When Carlson saw me, he held his head high like some kind of victor, pulling Lilibeth closer and fixing me with a look full of contempt.

"Josiah, Lily seemed upset and had too much to drink, so I brought her back," he said, his voice dripping with false respect even as his face gradually dipped toward her neck.

Lilibeth, seeming to feel his breath on her skin, let out a soft, drowsy hum and pressed herself closer to him. Carlson seized the opportunity and swept her up in his arms.

"Josiah, I'll just take Lily to the bedroom first."

The mockery on his face deepened. Then, as if he owned the place, he walked toward the bedroom with the easy familiarity of someone who'd done it a hundred times before.

I had thought I was past caring, but seeing this still ignited a nameless fury inside me. My breath came in shallow tremors, and it took me a long moment to steady myself.

Just as I was about to leave, the bedroom door swung open again. Carlson emerged, loosening his tie. "Hey, Josh, leaving in such a hurry? Aren't you going to stay for a chat?"

The pretense was gone now. His tone was pure condescension.

"I've got nothing to talk to you about," I replied flatly, not breaking my stride.

But unexpectedly, he stepped directly into my path. "What's the rush? Can't you just hear me out?"

Carlson grumbled impatiently, "You don't have to divorce her. Let me be straight with you, man to man.

"I'm just playing around with the old hag. I mean, I can't possibly spend the rest of my life with her, can I? I know how much you love her, so you have my word—I'll just have some more fun with her for another six months. After that, I'll walk away.

"By then, she'll feel guilty as hell and come crawling back to you. You'll have your happy little marriage again."

With an indifferent shrug, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and even offered me one with a practiced flick.

My first instinct was to stop him—Lilibeth hated the smell of smoke.

"Your sudden willingness to get a divorce really caught me off guard. It makes it hard for me to gracefully bow out, you know? So how's this for a deal? Don't divorce her. Give me six months. And when I'm done, I'll hand you back a perfectly trained and well-behaved wife."

He lit the cigarette. Through the curling smoke, his smile looked twisted and sickening.

I gave him one long, hard look and started walking away again.

Carlson grew anxious. "Hold on! Name your price, then!

"Tell you what, I'll sweeten the deal. I'll train her into a plaything who's up for anything. You've never seen her let loose, have you? I guarantee, by the time I'm done, you can have your way with her, however you like it. Sounds good, doesn't it?"

He gave me a knowing, leering grin that made my stomach turn.

Feeling nothing but revulsion now, I moved to push past him.

But Carlson, frustrated that things weren't going his way, blocked my path. "Josiah, don't be so ungrateful. It's not like you can perform in that aspect anyway. Let me take care of that side of things for you and keep her satisfied. In the long run, it'll make your marriage stronger."

Before he could finish, the bedroom door flew open. "What are you two doing, Carl?"

A flicker of panic crossed Carlson's face before it settled into a smirk.

The moment I saw that smile, I knew exactly what was coming.

The very next instant, he threw himself backward, crashing hard onto the floor.

Hearing the commotion, Lilibeth stumbled out, her face etched with worry.

After taking in the scene in the living room, she lost her cool. "Josiah, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

She rushed to Carlson's side, fussing over him, her eyes filled with concern.

By now, I was used to it. Ever since Carlson appeared, no matter how low or absurd his accusations against me were, Lilibeth would believe him unconditionally and turn the full force of her anger on me.

"Lily, I'm okay. It's just... I think the watch you gave me broke when I fell," Carlson said softly, his voice laced with feigned hurt.

It was only then that I noticed the expensive mechanical watch on his wrist.

It was a model from ten years ago—the exact one I had dreamed of owning. I felt something inside me shatter all over again.

As I stood there dazed, Lilibeth suddenly rose and slapped me hard across the face.

"Josiah, have I been too easy on you that you think you can get away with hurting Carlson over and over again? Apologize to him right now. Or else we're done—completely done."

My cheek stung. The hysterical woman before me felt like a stranger, worlds apart from the Lilibeth I remembered, the one who'd presented me with that watch with such bright eyes.

Behind her, Carlson mouthed silently, "Unappreciative bastard."

I laughed bitterly at myself. Only now did I realize that I'd been clinging to some sliver of hope about Lilibeth all along. But at that moment, even that last shred of feeling for her disappeared too.

"My lawyer will contact you tomorrow about the divorce," I said, my voice utterly flat. "And Rosaline's still in the hospital, waiting for surgery. You should deal with that."

Perhaps because it was the first time she had ever heard me speak to her in that tone, Lilibeth seemed to sober up slightly. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes, and her lips parted as though she wanted to say something.

But before she could, Carlson stepped forward.

"Lily, Josh, please don't fight over me. This is all my fault. I'll leave right now. You two should work things out." His voice cracked with a fake sob, and just like that, Lilibeth lost her cool again.

"He's the one who should leave," she said coldly, staring at me as if I were an enemy.

In the end, I dragged my suitcase out the door, made my way to the airport, and boarded a flight back to my hometown.

Right before I switched off my phone, I received a voice message from Carlson.

"Hey, you ungrateful cuckold, since you're so hell-bent on being difficult, I'm going to have my way with the woman you've loved all these years. You know what? She's got a certain charm to her."

Below the message was a video that turned my stomach.

I didn't open it. Instead, I forwarded everything directly to my lawyer.

As the plane took off, I left behind the city I'd lived in for nearly a decade, all for Lilibeth.

…

Third-Person POV

The next morning, Lilibeth was jolted awake by her ringing phone. She answered irritably, "Who is this? It's barely morning yet!"

"Ms. Saunders, I'm calling from Crownwell General Hospital. Your mother is still waiting for her surgery. Please arrange the payment as soon as possible."

Groggy and annoyed, Lilibeth snapped, "Why are you contacting me? Call Josiah!"

The nurse had clearly anticipated that response. "Ms. Saunders, the patient awaiting surgery is your biological mother, Ms. Darnell. Mr. Gibson has informed us that you two are divorced and that all future matters concerning her should be directed to you."

The word "divorce" cut through Lilibeth's drowsiness like ice water.

And when her eyes landed on that worn, scratched watch sitting on the nightstand, panic truly set in.