Before blocking Vivian's number for good, I decided to answer her call just once.

There was a rustling sound on the other end, and then Vivian's surprised voice came through.

"Are you done sulking yet? I've run out of pillow mist. Time for you to make a new batch for me."

"It's just pillow mist. If you can't buy it, get Earl to make it for you. Isn't an entire vanilla estate enough to keep you satisfied?"

"Can you stop with the snide remarks? How long ago was that? You're still not over it? What exactly do I have to do to make it right?"

I didn't even have the energy to argue with her anymore.

Every time we ran into a problem, she never once tried to face it head-on. Instead, she'd just throw gifts at me, as if she could measure out my hurt and compensate for it piece by piece.

In her mind, as long as I got something out of it, I was supposed to shut up, turn the page, and never bring it up again.

A scornful laugh escaped me. "Vivian, not everything can be settled with money. That old camphor tree helped you for seven years. You raise a dog for that long, and even it learns gratitude in that time. How on earth do you manage not to care at all?"

Vivian was silent for a second, like the calm before a storm.

"Allen, you'd better watch your tone and attitude."

I didn't even acknowledge her anger and just continued, "Vivian, I was with you for seven years as well. But that day, all you cared about was standing up for Earl. Who exactly am I to you?"

When Vivian heard how calm I was, her voice took on a hint of panic.

"You're my husband, of course. I admit I acted impulsively that day. If you come back like a good boy, I won't hold your little runaway stunt against you either. We'll just call it even."

I laughed. "Call it even? Can we write off the feelings between us as well?"

Vivian's patience ran out once again.

"Allen, have you had it so good for so long that you need a taste of trouble to see reality? Without me, you're nothing. What gives you the nerve to divorce me? If we actually get a divorce, I guarantee you'll be crying and begging me to remarry you within a month."

I deliberately let out a mocking laugh, then hung up and blocked her.

Vivian's confidence rested on the market advantage my design patents gave her. However, ruining her would be just as easy.

At a cafe in the city of Oakdale, I agreed to a request from my old college senior, Erica Donahue, and signed over all my latest designs and patents to her.

Once I got back, I packed up my things and moved into a rented apartment. The place wasn't big, but I felt more at peace there than I ever did staying with Vivian.

I was just about to head out when I spotted Vivian posted at my door.

It had only been a few days, but that elegant, put-together woman actually had wrinkles showing up around her eyes.

"Allen, what the hell did you do? How did the company get hit with a lawsuit from Oakdale?" Vivian demanded in a voice filled with rage and disbelief. "They're suing for infringement, and every single piece of work in question was your design!"

I let out a hollow laugh. "Weren't you so confident I'd come crawling back? Well, let's see how that goes. If you don't want to lose more than you already have, I suggest you sign the divorce papers soon."

"When are you going to grow up and stop all this reckless, jealous nonsense? Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused Earl? You can produce countless more designs in the future, so why are you hell-bent on holding these few over me?"

Vivian's eyes were rimmed red. Anger was already pooling in her gaze.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She answered it and put it on speaker without a second thought.

Her secretary's voice came through. "Ms. Lynch, we've looked into the matter of Mr. Osborne's visit to the hospital."

Vivian shot me a loaded glance. "Go on."

"He has nerve damage from a traumatic injury and has been in rehab ever since the surgery to repair it. His first appointment was the night of the family banquet."