Clipped inside was a blurry picture of a black hole.

[Another collapsed star was observed today, Karen. How have you been? I miss you.]

[After I retire, so I don’t turn into a sad black hole, I’ll definitely come back home to watch over you.]

[It’s just that it’s still too far away. My heart breaks thinking about you.]

William grew up in a foreign country, always mixing in that dry, foreign sense of humor. Over the past five years, the files he sent me have piled up into a mountain, filling my entire inbox. The pictures he took of me, the words of love he wrote—I backed them up separately, afraid that one day they might disappear. But I never replied. For so long, it had been his one-man show.

Because unlike Ferry, I knew that I had married a man, and I had my own sense of propriety. I always thought that, given time, William would eventually let go of me. But he never did.

I sat there quietly, scrolling through the letters from the past. Memories flooded my heart, and for a second, two little voices argued inside me. Then my phone beeped. Ferry had transferred ten million dollars to my account with a message.

[This is my fault. Consider this my compensation.]

But no amount of money could erase my hatred. And at that moment, I finally realized—my life was mine to live. Not for him, not for my family. For myself.

A rush of excitement coursed through me as I typed out my reply to William’s email.

[It’s not far. Wait for me for a month, and I’ll come to you.]

After that fight with Ferry, we silently agreed to sleep in separate rooms. I stayed in the master bedroom; he moved into the second bedroom. But every night when I got up, I would see the door to the second bedroom wide open—empty.

He was probably at Chindy’s house. But I no longer cared where he spent his nights. I packed up my belongings little by little, sending them overseas where William would receive them. Each box I shipped off felt like a piece of myself leaving behind the weight of my past.

One evening, Ferry came home with a gift—a phoenix crown. The same one I had stared at through the display window for so long.

For the first time, he brought out his prized bottle of red wine, setting up a dinner table just for me.

“Karen, Grandpa’s birthday is coming up. Let’s not make a scene for now, okay?”

Once again, it was about maintaining the appearance of our families' unity. We were used to putting on a show for these big occasions anyway.

I agreed. “Okay.”

Grandpa’s birthday was always a grand affair. Ever since he turned seventy, it had become a major event. This year, we had booked the best restaurant in the city, filling the entire venue with friends, family and business associates.

Before we stepped inside, Ferry extended his hand toward me. Out of habit, I reached for it. But this time, he didn’t just hold it—he interlocked our fingers. I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, pressing against my knuckles. His peaceful gaze lingered on me before he smiled in satisfaction and led me through the restaurant doors.

And then, I saw her. Chindy was there, bustling around, assisting Ferry’s family with the preparations. The smile immediately vanished from his face, replaced by a flicker of unease. During the gathering, the same old topic was brought up again.

My mother and mother-in-law took turns prodding us.

“Are you two lying to us? You’ve been married for five years, and you’ve been trying for a baby for three. How come there’s still no news?”

“You both need to get checked.”

“A check-up is a must. We’ll arrange one for you tomorrow. I’d like to see what’s really going on.”

My smile froze. My mind replayed everything Ferry had done. My vision blurred, my throat burned. Lowering my head, I gently wiped away a single tear with my pinky finger.

Forcing a smile, I raised my glass of wine. "Come on, it's Grandpa's birthday today. Let's not talk about such things."

I turned to the old man at the head of the table. "I wish Grandpa good fortune and longevity."

Before I could take a sip, Grandma reached over and gently took the glass from my hand. "Your thoughts are appreciated, dear, but you're preparing for pregnancy. No drinking."

She turned to Ferry. "Ferr, you shouldn't drink either."

Just then, Chindy placed a hand on her stomach, her eyes gleaming with mischief. With a knowing smile, she took my mother-in-law’s hand and pressed it against her belly.

"Auntie, Karen may not be pregnant, but I am."

For a moment, an uncomfortable silence fell over the table. The festive atmosphere turned awkward, and I could feel everyone's eyes darting between me and Ferry.

Chindy glanced at me, her voice honeyed but sharp. "I mean, you're definitely going to have a big grandchild soon. Maybe even twins."

She laughed softly, rubbing her stomach. "Ferry is so healthy. You should just relax."

I turned to look at Ferry. The worry that had furrowed his brows just moments ago had vanished. His entire face softened, his eyes filled with warmth as he gazed at her.

That was the look of a man in love. Chindy reached for the wine bottle, poured me a glass, and slid it across the table. "Karen, you were startled just now. It's my fault. I have such a careless mouth, I hope you don't take it to heart."

She raised her glass toward me. "I’d like to make amends. Even though you two have been preparing for pregnancy for three years without success, one glass of wine won't hurt, right?"

I ignored her, my fingers tightening around the tablecloth. But she persisted, nudging the glass closer.

Ferry suddenly snatched the wine from her hands. "You're pregnant. What are you doing drinking? Be careful of the baby."

Then, he turned to me, his voice edged with impatience. "Karen, she's already apologized. It’s rude not to drink."

My mother-in-law opened her mouth to say something, but Ferry cut her off. "Mom, stop treating her like she's so fragile. A daughter-in-law of the Zach Family should have some manners."

He took a slow sip of his own drink before adding, "Besides, Chindy is right. It’s been three years, and still nothing. One drink won’t change anything."

I had no idea how he had the audacity to bring this up. Anger burned through me, but I bit my lip so hard I tasted iron. My nails dug into my thigh beneath the table, grounding me, keeping me from snapping. Just endure this one last time, I told myself. It would all be over soon.

I forced a smile and met Chindy’s gaze. "I don’t blame you. Even if this child is Ferry’s, I don’t blame you."

Then, without breaking eye contact, I lifted my glass and drained it in one gulp. Chindy's smile wavered, her face turning slightly stiff. The banquet finally came to an end. Ferry offered to escort Chindy home. I didn’t wait for him to return.

Back at the house, I grabbed my ID and hailed a taxi straight to the airport. I left nothing behind except a neatly folded divorce agreement on the table. As I sat in the taxi, I unlocked my phone and sent a single message to the family group chat.

[Chindy’s child is Ferry’s. I’m divorcing him.]