Sharon McKinzie's husband's first love was dying.

He often said to Sharon, "Sharon, Kelly doesn't have much time left. Don't be petty and hold things against her."

To make up for the regrets of his past, he traveled with Kelly—through mountains and rivers, beneath starlit skies and over distant seas.

He even handed over the wedding they had planned—his and Sharon's—to Kelly Walt, without shame or hesitation.

Even their five-year-old son clung to Kelly.

"Mommy isn't even half as pretty as Kelly," he said. "Kelly's pretty. Why can't Kelly be my mommy?"

Sharon decided to grant them their wish. She left behind the divorce papers and walked away without a word.

Later, her ex-husband and son knelt before her—her ex-husband full of regret, her son's cheeks streaked with tears.

"Honey… please come back to us."

"Mommy… do you really not want us anymore?"

Just then, a handsome man wrapped his arm around Sharon's waist.

"There you are, honey," he said gently. "Our son's still at home, waiting for you to feed him."

It was one in the morning.

Sharon McKinzie found herself unable to sleep and started scrolling through her phone.

She suddenly came across a new post on Kelly Walt's Instagram.

[Thank you to Carter and little Theo for the lovely gifts. The cup was even handmade by Theo himself.]

Sharon tapped on the photo.

A necklace and a DIY mug appeared on her screen.

Faintly, she could make out the words etched onto the cup: Happy Birthday, Mom.

Her eyes drifted to the cold dishes still sitting on the dining table, untouched. The birthday cake, too, remained unlit.

A faint, self-mocking smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

She remembered seeing a news notification earlier that day.

[Confirmed! The famously aloof figure from Amstern City, Carter Biggs, is secretly married—with a five-year-old son!]

In the photo, a tall, handsome man and a slender, beautiful woman were walking hand in hand with a five-year-old boy through an amusement park.

Kelly gently touched Theo's head, while Carter gazed at her with a softness Sharon had never seen before.

The three of them looked picture-perfect—a beautiful couple and a child who looked just like Carter.

They truly looked like a happy family.

Today was Sharon's birthday. It was also her fifth wedding anniversary with Carter.

And yet, the one being celebrated wasn't her—it was Kelly.

Carter and Theo had spent the entire day with Kelly, gifting her what should have belonged to Sharon.

Sharon wasn't surprised. Not anymore. She was used to this.

Kelly was Carter's first love. She was terminally ill, with only a year left to live. Her dying wish was simply to see him one last time.

Carter had told her he just wanted to do a few things for Kelly before the end, and hoped Sharon would understand.

Sharon didn't want to understand. But she knew—she couldn't stop him.

It was the first time Carter had spoken to her with such gravity.

It felt like something had been carved out of her chest—leaving behind a hollow, aching space.

She didn't know how long she sat there in the dark before the sound of the front door broke the silence.

Carter walked in with Theo.

He paused when he saw her sitting at the dining table, clearly surprised, as if he'd forgotten what day it was.

"You're still up?" he asked.

"I want to talk," Sharon replied calmly.

Carter frowned slightly, then looked down at Theo. "Go on upstairs, Theo."

Theo rubbed his eyes and yawned as he walked past Sharon.

He suddenly paused.

"Happy birthday, Mommy."

He tilted his head up to look at her—those eyes, so much like Carter's, stared into hers.

"Daddy and I didn't mean to forget your birthday. It's just… we still have so much time together. But Kelly only has six months left. You're not mad at us over something so small… right, Mommy?"

Sharon didn't know what hurt more—being forgotten completely, or being remembered, only to be pushed aside anyway.

Once Theo left, the room fell into silence again.

Carter was the one to break it.

"What did you want to talk about?"

He was dressed in a white shirt and black slacks, his features refined, his presence cool and composed like the pale, untouchable moon hanging in a winter night sky. Detached. Remote.

Sharon took a deep breath. "Carter, let's get a divorce."

A flicker passed through his eyes—like a breeze rippling across a still lake. But just as quickly, it vanished.

"I didn't forget your birthday," he said. "I already prepared your gift."

"My gift?" Sharon gave a low laugh. "You mean the necklace that used to belong to my mother? The one you gave to Kelly?"

That necklace was the only thing Sharon's mother had left her before she passed. Sharon had lost it the day she gave birth to Theo.

Carter had promised to help her find it. He did find it—only to give it away.

Carter's face remained composed, without a trace of embarrassment. Only his eyes darkened, just slightly.

"It's only on loan to Kelly. I'll return it to you later."

"How much later?" Sharon asked quietly. "The day she dies?"

