That night, after I took my meds, I lay in bed, half-asleep and groggy.

Clement walked in, holding a bowl of mutton stew.

"Madison said you skipped dinner, so she borrowed the hotel kitchen and made this to warm you up," he said. "She even cut herself while slicing the mutton. Have a taste and stop being mad, okay?"

The strong smell of mutton filled the entire room, making me sick.

Clement acted like he didn't even notice and kept trying to shove the bowl closer to my mouth.

The more I smelled it, the more nauseous I felt. I raised my hand and pushed it away.

Some of the soup sloshed out and spilled onto the blanket.

Clement's face tightened, and his voice turned cold.

"What is it now? We've already apologized about the avalanche. What more do you want?

"Enough already. Stop pulling that long face."

He sounded so impatient, as if I were being unreasonable for no reason.

I looked at the soiled blanket and sighed. "I hate mutton."

Without missing a beat, he said, "So what? You don't like it, but that doesn't mean you can't eat it. It's good for your health. A couple of bites won't kill you. And Madison made it herself. She was trying to be thoughtful."

As he stood there justifying everything, my thoughts drifted.

Madison loved to cook, but she was honestly terrible at it.

On the third day of our honeymoon in Svalmere, I wanted to eat at a nice restaurant. Madison didn't want to come along, so I asked Clement to go with me.

We were halfway there when Madison called, saying she was scared to be alone at the hotel.

Without hesitation, Clement turned right around to go back.

He gave me two choices: I could either go back with him or go to the restaurant ten miles away on my own.

It was ridiculous. This was our honeymoon, but I couldn't even choose where to eat.

I looked at the steaming bowl of stew and, without another word, dumped the whole thing into the trash.

Then I looked straight at him and asked calmly, "There. The stew is gone. That good enough for you?"

Clement stood there, blank-faced.

I ignored him and reached for my phone to call someone to change the bedding.

All of a sudden, he snatched the bowl from the table and hurled it against the wall. It shattered with a loud crash, pieces flying everywhere.

"I can't believe I never realized how dramatic you are!"

Then he stormed out, and the room fell silent again.

-

The next afternoon, there was a knock at the door.

It was the hotel butler, politely informing me that my room was due for renewal.

I frowned and told him that my travel companion was in charge of those arrangements.

He kept smiling politely.

"If you're referring to Mr. Norman and Ms. Bowen, they actually checked out earlier today. I believe they've already flown to their next destination. Unfortunately, they didn't extend your room reservation."

Just like that, the hotel cleared my room.

I dragged my luggage and sat in the lobby's guest lounge. Over an hour later, I finally managed to get Clement on the phone.

His voice came through, smug and casual. "Consider this your lesson. You ruined the whole trip because of your attitude. You blow everything out of proportion. Madison's right—hanging out with a negative person like you is bad for me."

My throat felt bone-dry, and I was lost for words for a while.

"Are you out of your mind? Do you even hear yourself?" I yelled.

"Of course I do," he said. "You deserve this. If you want me to come and get you, record a video apologizing to Madison and post it online. Otherwise, forget it."

Then he hung up.

I sat on that hotel couch for a long time, staring out the window as the snow kept falling.

I'd met Clement back in college. He was a year younger than I was.

Normally, I wasn't into younger guys. But back then, Clement was like sunshine—warm and bright.

When I was struggling, stuck in a dark place, he was the light that helped me breathe again.

During my internship, a creepy coworker kept harassing me. Clement would walk me home every single night.

Later, when a landlord scammed me out of rent, he brought his law school friends and stood up for me.

Little by little, he broke through every wall I'd built around my heart.

So, how did someone who once felt like the sun turn so cold so fast?

I didn't have an answer. Honestly, I didn't want one anymore.

I wiped away my tears and forced myself to think clearly.

My passport and bank cards were missing. Clement had probably taken them.

I started calling friends back home.

It took three days, but I finally boarded a flight back.

