I'd been married to Ezra for eight years, but we never had a wedding ceremony. Initially, he said weddings were too much hassle and unnecessary. Later, he claimed we were an old married couple and didn't need all the pretense. Yet on our eighth anniversary, he threw a grand coastal wedding for his childhood sweetheart.

I watched the video of my husband in a sharp black suit, gently holding his first love. The guests were laughing and celebrating, full of joy and carefree. I glanced at the dinner table in front of me, with food that had been reheated ten times. With a self-deprecating smile, I left a comment under the video: "Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and lots of kids." Then, I called my lawyer.

When Ezra returned, I had just finished the call. He looked exhausted, still wearing the suit from the wedding. The dining table from yesterday remained untouched, filling the warm summer air with a sour odor, much like the lingering smell on Ezra himself.

He frowned and pinched his nose in disdain. "The table's a mess. Have you gotten sloppy?" he snapped. "Do you still have the demeanor of the Morris Corp's general manager? You're so careless; it's embarrassing."

"Why don't you clean this up instead of leaving the house in chaos?" he continued, casting a disapproving glance at the table. "Why did you make so much food? Don't think you can be wasteful just because you're the general manager now. Have you forgotten how tough life was before we got married?"

I looked up and stared at him blankly. He must have felt guilty because he brought up yesterday’s wedding. "The wedding was just to fulfill Elena’s dream. You know how fragile her health is, and the doctors said she shouldn’t be upset. We should try to fulfill her wishes."

I laughed bitterly. "Fulfill her wishes? Should I step aside whenever she wants my place as your wife?"

Ezra was taken aback, hesitating. "Why are you being so petty? Elena wouldn't think that way. She's just a patient. Why are you fighting with her?"

"She wouldn't be interested in your position now. Otherwise, would it have been your turn back then?" he retorted.

So it wasn’t that he wouldn’t, but that she wouldn’t accept. I couldn't believe these words were coming from my husband.

"Ezra, have you forgotten that in the eight years we've been married, we never had a wedding? And now you're holding another woman's hand, having a grand wedding. Where does that leave me?"

"That was just a sham ceremony. Why are you so hung up on it?" he argued. "And look at yourself, getting worked up over it. We should just focus on living our lives well."

With that, he stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him. I was certain he hadn’t remembered that yesterday was our eighth wedding anniversary.

He was always like this, never taking matters related to me seriously, never wanting to be seen with me in public. Officially, I was the general manager hired by Morris Corp, and not a single person at the company knew I was Ezra’s wife. It was laughable.

Before, I thought keeping our marriage private was strategic, avoiding the perception that I got my position because of him. I even thought he was considerate. Now, it's clear Ezra believed I wasn’t worthy of being displayed publicly.

In those eight years, the times we went out for dinner or on a date could be counted on one hand.

I snapped back to reality, tidying up as I prepared to leave for work. Just as I stepped out, my phone rang. It was Elena again.

"Eight years doesn’t matter. As long as I want, he'll do anything for me. Including the wedding you’ve been begging for these past eight years."

The video showed Ezra kneeling to put a ring on her finger, followed by the two of them sharing a passionate kiss. I saved the video and blocked yet another one of her numbers.

I frequently received these videos—Ezra and Elena watching sunrises by the sea, kissing under splendid fireworks, even in hotel rooms. Elena said that even if I showed these to Ezra, it wouldn’t matter because he would accuse me of being petty and unreasonable. Ezra’s loyalty never tilted in my favor.

In the past, watching these videos would leave me breathless with pain. But this time, I felt a sort of relief, glad to have more evidence for the divorce settlement. There wasn’t a shred of anger or sadness left in me.

As the workday was winding down, my phone buzzed with a call from Ezra Morris.

He finally seemed to remember what yesterday was, and he rebuked me, “Why didn’t you tell me it was our wedding anniversary?”

I stayed silent.

“Anyway, Ronin and the others suggested we meet tonight. Meet me in the underground parking lot, and I’ll pick you up.”

I didn’t get a chance to respond before he hung up.

I couldn’t help but smirk to myself. Wait for him in the parking lot? Anyone not in the know might think I was the third wheel in this relationship.

I had no intention of humoring him.

Half an hour later, the phone rang again. “What are you doing? Why aren’t you downstairs yet? You’re a manager, why are you taking so long?”

“Hurry up, everyone’s waiting.”

I said, “You can wait for me outside the office building. I’ll be down in a minute.”

“Loretta, it’s rush hour, and people are leaving. If someone sees us, there’ll be gossip. What’s your game?”

I scoffed, “I’m not your secret lover. I won’t sneak around. If you can’t deal with that, just go by yourself.”

Ezra begrudgingly parked the car around the corner from my office.

I slid into the back seat, slamming the door shut.

Ezra snapped, “What’s the deal? You’re treating me like your chauffeur?”

I glanced at him, gesturing toward the passenger seat.

He hesitated momentarily, then pretended innocence. “The last time I went with Elena to win stuffed toys, she got this for me.”