"Sharon! That's enough!" His voice cut through the air, sharp and cold. His usually distant expression gave way to rare anger.

It was enough.

She had had enough of being married to a man who gave his heart to someone else, enough of raising a child who never felt like hers, enough of being belittled by her in-laws.

"Kelly only has half a year left," Carter said. "Even Theo knows to be kind. Why can't you show the same generosity?"

In that moment, Sharon felt something in her snap.

"What does her time left have to do with me?" she said. "She's not my family. Why should I be the one to tolerate her?"

Carter looked genuinely taken aback. Sharon had always been gentle, mild. He hadn't expected words like that to come from her mouth.

A cold glint flashed across his gaze. "I thought we had an understanding."

Sharon let out a soft laugh. "She wants to relive her first love, so I have to watch the two of you fall in love all over again. She wants to experience a wedding, so you hand her the one I spent half a year planning. I get to watch you and her walk Theo down the aisle like a real family. She wants to see the world before she dies, so you take her traveling across it. If she wanted the moon, I bet you'd try to pluck it from the sky."

She and Carter had been secretly married for five years. They'd never held a ceremony.

It wasn't until Theo once asked her what she looked like in a wedding dress that Carter decided they should hold one. He promised she could plan it all—down to the last detail.

She had.

Then Kelly spoke a single sentence, and everything changed.

Carter's expression turned to ice. "You've crossed a line."

Crossed a line.

Something tightened in her chest. She closed her eyes, the weight of disappointment pressing down on her.

All these years, she had tried to be the perfect wife and mother. No matter how hard she tried, Carter remained distant. She had assumed it was simply his nature—detached and reserved.

But then Kelly came back, and Sharon realized, even an aloof guy like Carter had fire in him.

She reached for the divorce papers already prepared and placed on the table.

"I've signed them. You should too. If she can officially become Mrs. Biggs before she dies, I imagine it would make her very happy."

Carter's lips pressed into a tight line. His handsome face seemed to frost over. It was a clear sign of his displeasure.

"And Theo?"

"He'll stay with you," she replied softly.

He looked like he was about to speak, but then his phone rang.

He picked it up.

"Carter! Kelly collapsed—she's in the emergency room!"

Carter's brows drew tightly together. He said quickly, "I'll be right there," then turned and strode off without so much as a glance back at Sharon.

Sharon stood still, expressionless, watching his retreating figure disappear into the darkness.

She'd lost count of how many times, in the middle of the night, he had left like this—rushing to Kelly's side at the news of another so-called "critical condition."

…

The next morning, Sharon wheeled out her neatly packed suitcase, ready to leave.

As she passed by Theo's room, her steps faltered.

After a moment of hesitation, she decided to go in and see him one last time.

He had been born prematurely. Ever since then, Theo had been frail and prone to illness. Because of that, she had always cared for him personally, never trusting anyone else to take her place.

He looked a lot like Carter—right down to the cool, distant temperament.

It was a weekend. Theo wasn't at school and was seated at his desk, working on his homework.

When she entered, he greeted her out of habit, "Morning, Mommy," and went right back to writing without looking up.

Sharon gazed at the profile of his face—so much like Carter's—and finally said, "Theo, I'm leaving. Take care of yourself."

He responded with a flat "Oh," eyes still glued to his paper.

Ever since Kelly had appeared in their lives, he had grown more and more distant from her.

She still remembered that video Kelly once posted on social media.

In it, Theo was munching on cotton candy as he mumbled through sticky lips, "I just like being with Kelly. I get to eat all kinds of yummy things."

Then Kelly said, "Theo, is your mommy not good to you?"

"She just nags all the time. Tells me what I can and can't do, won't let me eat this or that."

"Then between me and your mommy, who's better?"

"Of course, you! If my mommy treated me half as well as you do, I'd be so happy."

Sharon understood. Compared to a strict mother, Kelly indulged him, spoiled him, and let him do whatever he pleased—of course she'd win his heart.

To manage his condition, she made sure he went to bed on time every night. With his weak digestive system, she never let him touch outside junk food.

It had taken years of meticulous care before he finally became stronger and no longer fell ill so easily.

But in the process, he'd grown more and more distant from her.

She was almost out the door when Theo's voice suddenly called after her.

"Mommy."

Sharon turned around.

He said, "You once said… the people Theo likes, Mommy will like too. I really like Kelly. So Mommy will like her too, right?"

Sharon froze for a split second. Then, something quietly snapped inside her.

She closed her eyes and smiled faintly—without a sound.

