After nine years of marriage, I really did not have much to my name.

I packed all the gifts Naomi had given me over the years into cardboard boxes and shoved them into the bottom of the closet.

After I finished sorting everything, the room suddenly felt empty, just like these years of mine. In the end, it all amounted to nothing.

I scheduled a courier pickup for a week from now.

These things, along with my wife and daughter, I would send them all to Avery. He would be thrilled, I was sure.

I returned to the living room, poured myself a drink, and sipped it slowly.

I did not know how much time had passed when the sound of the door opening suddenly rang out. Naomi finally came back with Peyton.

Seeing me sitting on the couch, she froze slightly. "Harry, why are you still awake this late? Didn't I tell you not to wait for us?"

"Daddy!"

Peyton immediately let go of Naomi's hand and rushed toward me.

I did not lift her up and swing her around like I usually did. I just patted the top of her head perfunctorily. "Be good, Peyton."

Naomi changed into her slippers and walked over with a gentle smile on her face.

Her gaze landed on the glass in my hand, and her smile stiffened slightly. "Harry, why are you drinking alone? Are you upset that we came back late? Mr. Hartley's session was just so complicated..."

As she spoke, she leaned in naturally, trying to kiss my cheek. When she got close, I clearly caught the scent of men's cologne that did not belong to her.

Nausea immediately churned in my stomach. I instinctively stepped back, dodging her kiss.

"No, I know you're busy. Why would I be upset?"

Naomi froze again, then grabbed my hand and said playfully, "Really? You're really not mad?"

I shook my head faintly. "I knew your work was demanding when I married you. Of course I'm not mad."

Her beautiful eyes studied me for a few seconds before a smile bloomed on her lips again.

"Honey, I knew you were the most understanding. Love you."

I made a quiet sound of acknowledgment and set down the glass. "It's late. Let's clean up and go to bed."

After we returned to the bedroom together, Naomi frowned slightly. "Harry, did you tidy up in here? It feels like the room is so much emptier."

I did not look up, just replied indifferently, "Yeah, it's the change of seasons, so I cleaned up a bit. I packed away everything we didn't need. I'm planning to donate it all when I get the chance."

Hearing this, Naomi's brow smoothed out. She linked her arm through mine again. "Honey, you're always so kind."

I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

Kind. Yes, I was so kind that I was about to hand her and everything else over to my rival.

Naomi went to take a shower. I leaned against the bed alone, half asleep.

Suddenly, I heard her voice mixed in with the sound of running water, speaking in a hushed tone.

"Avery, right now? But I'm already home..."

It had to be Avery calling.

I did not know what he said on the other end, but after a moment of hesitation, Naomi replied, "Wait for me a bit. Let me check if he's asleep."

Hearing this, I immediately closed my eyes.

Soon, Naomi tiptoed out of the bathroom. She carefully walked over to my side, and seeing that I was already sound asleep, she let out a sigh of relief.

"I'll be right there," she said into the phone.

I clenched my fists tightly and heard the sound of the door opening and closing behind me.

A moment later, I heard Peyton's voice from outside the door. "Mommy, I want to go see Avery too! Take me with you, please!"

Worried that Peyton would wake me, Naomi quickly said, "Shh, keep your voice down. Don't wake Daddy."

The two of them quickly gathered their things and left the house again. Everything fell silent once more. I opened my eyes in the darkness.

My chest ached, hollow and raw, like something vital had been carved out.

When I woke up the next morning, Naomi was already making breakfast in the kitchen.

Peyton sat obediently at the dining table. When she saw me get up, she gave me a sweet smile. "Good morning, Daddy!"

Naomi poked her head out as well. "Honey, breakfast will be ready in just a minute. Sit down and wait."

The scene was so warm it almost made me think last night had been nothing but a dream. However, the very next moment, Naomi walked out carrying a plate, and my sharp eyes caught a faint red mark on her neck.

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach.

It was not a dream. She really had snuck out while I was sleeping to meet Avery again.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke. "I'm not very hungry. I'm heading out."

Without waiting another second, I left as quickly as if I were fleeing. I calmed myself down and drove to the funeral home to schedule a cremation for a week from now.

The staff member asked hesitantly, "Sir, are you making this appointment for a family member?"

I shook my head. "For myself."

A flash of sympathy crossed the staff member's face. They probably thought I had some terminal illness.

I continued, "I don't have any family, so I had to come myself. After the cremation, could you scatter my ashes in the ocean?"

I did not want any connection with Naomi and Peyton anymore, and I did not want them putting on a fake show of mourning at my grave. I wanted to disappear from their world completely.

After finishing the appointment, I headed to a nearby mall to get something to eat.

The moment I entered, I ran straight into Avery with his arm around Naomi's shoulders. They were looking at watches at a counter, and Peyton sat to the side clutching a giant stuffed animal.

The three of them looked like a happy family.

Peyton was restless by nature. As she looked around, she spotted me first, and panic flashed across her face instantly.

