On my 16th birthday, I treat myself to the most delicious cake I can find.

On that day, before I can even take a bite, my parents, who are always at odds with each other, sign their divorce papers right in front of me.

So, on my wedding day, I tell my wife, Keira Jarrett, "If you ever want a divorce, just get me a birthday cake."

She hugs me tightly and promises me."Don't worry. 'Birthday' won't even be a word in our home anymore."

Seven years later, on Keira's birthday, her assistant, Jackson Price, throws her a surprise party. She slaps him across his handsome, gentle face and kicks him out of Jarrett Group.

That day, I am convinced I have chosen the right woman for life.

But three months later, on my birthday, I find out the supposedly fired Jackson has been promoted to Keira's personal secretary.

He personally delivers a custom-made birthday cake to me.

I call Keira to demand an explanation, but her voice on the other end is cold and distant. "Jack meant well. Don't be a spoilsport."

I freeze for a moment, then hang up.

It turns out my parents are right all along. The only way a birthday cake tastes right is when it's served with divorce papers.

Jackson Price left a cake and a prenatal report on the table, then strode out of the room arrogantly.

My eyes lingered on the date of conception, and the silence weighed heavily on me.

Three months ago, when Jarrett Group was at a critical stage in developing a new drug, my wife, Keira Jarrett, told me she had aborted our child for the sake of the company's future.

Yet three months later, Keira was 12 weeks pregnant with another man's child.

While I was chained to the lab night after night, working myself to the bone for that drug, Keira had been bringing Jackson into our home.

Every corner of our home—the couch, the bathroom, the balcony, even under our wedding portrait—had become a stage for their betrayal.

The home I once cherished for its warmth now filled me with nothing but revulsion.

The entryway light flicked on. Keira stumbled inside, the stench of alcohol clinging to her.

Her brow furrowed at the sight of the cake on the dining table, and she wrapped her arms around me from behind.

She held out a watch, her voice soft and tender as always, though the perfume she wore was unmistakably Jackson's favorite.

"Vacher Consta. Their latest model. Do you like it? Oh, it's past midnight," she added quickly. "I guess it's not a birthday present anymore."

My gaze fell on the watch, and I froze. I had never cared much for luxury brands, but this one was burned into my memory.

Jackson had worn the same model earlier today, showing it off like a trophy of his victory over me.

Was this just another of the same model, or the exact one he had worn earlier?

Either way, it didn't matter.

I forced the bile down and turned to Keira, keeping my voice level. "We need to talk."

Keira took my tone as sulking, irritation flickering in her eyes. "Jack was just trying to surprise you. He didn't know you don't celebrate birthdays. I've already chewed him out for it."

She sighed. "Liam, can you stop making a big deal out of this? I'm exhausted."

She rubbed her temples, her face etched with weary frustration, as if I were the one being unreasonable.

Before I could say another word, her ringing phone beat me to it.

Keira glanced at the screen, then eagerly tapped out a reply. A smile spread across her face as she disappeared into the bedroom.

As I watched her retreating figure, a laugh escaped me, bitter and hollow.

Ten years together, seven years married. We had built everything from scratch, but Keira was no longer the young woman who used to whisper sweet promises to me every night.

Now, in her place stood the CEO she had become, who had no time left for me.

I reached under the coffee table and pulled out the divorce papers I had prepared. My gaze fell on my fingers, which were slightly deformed from countless hours in the lab.

I let out a carefree smile. I picked up my phone and called my mentor, Elias Vance.

"Dr. Vance, I was wondering if I still have a chance to get involved in that classified project you mentioned."

There was a brief pause on the other end, then a voice came through, brimming with excitement.

"Of course there is! But this research is strictly confidential. Once you commit, you'll have to stay for at least five years.

"Will your wife agree to that? Without you, the company you built together could take a serious hit."

I signed the divorce papers, my voice unwavering as I said, "Dr. Vance, I'm getting divorced."

A chorus of stunned gasps came through the line. To my surprise, they were from my lab mates.

"We've always known Keira was toxic. Liam, you lovesick fool! Now you finally see what a snake she really is," one of my seniors snapped.

"Come back to the team, Liam. Your old friends are all waiting for you," another added.

"Liam, don't let it get you down. Women just slow the pace of your research."

Elias pretended to scold them for their banter, and his tone grew serious as he spoke to me. "Liam, by order of Project 707, you are to return to the team immediately."

"You'll be departing in two days. Make sure your personal affairs are in order," Elias added.

After hanging up, I walked into the guest bedroom. I had never slept there before, but now I was convinced it was the only place in the house untouched by Keira's betrayal.

When I woke up the next day, it was already 1:00 pm. Three relentless months of intense research had frayed my mind, and for the first time in ages, I finally got some real sleep.

I unlocked my phone, and it buzzed to life with a flood of messages from every chat app, all congratulating me on the new drug's successful first phase.