"You've always wanted to protect Kelly, haven't you? From now on, you can protect her together with your daddy."

A flicker of confusion passed through Theo's eyes. He didn't understand what she meant.

Sharon didn't explain. She simply turned and walked out of the villa.

…

Wendy Cohen's car was already waiting outside.

After loading the suitcase into the trunk, Wendy looked at her. "Sharon… you've really decided to go through with the divorce?"

Sharon gave a small nod. "Mm. I have."

"And… what about Theo?"

"Even if I fought for custody, I couldn't win against Carter." Sharon gave a bitter smile. "And besides… Theo might not even want to come with me. To him, Kelly is the best."

Wendy frowned in disapproval. "You almost died giving birth to him—labored through an entire day and night. You've been by his side ever since, doing everything for him. How could he think some homewrecker is better than his own mother?"

Sharon said calmly, "That just proves they're father and son. Even their taste in women is the same."

Wendy hesitated. "And Carter… does he know you're leaving?"

She shook her head. "He's probably still with his precious Kelly."

Before she got married, Sharon had owned a small apartment of her own. It had been a long time since she'd lived there.

After cleaning up the space, Wendy suggested they go out.

"Sharon, we haven't gone shopping together since you had Theo. Want to hit the streets for a bit?"

It was true. Ever since Theo's birth, Sharon's life had revolved solely around home and Theo. She'd lost herself, her time, her freedom—everything.

Looking at the spark in Wendy's eyes, Sharon was suddenly reminded of who she used to be. She had once been just like her—full of light, full of life.

Five years of marriage had turned her into someone prematurely aged, spiritless, and worn.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Okay."

Just then, Wendy's phone rang.

Whatever was said on the other end made her brow furrow.

After a moment, she said into the phone, "Alright, we'll be there soon."

Hanging up, she turned to Sharon. "Someone wants to offer a high price to buy the violin you authorized Demusica Harmony to sell—Shaluna. The manager says the buyer seems like a big deal. He didn't dare refuse. Since you're free today, we should go take a look."

Shaluna… It had been five years since Sharon had touched her violin.

She'd been so caught up in caring for Theo that everything related to music had been left in Wendy's hands.

Hearing that name again now—it felt like a lifetime ago.

…

As soon as they stepped into the music shop, Sharon's steps halted.

A tall, handsome man and a delicate, graceful woman stood together in front of a showcase labeled "Not For Sale."

The woman's soft, gentle voice floated through the air. "The legendary Shaluna… it's even more beautiful than I imagined."

"Carter, didn't you say you loved hearing me play the violin most? I want to hold one final concert before the end… I want to use this violin. What do you think?"

The man's voice was low and clear. "Okay."

The store manager followed nervously behind them, wiping sweat from his brow.

When he saw Sharon and Wendy walk in, his eyes lit up like he'd just seen his saviors.

"Wendy! You're finally here. Mr. Biggs would like to purchase Shaluna. You can set any price you like—what do you think?"

When Wendy saw Carter and Kelly, her brows drew together instinctively, and a flicker of deep disgust surfaced in her eyes.

Her voice was cold. "Shaluna is not for sale."

Kelly's brow twitched ever so slightly, her gaze quickly shifting to the woman standing beside Wendy—Sharon.

Compared to Kelly's delicate charm, the kind you'd find in a dainty porcelain figure, Sharon had a quiet grace, a poised elegance. Her face was a perfect oval, her features soft yet defined. Her eyes, limpid and calm, seemed to hold a ripple of water. She looked just like a classical beauty walking straight out of an ancient painting.

The moment Kelly laid eyes on her, something flickered in her gaze.

She walked quickly toward Sharon and stopped in front of her, her expression tinged with a pleading softness.

"Sharon," she said gently, "is this violin your friend's? Could you ask your friend to lend it to me for a little while? Back then, Carter and I met because of the violin. I was practicing in the garden, and he was drawn to my music. That's how he found me… and how we got together. He always loved hearing me play.

"Sharon, I don't know how much time I have left. I don't even know if I can still hold a successful concert. But no matter what, I want to try—just one more time."

Whether intentional or not, Kelly lowered her head slightly, revealing the familiar necklace on her neck.

The overhead lights caught the pendant, scattering soft brilliance.

The gleam stabbed into Sharon's eyes.

Her voice was emotionless. "People die every day in this world. So what—just because someone with a terminal illness appears in front of me, I'm supposed to accommodate them?"

Kelly had clearly never heard such words before. Her eyes reddened instantly, tears pooling, trembling on the edge.

