When I got home, my clothes were already soaked through from the rain.

Baron and Michelle were sitting on the couch watching a drama on the big TV, chatting and laughing as they followed the plot. Michelle's daughter, Sandy Chandler, was nearby, playing with his toys.

They had not even taken off their shoes. Dark, muddy water stains spread across the sofa cushions.

Seeing me standing at the door, drenched and disheveled, Baron panicked a little. He quickly got up, grabbed a dry towel from the bathroom, and came over to wipe me down.

I took a step back.

His hand hung awkwardly in the air for a second before he softened his tone, trying to comfort me.

"Why didn't you wait for me to pick you up in the rain? I was just telling Michelle that if you didn't come back soon, I was going to go look for you."

"Yeah, Valerie," Michelle chimed in, her voice laced with barely hidden pride.

"Sandy and I were stuck at work earlier. If Baron hadn't shown up in time, we'd have ended up just like you."

Of course.

The moment the storm hit, the first person my husband thought to pick up was her. It was as if I did not even exist.

No wonder she looked so pleased with herself.

I lifted my head, forcing back the sting in my eyes, and took the towel from him, casually drying myself.

"It's fine. It only started raining halfway through my walk. There wasn't anywhere to call you from."

My calmness seemed to catch Baron off guard. He studied me carefully, then frowned.

"Are you angry?"

"Valerie, I only picked Michelle and Sandy up because it was on the way. Can you not make a fuss out of nothing?

"Besides, you owe Michelle to begin with. If it weren't for you, she wouldn't be raising a child on her own at such a young age. She's your sister, so of course we should help when we can."

Owe her?

I let out a cold laugh.

Back then, Michelle was the one who cried and insisted on marrying Hayden. Since she became a widow, was that somehow my fault too?

Did they really think that as long as they used that excuse, I would just keep backing down forever?

I glanced at Michelle, who still looked smug, and replied calmly.

"Back then, our parents wanted to find you someone better. You were the one who insisted on marrying Hayden. You even drugged him and threw away your own reputation. Otherwise, why would he have applied to be transferred to such a remote place?

"Now that things turned out the way they did, are you blaming me for making you a widow?

"You getting lost had nothing to do with me either. The moment you came back, I moved into the school dorms. I honestly don't understand. What exactly do I owe you?

"Let's not forget that Baron gives you his entire salary every month. Even the apartment allocated by his workplace is for you to live in. I've never once complained, have I?"

Michelle's expression froze. She clearly had not expected me to lay everything out so bluntly.

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at me, then turned to Baron, lips trembling as she spoke.

"I didn't cause Hayden's death…"

The moment she started crying, Baron instinctively moved toward her. However, when he saw me standing there, watching him coldly, he stopped himself midway.

Still, seeing how wronged Michelle looked, his heart seemed to ache for her. He turned back to me, anger flashing across his face.

"I never thought you could be this vicious! No one wanted what happened to Hayden. Michelle is a victim too. How can you blame her?"

I actually laughed out loud.

Had Baron already forgotten what he had just said?

He was the one who pushed the blame onto me first. After I simply stated the truth, neither of them could handle it.

Michelle's eyes were red.

"Forget it, Baron… I shouldn't have come back in the first place. Otherwise, it would've been my sister and Hayden getting married…"

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. She bit her lip, scooped up the still-confused Sandy, and turned to leave.

"Michelle!"

Baron called out urgently, grabbing her arm.

Then, he shot me a reproachful look. "Can't you just say less? It's pouring outside. Where do you expect her to go?"

I smiled faintly. "Didn't I just make it back the same way?"

The moment Michelle heard what I said, she struggled, trying to shake off Baron's grip.

The dormitory entryway was already cramped to begin with. With three people squeezed inside, there was no room to turn around.

I stepped back slightly, watching the two of them pull at each other with cold detachment.

Baron's usual gentleness was gone. His face flushed red with anger.

"How can Michelle be compared to you? She's suffered so much since she was young. Now that she's finally back, she still has to raise a child all by herself. You're a woman too. How can you have so little compassion?"

I looked at his bloodshot eyes and, for a moment, felt disoriented.

In my previous life, I had raised a child on my own too.

Everyone revolved around Michelle.

How about me? I handled everything alone. I took care of my son and looked after both sets of parents.

Big issues, small matters… Everything waited for me to deal with.

As for the two of them, they spent their lives carefree, traveling and enjoying themselves.

A dull ache spread through my chest. I pressed a hand against it before lifting my gaze to Baron.

"Fine. I feel sorry for her, so you can take her back to your place now and hand over your entire salary next month while you're at it.

"If you're leaving, then go. If Mrs. Jones next door wakes up, your little situation will be all over the neighborhood by tomorrow."

Without waiting for their reaction, I turned around and walked straight into the bathroom.

In my new life, I only want to live for myself.

After a while, Baron's voice came faintly from the doorway.

"The rain's too heavy. I'll take Michelle home first. Get some rest. I'll be back later."

The sound of running water mixed with the clear click of the wooden door opening and closing.

The ache in my chest had completely disappeared.

After finishing my shower and getting changed, I reached up to the top shelf of the bookcase and pulled down a thick book.

Inside it was everything I had saved over the years.

Most of Baron's salary had gone to Michelle. What little remained had been given to his mother.

Our household expenses had almost entirely been supported by my income.

Even the apartment I was in had been assigned to me by the university after I became a teaching assistant.

I took out the small wad of cash, tucked it into my pocket and went to bed, satisfied.

"From today onward, Baron, whoever you choose to play the savior for has nothing to do with me,' I thought.

The next morning, Baron finally returned with dark circles under his eyes.

"What you said last night was too harsh. Michelle cried the whole night. No matter what I said, she refused to stay at my place. Come with me later and apologize to her.

"Did you make breakfast? We can bring it along."

He opened his mouth to continue, but then noticed my pale face, how I was slumped weakly against the sofa.

He froze for a second, then reached out to touch my forehead.

"You've got a fever this bad and didn't tell me?"

I brushed his hand away, lowered my head, and took a sip of water, forcing down the bitter taste of medicine in my mouth.

For years after our marriage, I had taken care of his every need. Sometimes, I even prepared things for Michelle as well.

However, I did not want to do anything anymore.

Our marriage had been a calculation from the very beginning. It was time for it to end.

Seeing that I remained silent, Baron hesitated for only a few seconds before speaking again.

"About that upcoming competition… Could you give your spot to Michelle?"