Looking at my tired reflection in the mirror, I told myself it was time to let go of the past.

Even though the love was gone, I still wanted to reclaim the watch my dad left me.

Back in the room, I retrieved the watch from his drawer. It was meant for a future son-in-law, but he no longer deserved it.

As I finished packing, soft murmurs came from the next room.

"Keily, you're really brave, doing this right under her nose."

"I'm glad I picked you to have a child with. The thrill is addictive..."

The indecent sounds inside left me feeling weak, yet I shakily turned on my phone’s video recorder, hardly knowing how I managed to get back to my spot.

Kashton pushed the door open, looking indifferent, though his white shirt was stained with lipstick. I gave him a cold stare.

“Let's break up,” I declared.

My words took him by surprise. He hurriedly reached out to hold my hand, "Nina, I was just really tired earlier. I took a nap in the next room; I'm sorry I wasn't with you. Didn’t we agree not to give up on each other so easily?"

I replied calmly, “You don’t love me anymore, do you?”

Kashton pressed my hand to his cheek, "We've been together since college, almost ten years. How can you just let me go?"

He evaded the topic, refusing to say he loved me. Even as he pleaded for forgiveness, he was still texting her back instantly.

Clutching his phone nervously, he seemed ready to bolt out of there, “Nina, something urgent just came up. Wait for me, I’ll be back soon...”

As I watched him reveal his true intentions, I realized my heart had already moved on. I couldn't hold on any longer and decided to let go.

Time passed, and even by nightfall, he still hadn’t returned.

While watering the plants downstairs, I caught sight of a familiar figure through the neighbor's window.

In the cozy room, I could vaguely see Kashton cuddling Keily, kneading dough together, their faces glowing with happiness. Kashton seemed eager to become one with her.

"You're so clingy, can't stay away even for a moment. I'm not going anywhere," he said.

His so-called urgent matter was making homemade pasta with Keily.

He probably forgot I also loved homemade ravioli, a taste I couldn't forget since my grandmother passed away, leaving me with a bowl of chicken noodle soup.

Looking at the dried pasta on the table, I suddenly felt a sense of freedom.

I took out my phone and recorded everything about them.

At that moment, my mother's call came through.

“Nina, when are you coming home? Weston has been waiting for you for days. We can’t keep him waiting like this!”

I booked the earliest flight on my phone.

“I’ll be on the first flight tomorrow.”

No sooner had I sat down than the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, I found Keily holding wedding favors, smiling brightly at me.

“Sis, I’m getting married soon. Come see our new home.”

My heart clenched. Leaning against the wall for support, I could barely stand. Just as I was about to turn and leave, she had already pulled me to their house.

As I stepped inside, the first thing I noticed was a giant wedding photo of her and Kashton.

The frame was one I had crafted with floral designs.

Walking further in, everything on display belonged to Kashton.

In that single moment, I felt as if I couldn't breathe.

Keily brought over a plate of ravioli. "Sis, why don't you give it a taste? My husband made it himself, and even the basil on top is home-grown, completely organic."

The image of them making it together churned my stomach, and I had no desire to linger.

Keily blocked my path. "Nina, did you hear everything while we were in the other room?"

"I’ve been with Kashton for a long time, and it’s his idea to have a child. Can’t you see how absurd you’re being? This whole 'child-free' choice just drives men away. You have nobody to blame but yourself."

"Kashton always says he can't imagine life without me. Every night, he insists we should have more children to secure our future together."

"Wake up. The fact that you managed to get into the Gonzales family is because Kashton felt some old obligation. You know how much Nancy looks down on you for not being from a big city. And yet, you dare think about not having children? You're just setting yourself up for failure."

She gestured toward a photo wall filled with pictures of them over the past five years, some taken intimately.

"Kashton even offered to have a vasectomy back then so I wouldn’t endure the pain, but now it’s pointless. The entire Gonzales family is just waiting for me to provide a healthy son! Kashton is my husband—what do you have against that?"

I shook with anger, tempted to hit her, but I knew this was her domain, and she was adept at playing the victim.

I couldn't let her rile me up. I replied icily, "Is being a homewrecker something to boast about? Don't you have any dignity?"

I tried to leave, but she grabbed my arm again.

Suddenly, she dumped the entire plate of ravioli on herself, tears streaming down her face as she sank to the floor, clutching her stomach. "Sis, it's all my fault. Hit me if you need to, but why harm my unborn child?"

Before I could react, a hand struck my face, sending me sprawling.

Kashton's furious voice rang in my ears. "Nina, how could you be so heartless?"

"I once thought I owed it to you, but I never guessed you could be so cruel to Keily’s unborn child!"

My cheek burned, yet I stared at him with steely eyes, my heart already numb.

"Kashton, you're quite the multitasker, aren't you? Setting up your mistress right next to our new house, making efficient use of time, I see!"

"What about the wedding photos at the door? What are those? Is this your second home? Is she your backup wife?"

Kashton dismissed my questions. "They're just wedding photos, what's the big deal? We’ve known each other forever, she likes me, so I fulfilled a little dream of hers. What’s so wrong about that?"

A little dream? I almost laughed in disbelief.

I pointed at the wall with their intimate photos. "So, fulfilling her little dream includes giving her a child too?"

Kashton stared at the photos for a long moment in silence.

I spoke coldly, "Kashton, we’re finished."

Unexpectedly, Kashton erupted, shouting, "You’re impossible! You don’t want kids, yet you won’t let me have them with someone else?"

"If it weren’t for your stubborn 'no kids' stance, would I have had to find someone else?"

"Nina, have I treated you badly? You still don’t see the situation clearly. No background, no status, and yet you think you belong in the Gonzales family? Consider yourself fortunate!"

"If I didn’t vouch for you, do you think my mom would have ever agreed to our marriage? I even promised her I'd give the family a grandchild soon—it was all planned, and here you are making a scene."

"Nina, if you truly love me, you'd understand just how difficult this is for me!"