Carter's expression turned cold. "Sharon, it's just a violin. Must you be so aggressive? If you like it that much, I'll buy you another."

Sharon looked at him. "Exactly. It's just a violin. If she wants one, buy her another. Why does it have to be mine?"

Kelly pleaded softly beside them. "Sharon, what would it take for you to let me borrow it? Whatever conditions you have, just name them."

Name her price? As if the bill wouldn't end up on Carter's desk in the end?

Sharon let out a soundless laugh. "Kelly, you seem quite fond of things left behind by my mother. First the necklace, now the violin."

Kelly blinked, confused. "I don't quite understand what you mean."

Watching her feign innocence, Sharon sneered inwardly.

"This violin—Shaluna—was my mother's. And that necklace around your neck, that too was hers."

Kelly's face turned pale. "I'm sorry. I really didn't know it belonged to your mother… Last night, Theo gave me a gift box with the necklace inside. I thought it was a gift from Carter, so I wore it. I didn't realize it was your mother's…"

Sharon gave a light, cool laugh. "Well, now that you do—can you give it back?"

Kelly touched the necklace at her collarbone, bit her lip, and looked up at Carter, eyes shimmering.

"Carter, since Sharon is asking… why not just let her have the necklace? We shouldn't upset her over something so trivial—it's not worth it."

Let her have it?

Not return it—let her have it.

As if even if the necklace was originally her mother's, it wasn't hers to begin with. As if Kelly were magnanimously granting her a favor, not returning what never belonged to her in the first place.

Carter already believed that Sharon's talk of divorce was just a ploy to threaten him. He hadn't liked that. Now, as he heard Kelly's words, his expression grew colder.

"No need," he said. "Since I gave it to you, it's yours."

"But…" Kelly started.

He cut her off. "Once something's given away, there's no reason to take it back."

A trace of emotion stirred on Kelly's face—touched, grateful.

Sharon instinctively curled her fingers into a fist.

Then, as if shaking something off, she smiled faintly.

"Kelly, didn't you want to borrow the violin? Sure. If Mr. Biggs begs me for it, I'll consider it."

Kelly's pupils widened. She looked stunned.

Carter's expression darkened to something almost dangerous.

"Sharon," he said coldly, "that's enough."

Her tone turned mocking. "And here I thought Mr. Biggs would do anything for you, Kelly. But now… seems that isn't quite true."

She had once believed Carter would sacrifice anything for Kelly.

Now she realized: the things he sacrificed were always the ones that didn't matter.

Like her.

Once she understood that, Sharon felt nothing anymore. Not disappointment. Not anger. Just… nothing.

She turned to the shop manager, who'd been frozen at the side.

"If I'm not mistaken," she said, "the authorization for this violin expires today. Please remove it from display—I'm taking it home."

The manager glanced cautiously at Carter.

Sharon raised a brow. "What? As the owner, do I not even have the right to take my own violin?"

"N-no, of course not," the manager stammered. "I'll arrange the paperwork right away."

Once the handover was complete, Sharon took the violin and walked out without looking back. She didn't spare Carter or Kelly so much as a glance.

Carter's brows knit tightly as he watched her leave.

Kelly lowered her head slightly, voice tinged with guilt. "It must be because you forgot her birthday yesterday. That's why she's angry… It's my fault, I've been a burden."

"It has nothing to do with you," Carter replied, voice flat as he looked away. "Go ahead and prepare for the concert. I'll have someone send the Shaluna to you later."

A bright smile spread across Kelly's face. "Okay."

…

That night, Carter returned home on time for once.

But Sharon wasn't around to greet him with a warm meal like she always did.

When dinner time came around, Theo came downstairs as usual. But the dining room was empty, the table bare.

He looked puzzled. "Daddy, didn't Mommy cook dinner today?"

Sharon had always been the perfect wife and mother. She never argued, never made a fuss. She played her role flawlessly.

Carter had never loved her, but overall, he'd been quite satisfied.

Especially with Theo's weak stomach and picky eating habits—Sharon never left meals to the staff. She always cooked everything herself, including dinner and late-night snacks.

Thinking of what had happened during the day, Carter pressed his lips into a line, his face darkening slightly.

If this was her way of retaliating, of throwing a tantrum, then she was overestimating herself.

"Don't worry about her," he said coolly. "Let's go eat out."

Theo clapped happily. "Yay! Can Kelly come along too? I want cotton candy again!"

"Cotton candy?" Carter blinked. "Didn't your mom say you can't eat it because you're lactose intolerant?"