendy's waiting for you outside."

Jacob flinched like he'd been shocked. His spoon slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor.

Wendy rushed forward and whispered, "Alicia, there's nothing going on between me and Jacob. Don't make this into something it's not—"

Her words nearly made me laugh.

I gave her a cold look. "Wendy, don't come at me with that innocent little act. You might be able to fool Jacob with that face, but not me.

"You and your son have been living off our money for years. I'm giving you three days to pay it all back. If you don't, I'll let the whole neighborhood know—radio station and all."

Her face went pale. "Jacob only helped us out because I was alone and struggling. It was just some groceries and a few things for Oliver—"

"He never told you how much he's spent, did he? Before the marriage, whatever he did with his money was none of my business. But after we tied the knot, it became our shared income.

"He's been spending at least eighty percent of his salary on you every month. That's over 25 thousand dollars in five years—and that's a conservative estimate. If you refuse to pay it back, I will go to the police."

The number hit Wendy like a slap in the face.

With eyes full of tears, she turned and looked at Jacob. "Jacob, say something. Please."

Jacob barely breathed. "Wendy… you should return the money. It's not a small sum. Do it for me, okay?"

Wendy's face crumbled. She dropped to her knees in front of me and sobbed. "Alicia, please… have a little mercy. I'm raising a child on my own. Where am I supposed to come up with that kind of money?"

I was done listening to her. I went straight to the factory where Jacob and Wendy worked and asked to see their supervisor, Paul Johnson.

"Mr. Johnson, I'm not asking for sympathy or a mediator. I just want my money back. That's all."

Paul handed me a cup of water, trying to ease the tension. "Mrs. Carter, I've seen how much effort you've put into your marriage.

"You've been nothing but devoted—Jacob's in the wrong here. I'll help you get your money. But divorce… that's not a small matter."

"Mr. Johnson, I've already filed my application to go abroad. I will be leaving next week to continue my studies.

"Who knows when or if I'll be back. A divorce and letting him marry Wendy would be better for all of us."

Paul looked stunned. I couldn't blame him. People had long since written the label of "perfect wife" onto me.

No one expected me, the devoted homemaker, to suddenly pack my bags and study overseas.

But Paul wasn't the type to get in the way of ambition. "Mrs. Carter, this is a great opportunity for you. You've got my support. Just take care of yourself out there.

"As for Jacob… he had high hopes of becoming the employee of the year. I'd never thought he'd be this clueless."

Before he even finished speaking, Jacob barged into the office. "Mr. Johnson, don't listen to her. She's lying! We're not getting divorced!

"You're going abroad and didn't even talk to me first? How could you make such a big decision without saying anything?"

Wendy rushed in right behind him, sobbing, then collapsed dramatically onto the floor. "Mr. Johnson, please help me! I can't possibly pay back that kind of money."

The ruckus had already drawn a crowd of curious workers.

I stayed perfectly calm. "If you two don't mind making a scene, be my guest. But this divorce? It's happening. And I will get my money back."

Wendy screamed through her tears. "25 thousand dollars? How am I supposed to live with my son after that? I might as well be dead!"

Then, without warning, she grabbed the windowsill and tried to climb out like she was going to jump.