When the earthquake hit, I found myself buried under the rubble, barely clinging to life.

My wife, Meghan Hudson, charges into the collapsing office building without hesitation.

However, the person she rescues is Gerald Parker, the new technical specialist at my company.

Even as she hurries away with the rescue team, she doesn't spare me a single glance.

Severely crushed and bleeding heavily, I'm rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. Yet, Meghan pours all her care and attention into Gerald, who barely has a scratch on him.

In the end, I'm completely disheartened and pull out the divorce papers.

Meghan goes berserk and tears them to shreds, thinking I'll give in like I always did.

What she doesn't know is that this time, I'm truly exhausted.

The aftershocks hit again with resounding force. The entire office building shook violently, as if it might collapse at any moment.

Gerald Parker, a new employee at our company, suddenly shoved me. I fell straight into a heap of scattered desks and chairs. At that moment, a loose cement slab tilted and slammed down on my arm. The pain was so intense that I nearly blacked out.

"Gerald! I'm coming for you!"

Just then, I saw my wife, Meghan Hudson. She covered her mouth and nose as she shoved the office door open, panic written all over her face.

When I heard her voice, I was about to call for help.

However, Gerald suddenly shouted, "Honey! Don't come over! You're pregnant. You can't get hurt!"

My whole body trembled in shock. Before I could react, Gerald pushed another wooden board down, sending it crashing toward me.

He rushed out and pulled Meghan into a tight embrace amid the chaos. It would have been a warm and touching sight if the woman in his arms weren't my wife.

The searing pain snapped me back to my senses. I stared at the scene before me in utter disbelief. Yet, I had no choice but to face the brutal truth.

The woman who once said she couldn't live without me was now in the arms of another man. She not only built a second home with him but was even carrying his child.

Seeing them hold each other so tightly, I realized that the sweet love I'd so strongly believed in had turned into a bitter joke.

It was as if a blade had pierced my chest. A bone-deep cold spread through me, making it hard to breathe.

Gerald gasped, struggling to breathe. "Meghan, I… I feel terrible. I can't walk anymore…"

"Gerald, don't worry. I've brought the best medical equipment from the hospital. We'll get out of here right away!"

Meghan was frantic, supporting him as they ran outside.

The whole time, she never once looked at me. Her eyes were only on Gerald. If she had just turned her head slightly, she would have seen me collapsed on the ground.

Amid the chaos, my entire body felt limp. Each cough sent waves of pain through my frame, though none of it hurt as much as the pain in my chest did.

Just as I was losing consciousness, I saw paramedics rushing in to rescue people.

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed.

The room was eerily quiet. Every now and then, I could hear nurses whispering in the hallway outside.

"I heard that famous lawyer, Ms. Hudson, is in the room next door. She's keeping her first love company. I never thought someone who looks so cold on TV could be so gentle with her boyfriend!"

"Yes, they make such a great couple!"

"Her boyfriend wasn't even hurt that badly. He's just a little shaken up. Yet, she's tending to him so carefully."

"Exactly. And look at this patient here, Julian Marshall. He nearly died, but no one has come to visit him even once."

The two nurses spoke casually, but every word felt like a stab to my chest.

I suddenly remembered the time my stomach condition flared up unexpectedly. At the time, it had hurt so badly that I couldn't even walk. My life was essentially hanging by a thin thread.

I was hoping Meghan could help me contact the hospital, but she refused me with a gentle yet firm voice.

"Julian, I'm a lawyer. I can't drop a case because of you. I have a responsibility to my clients."

With that, she hung up.

I had no choice but to dial 911 myself. But before the ambulance arrived, I'd passed out from the pain.

I remembered the doctor saying that if I'd arrived any later, my stomach would have perforated.

As it turned out, her work wasn't something she couldn't put aside. It was just that I wasn't important enough to her.

I smiled wryly and forced down the bitterness in my chest.

My sudden movement startled the nurses. They came over dutifully to inform me of my condition.

"Mr. Marshall, we were working to save you all night. You're stable for now, but we'll need to keep you under observation for a few more days.

"You'll need another surgery soon since the injury to your arm is quite serious. You should contact a family member soon. We'll need a signature and someone to handle the payments."

I opened my mouth, my voice hoarse. "Ms. Hudson is my wife."

The nurses' expressions changed instantly. Shock crossed their faces, followed by awkward smiles.

"Ms. Hudson might not know that you were injured in the earthquake. Please wait for a moment. We'll get her right away."

"There's no need," I said, closing my eyes. "Don't call her. She won't come, so just give me the forms that need signing. I can pay the fees myself."

I wasn't mentally prepared to face her and lay everything out just yet.

Looking at me, the nurses hesitated.

"Well... Everything else is fine, but your arm is too severely injured. You might need a skin graft. There's a chance you can't keep the tattoo on your arm."

That tattoo was something we'd gotten together when we were dating.

Looking at it, I smiled wryly and said with a heavy heart, "It's meaningless now. I don't mind cutting that piece of flesh away. Just go ahead with the skin graft."

