Then Nolan looked me up and down. “Zayden, you’re still so arrogant! Are you mad at me? How petty! Kendall and I have known each other for so many years. If something happened, would it be your turn to marry her?”

As he spoke, a group of people pulled Kendall over and sat her down.

There were only four seats. I was the only one left standing.

“Hey, we’ve been friends since childhood. We’re used to this. There’s no extra seat…” Nolan glanced around, then smiled at me.

“Why don’t you just go back? You won’t understand what we’re talking about anyway.”

He sat proudly in the middle, everyone’s focus, his face smug.

I sighed softly but stayed where I was.

Back when I truly loved Kendall, I tried hard to accept her friends and fit into her world.

But every gathering ended the same, Nolan leading the way, reminiscing about the past.

He mocked my background, talked about things I couldn’t respond to and left me alone. This time, he used the same tricks again.

Sensing the awkwardness, Madison stood up and offered me her seat.

“Zayden, you sit.”

Looking at Madison, I suddenly remembered.

She had asked Kendall more than once, “How could Zayden compare to Nolan? Why did you marry him?”

And what did Kendall say?

“I had a fight with Nolan back then and I acted on impulse. I regretted it a long time ago, but I also felt sorry for Zayden because he chased after me for so many years.”

Thinking of this, I sighed softly.

“Don’t bother. Let’s get a divorce. That’s enough space.”

In a marriage between two people, there was no room for a third.

Kendall looked at me in shock.

All these years of marriage, I had never embarrassed her in front of her friends.

Before, no matter how late she stayed out drinking, I would pick her up without complaint.

But now, I no longer wanted to put myself in such a humiliating position for her.

Madison and Brooklyn rushed over to ease the tension, but Nolan only sneered and took Kendall’s hand.

“Only the most useless men threaten divorce,” he said mockingly.

Kendall’s face turned dark with embarrassment. She glared at me.

“Zayden, have I been too good to you? Have I spoiled you? You’re just a son-in-law, living off me. Did you forget how you once begged me not to divorce you?”

I picked up my phone and left without a word. I would never beg her again.

When Nolan first returned to the US, Kendall and I argued many times over their overly close relationship.

Each time, Kendall would say, “If you can’t stand it, then divorce me!”

Back then, I was still drowning in false love. I always gave in, apologizing again and again, admitting my mistakes and begging for her forgiveness.

I had once knelt outside her door in the silence of the night, crying bitterly. But Kendall only used my tolerance and my love as excuses to trample on me.

This time, I refused to bow my head again.

I went home, packed my things and moved into the small house I had bought before we married.

I had bought it with my own savings. When Kendall found out about it, it led to a fight between us.

“Only a fool would buy an apartment. It’s so small and far away—it’s embarrassing. You should’ve used the money to buy a car instead. Then I could drive around with dignity.”

Later, my parents bought me a top-tier luxury car as part of the wedding gift and Kendall was finally satisfied.

I was grateful I hadn’t listened to her advice.

The small apartment had become my safe place. The luxury car already belonged to Nolan.

By the time all the chaos was over, it was dawn.

I hadn’t slept at all, so I went out and printed the divorce papers.

When I returned home, I found Kendall waiting at the door.

It surprised me; this was the first time she had ever come to see me.

“I was probably too harsh last night, but you really shouldn’t have treated my friend that way. Go apologize to Nolan and let’s put this behind us.”

Yesterday, before I left, I had overheard Nolan say, “He’s just a spoiled son of a nouveau riche. Bad temper, little ability. Marrying someone like him was truly unfortunate.”

To outsiders, Kendall had called me a jealous and suspicious husband.

But in reality, she had always been the one throwing tantrums in our marriage, while showing a gentle, polite face to everyone else.

At home, she had been picky and hard to please. Even adding chopped green onions to a dish had made her furious. She would scold me, then throw the plate aside and walk away.

“I was never the one to apologize.”

