Keanu and I met through a hiking club. At that time, I was overwhelmed with work, driven by the relentless pursuit of income, and stuck working crazy hours. The weekends were my escape, a chance to recharge by going hiking.

Keanu joined the club in my second year. At first, he was just another hiker in the group. But since we often ended up being the first ones to reach the summit, we grew closer.

He worked in finance, whereas I was in tech. He loved outdoor sports, especially hiking, and so did I. When we reached our hundredth peak together, he expressed his feelings for me.

His confession wasn’t grand or poetic, just straightforward: "Lily, let's start dating."

I agreed. My dad had shown plenty of flair when he pursued my mom, lighting up half the city with fireworks, even getting himself arrested. Yet that didn’t prevent him from desiring a son after marriage, which led my mom to endure years of herbal treatments, eventually passing away during childbirth.

For me, it wasn’t about romance or dramatic gestures. Reliability was key. Keanu embodied that—reliable and consistent. He was never late for a date. His gifts were predictable but always present. If it rained, he wouldn’t offer to pick me up without prompting, but as soon as I called, he was there without a second thought.

In our third year of dating, we got married. Life before and after the wedding was much the same. I cooked, he did the dishes. I shopped for groceries, and he’d come home early to start the bread maker. The calm, gentle rhythm of our days convinced me that Keanu was truly the right person for me.

Until one day, three years ago, at the wedding of Keanu’s college friend. During the bachelor party, one of his friends, Trey, got drunk. He grabbed Keanu’s hand, tears streaming down his face.

"Keanu, seeing you live like this, it pains me."

"I'm about to get married, embracing the joy of matrimony, yet seeing you in this state, it just upsets me."

"If Cassidy hadn’t gone overseas as a war correspondent back then, you wouldn’t have shut yourself off, become so distant."

Keanu quickly glanced at me.

"Don’t pay him any mind; he’s just drunk," he assured me.

I smiled without replying. But once we were home, I suggested, "Keanu, I may have many shortcomings, but one strength is my ability to sever emotional ties quickly."

Because he was standing in the shadow of night, I couldn’t make out his expression. But after that, Cassidy vanished completely from our lives—Keanu’s and mine. Until now.

I hadn't been answering any calls for a while. I had just finished nursing my daughter at the maternity center when Irene burst in, looking anxious.

"Lily, why haven't you been picking up your phone? Your father's nearly frantic at the consulate," she burst out. "You need to come with me right now. We have to get Keanu's documents and head to the consulate!"

I calmly recited, "666313."

Irene paused, puzzled. Gently, I adjusted the blanket over my daughter and explained, "I'm not able to leave; that's the password to our home. You can get whatever documents you need from there."

Her hands trembled slightly. "Lily, how can you be so cold-hearted? Keanu is in a warzone, and we have no idea if he's alive or dead." She continued, "Haven't you seen his distress signal? He said he'd been shot in the leg and is hiding out at a stranger's place, under fire."

Irene's entire body shook as she spoke, but I remained composed. "I'm aware of Keanu's situation. Even before he sent the group message, he texted me several times asking for help, but I chose not to respond."

She staggered back, visibly shaken. Watching her, I felt a twinge of guilt. During the seven years I was married to Keanu, she had been like a mother to me, filling the void left by my own mother's absence. But Keanu had shattered all of that.

Quietly, I handed her a recording of my conversation with Keanu from that night. "Mom, please don't blame me for being heartless. This was Keanu's choice."

Her fingers shook as she took the video. After watching it, she collapsed onto the floor, her lips moving silently before she finally found her voice.

"Listen to me, Lily. There's nothing between Keanu and Cassidy."

Despite the pain from the C-section, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. I got out of bed to help her up, much like how I had handed Keanu my credit card and passport as he left, ignoring my condition.

"I know he and Cassidy aren't physically involved. But Keanu abandoned his family to chase after Cassidy in a warzone, showing how little he values our family," I said. "He'd rather risk our daughter growing up without a father and leave me a widow than stay with us. He must face the consequences."

Irene's face turned pale at my cold words, her mouth opening and closing, unable to form a response. Perhaps even she couldn't find a reason that would convince me. Eventually, she gave up trying to persuade me, trembling as she stood. "Take care of yourself. I'm leaving now," she said, looking aged and defeated as she hurried out.

I felt a deep pang of guilt watching her go but still called out just before she left. "Mom, when can you and Dad move out of my apartment this week?"

She turned back, unable to hide her reaction. "Can't you just give it a little more time?"

I shook my head. "Keanu didn't make sure I was safe in the hospital before flying overseas, did he? I just want to settle our marital assets before he returns."