I followed the direction of Callum’s finger and saw two servings of spaghetti on the dining table, their colors and aromas inviting.

It was only then that I realized Callum could cook.

I remembered a time when I couldn’t stomach the food from outside, vomiting uncontrollably and sweating from stomach pains. I'd asked for a simple bowl of plain stew but he had said that he couldn’t make it.

Ha, so it wasn’t that he couldn’t, he simply didn’t want to cook for me.

I smiled politely and declined the invitation before heading upstairs to prepare the gift I intended to give the birthday celebrant that evening.

Technically, with the divorce process already underway, I didn’t need to attend any more banquets with Callum.

But the hostess that night was Mrs. Gwen Bolton, my first client and the matchmaker between Callum and me. It would be improper not to go.

I had chosen a hand-sewn handbag according to her preferences. The leather was soft, and the design was simple.

However, when I finished packing everything and came downstairs, Callum stopped me.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

As I gazed at him coldly, he seemed momentarily lost but quickly brushed it off.

"Don’t go tonight. Give the gift to Hannah instead," he said quietly as if embarrassed by his own request.

"Hannah is about to graduate and wants to join the entertainment company under the Bolton Corporation. If she earns Mrs. Bolton’s favor, things will be much easier for her, and her future path will be smoother."

He didn’t know how much effort I had put into my gift, how many hours I’d spent sewing until my fingers nearly bled.

No, that was not true.

He knew but I wasn’t worth his care.

So, with a casual remark, he dismissed all the time and energy I had invested.

Something in me had shattered but then came an unexpected sense of lightness and release.

You see, when it came to this relationship, I no longer had even the slightest attachment left.

I smiled and handed over the gift box.

"Fine, then you can give it to her."

I had never lost contact with Mrs. Bolton. She knew everything that had happened here.

Even if I didn’t go that night, it would be the same if we met tomorrow.

As for the gift, I could only say that no matter how heartfelt the present, if it did not come from the right person, it would not mean anything.

Callum seemed surprised by how quickly I surrendered but then a smile appeared on his face.

He handed me a brooch.

"Didn't you always say that you wanted something like this? I was wrong before, not paying attention to your words. I’ll make it up to you in time."

Callum played the role of an emotionally abusive husband very well.

This was the gift I had wanted on Valentine’s Day. I had put it in his shopping cart, but he had always pretended not to see it.

However, for Hannah, he had opened his eyes.

But the truth was, some things were special only because the person gave them special meaning. Without that, no matter how good the gift, it did not mean anything.

"Alright," I said without emotion.

Callum fastened the brooch for me and then adjusted my shawl.

"Why are you always in such a bad temper? The last time was my fault. Don’t be angry anymore. Hannah won’t stay in the country for long. Don’t stoop to her level, okay?"

Up until now, Callum still thought I was filing for divorce because I was throwing a temper.

I didn’t offer any explanation. I tried to sidestep his hand, but he yanked me into his arms.

"Darling, let’s withdraw the divorce application. I promise I’ll never leave you again."

He said it with such conviction that for a brief moment, I almost believed him.

This was the same Callum who had just days ago been cold and dismissive as he spent his time with another woman like it was nothing but a figment of my imagination.

But that feeling lasted only a second.

Because when Hannah came out of her room, I saw her wearing an entire set of matching jewelry from the same brand.

Then I remembered that just recently, I had received a promotional push for the brand. It had offered the brooch as a complimentary gift for the purchase of the full set.

It should not have been a surprise that Callum’s nice gesture was insincere.

I was like the freebie, never his first choice.

Time flew by, and soon it was the last day of the divorce cooling-off period.

Coincidentally, it was also my birthday.

Callum flew back from abroad early in the morning and came straight to me with a bouquet of roses.

"Happy birthday, Darling."

He looked disheveled. His shirt was wrinkled against his body, and his tie was undone.

He was clearly exhausted and his eyes were bloodshot.

His assistant, Paul Mason helped with the luggage with a smile on his face.

"Mr. Kipling finished three days' worth of work in one day just to make it back to celebrate your birthday, Mrs. Kipling"

"Oh, don’t give away my secret, Paul," Callum said playfully.

He extended the bouquet to me.

"Here. I'll freshen up. Later, I’ll take you out to celebrate your birthday.

“And you can’t refuse. I’ve been planning this for a long time."

Fine, let’s part on good terms. It was time to put a perfect end to the relationship.

I waited in my room for a long time, and as the sun began to set, Callum still hadn't come to get me.

I took out my phone, ready to tell him that we no longer needed to celebrate my birthday and that I wouldn't wait any longer.

But then I saw a notification for a news broadcast I followed.

[Breaking news: The Kipling family's adoptive daughter, Hannah Kipling, has been accused of inappropriate involvement with her own step-brother, Callum Kipling forcing his wife to divorce him.]

I clicked on it, and there were various intimate photos of Hannah and Callum, along with a signed divorce agreement.

There was a sound outside my door before Callum kicked it open.

He was beyond furious as he marched up to me.

"How could you be so vicious, Eloise?

"You’re a woman yourself. Don’t you think it’s disgusting to ruin a girl’s life this way?"

"It wasn’t me!" I protested.

I had no interest in using such clumsy tactics.

I stared directly into Callum’s eyes. “Look, we’re getting a divorce. Who you like has nothing to do with me.”

“Who else would make such an accusation about me and my brother, if not you?” Hannah yelled as she pushed herself into Callum’s arms.

“Everyone knows that your so-called divorce is just a threat to make my brother abandon me.

“If this kind of news spreads, how will people view the Kiplings? How will they view my brother?”

“Call the police, ” I said as I pulled out my phone.

“Since you want to know who the real culprit is, let the police investigate it.”

“Shut up!”

Callum swiped the vase filled with roses from the vanity and knocked it to the floor.

He looked at me with utter contempt.

“You have no shame, Eloise. My family still has a reputation to protect. You’re so disgusting.”

Two years of intimacy, three years of sharing a bed, and in the end, he had only that to say about me.

“You’re no better,” I scoffed, then handed him the divorce agreement once again.

“Since we’re both tired of each other, it’s better to just get this divorce over and done with.”

“Fine. I’d be a fool not to sign it now,” he said haughtily as he quickly signed the papers before tossing them to Paul.

Then he kicked the door open and left with Hannah in his arms.

I stared at the disarray in the room, then slowly removed my wedding band and placed it on the table.

Then I grabbed the suitcase I had packed earlier and headed toward the airport.

Before boarding the plane, I sent him one last message.

[Let’s part ways, and never meet again.]

After sending it, I turned off my phone and boarded the flight to Azure City.