After what happened during the earthquake today, I'd finally realized that there was no longer a future for us.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Meghan.

Why was she calling me now? Did she finally remember me after settling her first love in?

I secretly flashed a bitter smile. My fingertip hovered over the screen for a long time before I finally answered.

"Darling, where are you? I heard the earthquake around your company was really bad. Are you okay? Why haven't you come home yet?"

My voice caught in my throat. So she knew that the earthquake had hit my office building the hardest.

We had been in love for so many years. Yet, she left with my colleague and didn't bother to look at me while I was lying there helplessly.

As soon as I spoke, I couldn't help but choke up. "Home? Which one do you mean?"

Meghan's breathing hitched. She tried to laugh it off.

"Come on. What are you saying? Don't we only have one home? Do I have a second home or something? I know I didn't come home last night and missed your fancy dinner plans. I'm sorry, okay? Don't be mad anymore, please?"

Hearing Meghan spout lie after lie, I couldn't hold back a laugh. It felt as if dozens of ants were gnawing at my heart. It was sore and ached terribly.

She used to say that she had to work late into the night. Even when we had planned a date, she would always stand me up.

I'd been stupid enough to believe her every word. I thought she was exhausted from work, so I'd make snacks for her every night and foolishly waited for her to come home.

I now wondered how much of what Meghan said was ever true.

I smiled wryly. "Meghan, let's get a divorce."

Her tone changed in an instant. She nervously said, "Julian, stop saying things like that just because you're upset. I work overtime for the both of us. Skipping a date here and there isn't such a big deal, is it? There's no need to be so petty. I'll cook for you myself to make it up to you tonight, okay?"

But before I could answer, she added quickly, "I have work to do. Let's talk tonight. See you later."

Meghan hung up at the next second.

As expected, even when trying to comfort me, she was perfunctory at best.

I couldn't help looking up at the white ceiling. The emotions I'd been holding back suddenly broke free, and tears streamed down my face.

Meghan and I met in our freshman year of college. We eventually got engaged right after graduation.

Our love story began on campus and continued all the way to the altar. It was the kind of relationship many people envied.

We truly enjoyed eight years of sweet times together. We supported and tolerated each other through thick and thin. Even when we argued occasionally, I always firmly believed we'd grow old together.

Was it not absurd that the woman I loved so deeply could love another, after merely eight short years?

She was even carrying that other man's child. Yet, she still insisted on pretending to be my devoted wife.

…

Not long after, I underwent the skin graft surgery. I was especially grateful as the hospital hadn't let Meghan know about my condition.

After the operation, my arm was hooked up to a pain pump. I lay on the gurney, completely drained. Even opening my eyes felt like a difficult task.

I was utterly weak.

The nurses wheeled me back to the room. However, I didn't expect to be stopped outside my own ward. All the belongings I'd had with me when I was admitted were now messily thrown outside the door.

Anger surged in my chest, and I demanded an explanation in a cold voice.

The nurse on duty stepped forward to explain.

"I'm sorry, but this is a VIP ward. The senior management of the private hospital has the right to decide who can stay in VIP wards. Ms. Hudson is one of our shareholders. Her boyfriend likes rooms with morning sunlight. I'm afraid you'll need to move to another ward, per Ms. Hudson's instruction."

So, this was Meghan's doing?

Yesterday, during the earthquake, all she could see was her new lover. Her heart, her love, and even her child all belonged to him. Did she really have to give him my ward, too?

Wasn't there sunlight in other rooms? Why did it have to be mine?

A surge of fury rushed through me. Holding onto the door frame, I forced my weakened body off the gurney. I picked up my belongings and staggered into the ward.

The moment I stepped in, I saw Gerald lounging on my hospital bed, his legs crossed leisurely.

When he saw me, he wasn't the least bit surprised. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and flashed me a smug smile.

"Julian, the light in this room really is nice. Meghan already arranged everything for me. You can leave now," he said.

My name was on the door of the ward. I didn't believe he chose this room simply because it had ample sunlight.

His smile was full of provocation. I figured he had to know about my relationship with Meghan. He was flaunting it in my face on purpose.

"Gerald, Meghan and I are married. Aren't you afraid that getting involved in our relationship will ruin both your career and hers if word gets out?" I warned him.

I thought he might back off, but he merely scoffed. "Getting involved? That sounds too harsh."

He retorted, "Meghan and I grew up together, so our bond runs deep. Yesterday, in a moment of life and death, she chose me over you. That proves I'm more important than you are.

"The one who isn't loved is the third wheel. The person who should leave is you, Julian." He continued to provoke me.

Without hesitation, I swung my fist at him. He clutched his nose, glaring at me furiously. The rage inside me kept building regardless.

"Get out!" I roared.

Gerald glared at me and snapped, "Why should I leave? Your hand is so badly injured. You can't even work, let alone make Meghan happy. What right do you have to call yourself her husband? Who do you think you are?"