And, of course, he couldn’t resist adding, “Unlike you, who’s always buried in work, missing the joy in life.”

I ignored him. “Just drive.”

The car wasn’t just littered with trinkets in the front; the backseat had its fair share as well, many in matching pairs. I remembered when we first bought this car; I had enthusiastically decorated it with cozy pillows and accessories.

All of it had been discarded by Ezra.

“This car is mine, not yours. Don’t put your things in it.”

“You always want everything, constantly into useless stuff.”

Since then, I never bothered to decorate it again. In fact, I seldom rode in his car.

Clearly, he didn’t mind other people’s things in his car—as long as that someone wasn’t me.

When we arrived at the restaurant, Ezra asked me to park the car while he went ahead upstairs.

As I approached the private dining room, I overheard the voices inside.

“Yesterday was your wedding anniversary, and you were out with Elena. Isn’t your wife jealous?”

“Maybe when Loretta gets here, you should all apologize to her?”

Ezra’s dismissive voice answered, “Why should we apologize to her? Who doesn’t dream of the perfect wedding? I was just helping Elena fulfill one of her wishes.”

Elena chimed in, “I only went abroad for treatment because I was unwell, and she swooped in at my weakest moment. She took my place. Now, I just want to have a wedding with Ezra to fulfill my dream. Is that too much to ask?”

Others chimed in with their support.

“Exactly, we all know you two have always had eyes for each other, and she just happened to benefit from it.”

“Alright, don’t be upset. We’re all rooting for you two.”

Ezra’s friends had known him for years, and they clearly looked down on me, believing Elena was his true match.

I listened stone-faced to their conversation, understanding perfectly why they were friends, before I casually pushed the door open.

The chatter stopped abruptly as they noticed me, guilt written all over their faces.

Ronin greeted me, “Come, Loretta, sit next to Ezra.”

I hesitated, eyeing the table full of ravioli and pulled pork.

Elena sat confidently on Ezra’s other side, smirking at me with a look of triumph. “Oh, by the way, Loretta, you’re not upset, are you? I jokingly mentioned wanting a wedding a while back, and Ezra surprised me. But don’t worry, it’s all for show. You know I’m not in great health and never know how long I’ve got... that’s why Ezra did it.”

As her eyes welled up, Ezra looked at her with concern and softly reassured her, “She’s not upset. You’re not well, so don’t worry about these things.”

The two of them were wrapped up in their own world, oblivious to everyone else at the table.

Ronin tried to ease the tension by suggesting that I eat.

I didn’t pick up my fork.

Ezra assumed I was sulking.

“Everyone’s here to enjoy a rare get-together, don’t be the one to spoil the mood.”

The others looked at me with displeasure.

I shrugged, unfazed. “Sorry, I’m allergic to shellfish. Looks like I won’t be able to enjoy this meal.”

Ezra seemed to suddenly remember my allergy.

The rest seemed to realize their oversight, leaving them awkward and embarrassed.

I remembered a year ago when Ezra had specifically chosen a seafood restaurant because Elena loved it. The table was filled with seafood. I politely mentioned my allergy.

Everyone thought I was being difficult, trying to ruin the night.

Ezra had been annoyed, “Eating a little won’t kill you. Stop being so melodramatic.”

“If everyone else can eat, why can’t you?”

He pressured me to eat, and when I refused, he felt humiliated and said, “If you’re not going to eat, then we should just get a divorce.”

Not wanting a divorce, I reluctantly ate.

Ezra had been smug, “I knew you were just playing games. See? You’re doing as you’re told.”

But within ten minutes, I broke out in a rash and nearly went into shock, spending half a month in the hospital recovering.

There was a momentary silence at the table.

I seized the moment to speak up, “Since I can’t partake, I won’t hold everyone back. I’ll be on my way.”

Ezra tried to stop me, but before he could say anything, I left without looking back.

I knew he wouldn’t chase after me.

Where Elena was, his eyes would always follow her.

I wandered alone by the pier, stopping for some grilled skewers and a beer when hunger hit.

The evening breeze felt comforting, as if washing away all my sorrow.

Ezra came back late that night; I was already asleep.

He turned the room lights on without regard and yanked my blanket away.

With a condescending air, he tossed a small box at me.

“Here, stop making a fuss. Happy eighth anniversary.”

Groggily, I opened it to find a designer watch, identical to the one Elena had worn earlier.

But its cheap shine gave it away.

The real deal went to someone else, while the fake was for his wife.

I wasn’t sure if Ezra was insulting me or himself.

Suddenly, I felt wide awake.

Ezra acted as though he’d given me a great gift, looking down on me.

“Stop embarrassing me outside. You really disgrace me.”

“Why was I so blind to marry someone like you?”

His eyes were filled with regret and disdain.

I clenched my fingers, trying to suppress that last bit of heartache.

Then I lay back down, closing my eyes.

Very well, Ezra.

We’re about to end this for good.