On my sixth wedding anniversary with Bella, she vanished with our son, Leo.

My mother and I frantically searched everywhere for them. Just as we were about to call the police, my mother received a call from Bella.

"Get down on your knees to beg me, or you'll never see your son again."

I recognized the voice as Sebastian, Bella's secretary, but my mother thought something had happened to Leo and was so frightened that she had a heart attack and passed away.

After dealing with my mother's funeral, I sent Bella a divorce agreement.

Sebastian, with a tearful voice, said, "Ethan, we were just playing a prank. We young folks do this kind of thing all the time."

Bella comforted him with a pained expression but only replied to me, "Whatever."

I left quietly, and it wasn't until half a month later that I met her again.

"Can you imagine how disgusting the scar on his stomach is? It makes me sick just to look at it."

I froze with my suitcase in hand as Bella's voice reached me from the other side of the door.

The scar on my stomach was from when I was injured in saving her from thugs.

Sebastian then laughed. "Bella, I know you like a six-pack, so I've been working out just for you. Want to feel it?"

As I entered, Bella's hand was on Sebastian's abs.

And Sebastian, wearing my shirt, was sitting on my sofa, nestled in my wife's arms.

Seeing me come back, they both hastily got up.

Sebastian quickly said, "Ethan, my clothes got wet while I was cooking."

Bella tried to explain, but when she saw my suitcase, she snorted coldly.

"Ethan, you have the nerve to come back? You're in your thirties and still throwing a tantrum by running away from home. You haven't been fulfilling your duties as a husband! It's been Sebastian who's been taking care of me during this time. You should thank him."

I was busy with my mother's funeral, but Bella thought I was just being petulant.

For Bella, as a husband dependent on her family, I was only responsible for the housework and giving her everything unconditionally, even though she never wanted to eat the meals I made. I couldn't even raise my child by my side.

I didn't say a word and went into the bedroom to pack my luggage.

Sebastian chased after me. "Ethan, don't be angry. I didn't know that day was your anniversary. I just thought Bella was under a lot of pressure recently, so I organized a party to help her relax."

"Sebastian, there's no need to talk to him. A man like him, living off her, wouldn't understand the pressures we have at work..."

As she spoke, Bella threw a box at me.

"You just want money, don't you? Here, a gift for our anniversary."

I didn't catch it, and the box fell to the ground, revealing an old watch inside.

Coincidentally, it was the same model as the watch Sebastian was wearing, just a freebie.

My emotions boiled over. "Why did you take Leo away? Do you have any idea how much my mom wanted to see him?"

Bella had coaxed me to quit my job when she said she wanted a child, making me take all sorts of supplements to strengthen my body.

Too many mixed medications caused my old injuries to flare up, even affecting my physical functions.

Since then, Bella had begun to avoid sharing a bed with me, staying out all night.

And my son, taken away by her mother, Matilda, when he was only a month old.

They said that as the heir to their family, Leo needed to be well trained and couldn't be influenced by my poverty.

They also said that my mom's luck was incompatible with Leo's, and she would hinder their family's fortune.

We hardly saw Leo a few times a year, and my mom missed him dearly. She finally waited for Bella to agree to let her see Leo, wanting to come and spend a lively anniversary with us.

Unexpectedly...

"I've said it's for the good of both families that Grace doesn't see Leo. If she affected our family's fortune, would you still have the good life you have now? Don't forget that your whole family is living off me."

Bella didn't remember the promise she casually made, and her tone became even more impatient when she recalled it.

Seeing us about to argue again, Sebastian smiled and played the peacemaker.

"It's natural for a grandma to miss her grandson. How about I don't go to the ancestral worship with you guys? Let Ethan and his mom go."

For six years, Bella's family didn't allow me and my mom to appear at any of their public events except for the worship.

It was a tough job. We had to prepare offerings without eating or drinking and even a moment's rest for a whole day.

No one in Bella's family was willing to endure this hardship, so the task naturally fell on my mom and me.

Every time we worked hard for a day, we were sent away without even some water to drink.

Mom was willing to endure such grievance just to catch a glimpse of Leo during the ancestral worship.

Thinking of this, I was overwhelmed by distress.

"No need," I said coldly. "My mom has passed away."

My mom had a heart condition, and her health had been getting worse over the years.

Afraid she couldn't bear it, I never dared to tell her about the changes in my marriage with Bella. I just said that everything was fine.

She was getting older, and the clock was ticking on her life. She just wanted to see Leo more in her remaining time.

A month ago, on our anniversary, my mom struggled to make a table full of dishes, eagerly waiting for us to come home.

But she waited until the dishes were cold, and Bella didn't come back with Leo.

I searched everywhere and made countless calls to her, but no one answered.

My mom sweat from anxiety and was about to call the police.

Just then, I received a call from Sebastian through Bella's phone.

His one threat took away my mom's life, as well as the last bit of affection I had for Bella.

I no longer needed to continue this marriage that was falling apart.

"Ethan, you're really bold. You can tell any lie to get my attention."

Bella got up impatiently. "I've said I've been under a lot of work pressure recently. Can you stop causing me trouble?"

When we first got married, I was in the ascendant phase of my career.

Even if I worked overtime until ten o'clock every night, I would still prepare breakfast for Bella the next day.

When she was asleep, I would put soundproofing cotton under the cutting board.

So, Bella's excuse was really too poor.

"Sign the divorce agreement. I won't trouble you anymore."

"You're just making Bella hate you more with such unreasonable fuss." Sebastian deliberately added fuel to the fire.

Realizing that it was useless to talk with them, I directly picked up my luggage and prepared to leave.

Bella was furious. "Don't ever come back if you leave today!"

I didn't look back.

The moment I closed the door, I heard Bella comforting Sebastian again.

"Even if his mother really died, it's none of your business. Besides, it's good if she's dead. She won't affect my family's fortune anymore. As for him, he's already homeless. He'll slink back once he cools down."

Yes, every time we quarreled before, I was always the one to apologize, no matter who was wrong.

But this time, Bella would never be able to wait for me to return.