I handed her the divorce agreement and opened my bedroom door. Kendall followed close behind, hugging me tightly from behind.

“Stop throwing a tantrum! Isn’t it enough for me to apologize?” Her hands slid over me.

“I know I’ve been neglecting you lately and you’re angry. Isn’t it enough if I promise you a child?”

The thought of her closeness with Nolan made me sick.

I shoved her away. “Don’t touch me! You’re filthy!”

Kendall’s face turned red with anger, her eyes burning. But before she could lash out, everything went black—I had passed out.

When I woke up, I was in the hospital.

Kendall sat by my bed, her face full of concern. “Zayden, you can argue, but don’t use your body to get angry with me, okay? You fainted with a high fever. You really scared me this time.”

“Don’t you know why I have a fever?”

Who dragged me into the rain? Who made me run outside all night?

Who said she would take me to the hospital and then went drinking with friends instead?

Kendall turned her face away, guilt flickering across her eyes.

“Let’s not talk about that. Come eat something. I made you beef stew.”

It was beef stew without meat, just a few bits of rice in a thin, cloudy broth. It looked more like scraps than food, unappetizing at first glance.

Just then, Nolan pushed open the door.

“Kendall, your beef stew is delicious, but I’m still not full. Come downstairs and eat some more with me.”

Kendall looked at me with a trace of embarrassment.

“Go ahead.” I tossed the beef stew into the trash.

“Nolan has a weak stomach…” Kendall tried to explain awkwardly, but Nolan was already pulling at her arm, urging her to leave.

After hesitating a moment, Kendall said, “I’ll bring you something good when I get back,” and hurried out with him.

I ordered takeout for myself. After the IV drip, I went to the doctor for a prescription.

The doctor looked at me several times before speaking. “Was that your wife just now?”

“My ex.”

“That’s good. I was wondering, while you were unconscious, he and that short-haired man were cuddling in the hallway, then kissing by your bed, like the hospital was their hotel.”

She handed me the prescription and her phone. “Leave me your contact. If you feel unwell, you can reach me anytime.”

I saw the expectation in her eyes and nodded, understanding.

When I got home, I saw a message from Kendall.

[There’s an urgent matter at the company, so I can’t be with you. If you feel unwell, just message me and I’ll come right away.]

It sounded caring.

But I remembered the time I had acute gastroenteritis, curled up in pain. Kendall, annoyed that I disturbed her sleep, had taken the quilt and gone to the study.

“If you feel unwell, go see a doctor. What’s the point of telling me? I can’t treat you!”

So this time, weak and upset, I contacted the doctor I had just met. We had coffee, walked around together and I felt much better.

But when I returned home, I was stunned.

The small apartment was crowded with people; both sets of parents were there, along with Kendall and Nolan.

Kendall’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at the divorce papers in front of her.

Nolan crossed his arms and glared at me. “I’ve never seen a man as shameless as you. Kendall treated you so well, yet you still hooked up with other women.”

Mom held up a photo of me and the doctor shopping.

“What is this? Kendall says you cheated on her and wants a divorce. I thought your relationship was fine?”

I hadn’t expected Kendall to be so despicable.

Avery Hayes slammed the table. “Divorce! We don’t want a man like that, so unfaithful.”

“No wonder Kendall hasn’t been able to get pregnant all these years. It must be because you’ve been careless and caught some filthy disease!”

Everyone started talking at once, throwing vicious, obscene accusations at me.

I glanced at Kendall, holding back my anger.

“Kendall, stop twisting the truth. You’re the guilty one acting like the victim.”

“Do you think I don’t know what you’ve been doing behind my back?”

“I was trying to protect your dignity, but since you’re so shameless, don’t blame me for being harsh!”

I pulled a box out of the bedroom. On the day I moved, I had discovered a secret even more shocking than Kendall’s betrayal. I kept it hidden, waiting for the right time.

Now, that time had come.