Maisie hadn't expected the sudden question. She turned away uncomfortably and avoided my gaze.

"If you don't want to sign…"

She retracted the divorce papers with practiced ease, just as she'd done countless times before. But this time, I caught her wrist.

My mind was a mess. After having just been diagnosed with cancer and watching the video she'd recorded three years ago, I wanted to shut everything out more than anything. But I also knew that I didn't have much time left.

So, I gripped the divorce papers and stubbornly stared at her, pressing for an answer.

"Maisie, will you be happy?"

She frowned, clearly irritated by my persistence, and aggressively yanked the papers out of my hand.

The sharp edge sliced across my palm, and blood slowly seeped out. But the sting in my hand was nothing compared to the look of annoyance on her face.

When she noticed the blood on my hand, her expression immediately cooled. "You should get it treated first."

I shook my head and stubbornly waited for her answer.

She avoided my gaze again and clutched the papers as she turned to leave.

"Whatever. Just let me know when you're ready to sign."

With that, she headed for the door.

As I watched her leave, I let out a soft sigh and made my choice. "I'll sign it now."

She froze, then turned back to look at me. "Are you really going to sign it?"

Under her doubtful gaze, I gave a small, relieved smile and said word by word, "I will."

She stood rooted to the spot. The room fell into a heavy silence, until her phone suddenly rang with Daniel's exclusive ringtone.

I couldn't hear what he was saying on the other end of the line, but Maisie's expression grew increasingly solemn.

"Okay. Stay where you are. I'll handle it."

With that, she grabbed her coat and headed for the door. I felt a desperate need to stop her and called out, "Maisie, it only takes a second to sign."

But she walked out as if she hadn't heard a word and wouldn't even spare me the time it took to sign my name.

I stood still and laughed quietly at myself. How could I be so greedy as to hope that the amnesiac Maisie would stay for me?

…

I thought I wouldn't see Maisie again for a long time, but to my surprise, she came home the next day.

"Have you signed the divorce papers?"

That was the first thing she said the moment she saw me. The second was "We're going to the courthouse today."

When I stayed silent, she frowned again. "You're not going to go back on your word, are you?"

Over the past three years, I'd occasionally blurted out that I'd divorce her in a fit of rage, only to regret it moments later.

Instead of responding to her question, I simply handed her the divorce papers and let my actions speak for me.

"I'm not going back on my word. I'll go to the courthouse with you."

She took the papers, flipped straight to the final page to verify my signature, then tossed them carelessly aside.

"Eat your breakfast first," she said, sitting on the couch as if she was settling in to wait for me.

I looked at the breakfast on the table and shook my head. "No need. Let's go now."

I couldn't give myself another second to change my mind.

I didn't expect to see Daniel at the courthouse.

"Thank you for being willing to step aside, Mr. Dean," he said.

I ignored him and turned to look at Maisie. Over the past three years, rumors about her and Daniel had been everywhere, but she'd always kept him from me.

And now, just as we were about to divorce, she wouldn't stoop so low as to bring him here herself.

Sure enough, she questioned him in a cold voice, "Who told you? Why are you here?"

Daniel shrank back a little, but he'd always been bold. Soon, he was grinning and playfully nudging her again.

"If I didn't come, you'd be missing your next option, wouldn't you?"

Maisie's expression darkened further at his words, while people around us began to cast disdainful glances our way.

I couldn't help but wonder how a 30-year-old man could be so clueless. Didn't he know that there was a mandatory 30-day cooling-off period right now?

As more people gathered around us to watch, I figured that I didn't want to be part of this circus and walked ahead.

Daniel was Maisie's problem to solve. After all, he'd never dared provoke me head-on, no matter how much he'd encourage her rebellious behavior, and I'd never gone looking for him either.

But today, maybe he just couldn't hold back anymore, now that things were finally about to go his way.

While I waited in line, my thoughts drifted.

Well, Chloe was right. When Maisie was with me, she'd always been calm, composed, and never this emotionally unrestrained. Even in the confession video I watched yesterday, she'd been reserved and shy.

By the time I stepped out of the courthouse, Daniel was already gone. Maisie explained awkwardly, "I didn't tell him to come."

I said nothing and simply nodded to show that I heard her. "See you in a month, Maisie."

This time, I was the first to say goodbye and walk away before she could.

…

I moved back to my apartment. I'd packed everything last night and sent it over via a local courier service.

When Maisie and I got married, Mom was worried that I'd be looked down on because of the vast difference in our family backgrounds. She emptied her savings to buy this place for me.

After unpacking, I felt drained and lay on the couch to rest on my side. Before I knew it, I'd drifted off to sleep and dreamed about the first time I met Maisie.

Having lost Dad at a young age, I was a timid kid and lived like an invisible person at school. The thick bangs, glasses that covered half of my face, and plain clothes were my shield.

That was until a tennis ball slammed into my head during my first year of high school. It left me dazed, and I sat on the ground, unable to get back up.

A lady's fresh, gentle voice reached my ears. "Hey, are you okay?"

She helped me up and complimented me. "You have really beautiful eyes."

Looking into those caring eyes, I suddenly snapped out of it, grabbed my broken glasses, and fled in a panic. But that day, the sound of cicadas in the trees by the field lingered in my ears for a long time.