"Daddy..." she called out.

"What's wrong?" Avery responded instinctively, then looked at her. When he raised his head, he saw me too.

The atmosphere froze in an instant. Only then did Naomi belatedly look up and meet my cold gaze.

Naomi immediately shook Avery's hand off her shoulder and jogged over to me with a guilty smile. "Harry, don't misunderstand. I wanted to pick out a gift for you, but I didn't know what to get, so I asked my assistant to come help me choose."

I nodded noncommittally and glanced at Avery, whose face had gone pale.

He forced out a smile and quickly added his own explanation. "Yeah, Naomi asked me to come out and help pick a gift for you. Please don't get the wrong idea."

Peyton jumped down from her chair and clung to my leg, putting on her sweetest act.

"Daddy, it's really a misunderstanding! Believe me. Mommy brought me out to buy you a gift."

I almost laughed out loud. What a wonderful daughter Naomi had raised.

I raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Did you find something?"

Naomi immediately yanked the watch off Avery's wrist and held it up to me. "We picked this one. Do you like it?"

I gave a light laugh but did not take it. "I'm particular about cleanliness. I don't like things other people have used."

My words had a double meaning. Naomi's face went pale. She awkwardly returned the watch to the counter. "Then... should I help you pick something else?"

I shook my head faintly. "No need. You all keep browsing. I'm hungry. I'm going to grab something to eat."

Seeing that I was about to leave, Naomi grabbed my wrist. "Harry, let's eat together then."

In public, I did not want to make a scene. After a moment of silence, I nodded.

Right now, I really wanted to interview Naomi and ask what it felt like to have a meal with both her husband and her lover.

At the table, Naomi overcompensated. She kept piling food onto my plate and asking if everything tasted alright, leaving Avery sitting off to the side, visibly upset.

Avery's voice dripped with bitterness. "I'm so jealous you have such a wonderful wife and daughter."

I looked up at him. "You'll have them too."

Soon, they would all be his.

"I'm going to the restroom."

Avery thought I was provoking him. Looking wounded, he bit his lip, stood up, and walked out.

Seeing this, Naomi glanced at me hesitantly, then at his retreating figure, but ultimately did not choose to follow him.

A few minutes later, however, her phone started buzzing.

After rejecting the call twice, she finally could not hold back and said to me, "Harry, it's the screenwriter. I need to take this call."

I nodded, and she immediately grabbed her phone and rushed out.

Five minutes later, I said to Peyton, "Daddy's going to the restroom. Don't wander off."

I had just reached the emergency stairwell when I heard familiar voices coming from inside.

Avery asked with a sob in his voice, "Do you still love him?"

Naomi's voice came through, calm and cold. "Trust me. I only love you, Avery."

I clenched my fists, then let them fall limply to my side. I remembered when Naomi and I first got together, she had told me she would only ever love me.

How much of her love was ever real?

I eventually returned to the table, pretending nothing had happened.

About ten minutes later, Naomi and Avery came back one after the other.

This time, Avery wore an undisguised, triumphant smile on his face. It was like he was showing off.

I lowered my eyes and forced myself not to look at them anymore.

When the server brought out the last dish, their grip slipped, and scalding soup splashed toward Naomi.

Almost on instinct, I lunged forward to push her out of the way, but she shouted "Avery!" and shoved herself in front of him, pushing me.

The next second, a searing pain shot through my arm as the scalding soup spilled all over me.

"Harry!"

Naomi screamed belatedly. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to just now..."

Before I could respond, Peyton pointed at the blister on Avery's hand and shouted, "Avery's hurt! Look at that blister!"

The moment Naomi heard Avery was injured, she immediately forgot about my condition.

She grabbed his hand with concern. "I'll take you to the hospital!"

"Naomi..." I spoke through the pain.

Naomi cut me off, her face full of worry. "Avery's hurt. You should head home. I'll take him to the hospital."

With that, she hurried out of the restaurant with Avery and Peyton.

The restaurant manager arrived late, gasping when he saw the burn on my arm. "Sir, I'm so sorry! Are you alright? Let me get you some burn ointment!"

I shook my head. All I felt was the absurdity of it all.

This was the woman I had loved for ten years. In a moment of crisis, I thought of her, but she thought of another man.

I went to the hospital alone to treat my wound, then returned home. Unsurprisingly, Naomi and Peyton did not come back that night.

The next day, entertainment news exploded. Naomi and Avery had been photographed at the hospital behaving intimately, and public opinion went wild.

Naomi panicked. When she and Peyton rushed home, they found me changing the bandage on my wound. Guilt washed over her face.

She walked over to examine my injury. "I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't know you were hurt too..."

I pulled down my sleeve and said indifferently, "It's fine."

Her eyes flickered. She bit her lip and continued, "There's nothing between Avery and me. The reporters just made it all up..."

Peyton tugged at my sleeve. "Daddy, believe Mommy. She's not lying to you."

I curved my lips into something between a smile and a smirk. "Of course I believe you."