The moment I landed, I threw my arms around my best friend waiting at the airport.

"I'm getting a divorce."

With me out of the way, Madison didn't even bother hiding anymore.

She updated her social media three times a day, every day.

In one particular video she uploaded, she and Clement looked just like a real couple.

Someone finally had enough and left a comment. [Looks like a homewrecker in action.]

I looked at the username. It was one of Clement's old buddies, someone I'd met a few times at group dinners.

I never thought he'd be the one to call it out. Guess not everyone around Clement thought like him.

I liked his comment

The next day, Madison took down the video.

Later, I got a call from Clement. "Are you out of your mind? Madison's just a college girl who hasn't even graduated. You seriously went after her online? What is wrong with you? Are you trying to make sure I never take you back?

"How many times do I have to say it? Madison and I grew up together; we're like siblings. We might not be related, but we're closer than family. So don't go polluting that with your dirty imagination. I get it—you're an orphan, so you wouldn't understand what family means."

This was the same man I shared a bed with not long ago. Now, he was tearing me down for someone else.

I thought I couldn't feel anything anymore—until he said that. And it hit me hard.

"Right. You're the kind of siblings who lick each other's fingers, the kind who spend the night alone in a tent and think it's no big deal.

"You'd even leave your wife buried in an avalanche just to save your 'sister'. Yeah, that's some touching sibling love you've got there."

That set Clement off. Not wanting to entertain his insults, I hung up.

While he was still overseas, I took the chance to move out.

Before we got married, I had worked hard and bought myself a small place—about 500 square feet.

It wasn't much, but it was enough. Now that I was heading for a divorce, at least I had a roof over my head.

The Normans were old money, so not long after we got married, Clement begged me to quit my job and become a stay-at-home wife.

Blinded by love, I didn't even hesitate.

For five years, I lived on a monthly allowance. To be honest, I felt more like a servant than a partner, like someone they could boss around.

When I heard Clement had flown back home, I sent the signed divorce papers to his email.

But I got no response.

I tried calling. He didn't pick up.

A few hours later, his assistant called me back.

"Mr. Norman says he'll meet you if you apologize to Ms. Bowen."

"Has he looked at the divorce agreement?"

The assistant paused before replying, "Mr. Norman says if you want a divorce, you should come find him yourself. He's not falling for your dramatic tricks."

I let out a laugh.

"He actually told you to say that?"

"Yes, he did."

I sighed. "Where is he?"

"Mr. Norman is celebrating Ms. Bowen's birthday tonight. If you want the location, you'll need to post an apology on your social media first—"

"Dream on," I snapped before hanging up.

Then I scrolled through my contacts before tapping on Vincent Dickinson's name.

He was the one who had called out Madison publicly. Maybe he was still a decent guy.

I messaged him, and he replied almost instantly.

I grabbed the divorce papers and went straight to the restaurant he mentioned.

When I arrived, I found a tall figure leaning against the wall outside.

I hesitated before calling out, "Vincent?"

He looked up from his lighter and nodded.

"Why are you out here?" I asked.

Vincent had a strong build, but his voice was soft and steady. His skin was fair, and he spoke with quiet calm.

"Just chilling. Thought maybe I could help."

I smiled, genuinely thankful, and gently pushed the door open.

Laughter spilled out from inside.

"Man, only you could've pulled that off, Clement. Leaving Faye stranded in Svalmere—bet she cried her eyes out."

"So, when are you bringing her back?"

I gripped the door handle tighter when I heard Clement's slow, relaxed drawl.

"What's the rush? I'll bring her back when she learns her lesson. You guys won't believe this—she actually emailed me a divorce agreement the other day. Said she wanted to 'end things'. I almost died laughing. It's obviously a bluff.

"She's so desperate. I'll give her a couple more days, let her cool off. It's like she still thinks she's the prom queen or something."

I took a deep breath and pushed the door wide open.