Keira had gone wild in the group chats, tagging me nonstop and sending digital gift cards like confetti.

But as I scrolled through the flood of praise and flattery, not a spark of joy stirred in me.

I stayed in bed for a long time, lost in a haze of thoughts. Finally, I grabbed the divorce papers and dragged myself out of the room.

The living room was empty. Keira was nowhere in sight.

On the coffee table sat a ticket to a concert by my favorite singer, Tyler Combs. Next to it was a sticky note in her familiar handwriting.

"7:00 pm tonight. Be there or be square."

I recognized it as Keira's way of rewarding me.

After a moment's thought, I decided to attend the concert—not to salvage what we had, but to end it.

Seven years ago, Keira proposed to me in the middle of a packed concert crowd. The very next day, we rushed to the clerk's office to make it official.

Now here we were again at a concert. But this time, we were there to work out a divorce. The next day, we would go to the courthouse to file it.

It felt oddly fitting.

By 5:00 pm, I stuffed the divorce papers and the concert ticket into my bag. I threw on the first jacket I found and headed out.

I used to spend a long while getting ready for any date with Keira. It was a hassle, but I secretly enjoyed it.

But now, none of that mattered anymore.

I no longer had to wait on an empty stomach for her just so we could eat together. I could just grab something quick from the shops downstairs.

By the time I got to the concert venue, it was already 6:50 pm. I messaged Keira, but she didn't reply.

I shook my head. Instead of waiting outside for her like I always used to, I simply got in line and went in.

At that moment, a notification popped up on my screen. Jackson had tagged me in a new post.

The caption hit me hard. "No concert for me, but I've got the amusement park. Tonight's too beautiful to miss!"

The photo showed him holding a woman's hand high up on a Ferris wheel. Though her face wasn't in the shot, the familiar ring on her finger told me everything.

Keira wasn't coming.

It turned out the concert ticket was meant for another man.

However, it didn't bother me. After all, if Keira could betray seven years of marriage, what was one more broken promise?

As long as she signed the divorce papers, she was free to sleep with whomever she wanted.

After the concert, I walked all the way home.

I stopped on a familiar street and realized that the muffin shop Keira and I used to visit every day just to save a dollar was gone. It had been replaced by a sleek new bakery.

It hit me that time had stolen more than just us. Even the sweetest memories we had shared had faded over the years.

It was 1:00 am when I finally got home.

The living room light was on. Keira was sitting on the couch, typing on her phone.

The moment she saw me, she frowned and stormed over. "What's wrong with you? You didn't even answer my calls or reply to my texts. Were you planning to stay out all night?"

I froze. Was Keira actually waiting for me?

But for the past three months, I had been dragging myself home later than this every single night. Maybe she only cared tonight because I wasn't working overtime. That meant she couldn't risk bringing Jackson over.

Well, once the divorce was final, Jackson could move in for all I cared.

I pulled my hand free from her grip and said flatly, "I haven't been out in a while and forgot to charge my phone. It died during the concert."

The word "concert" reminded her of her broken promise, and guilt flickered across her face.

Keira pressed her lips into a tight line. She shifted awkwardly before reaching for a box beside her, opening it carefully.

My hand instinctively reached out and touched a suit.

Back when Keira and I got married, we were too broke for anything fancy. We just had a simple dinner with close friends to mark the occasion. For years, I regretted not being able to wear a suit and walk her down a proper aisle.

But now, those regrets were well behind me.

Keira noticed the indifference on my face. Something seemed to dawn on her, and she quickly added, "I booked a church for tomorrow night. We can finally make up for what we missed."

I looked at her with a faint smile and pulled the divorce papers from my bag. "Instead of that, I'd rather you sign this."

Keira took the divorce papers, staring at me in surprise before breaking into a smile.

"Liam, you've really changed. You're not just buried in your experiments anymore. You've actually learned to get jealous, and even ask me for a present."

"I'm glad, though," she added. "Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

To prove her generosity, she didn't even glance at the contents. She flipped straight to the signature page and signed her name.

As she handed the papers back to me, her eyes shimmering with affection, she leaned in to kiss me.

Just as I was scrambling for a way to refuse, a sharp, insistent ringing from her phone shattered the moment.

Jackson's name flashed on the screen.

Keira swiped to decline the call, but before she could reach me for a hug, the phone rang again.

She was about to explain, but I cut her off. "You should get that. It might be important."

Jackson's voice came through faint and strained on the other end of the line. He had twisted his ankle and couldn't manage on his own, so he reached out to Keira for help.

When Keira hung up, her eyes flicked to mine, tinged with guilt. "Um… Jack's in some trouble. He can't handle it alone, so I might need to go."

"Then you should go. Don't keep Jackson waiting," I replied, waving Keira off.

My understanding caught her off guard. She clutched my hand, desperate to figure out why I was acting so strangely.

But the phone rang again, a relentless summons.

As I held her gaze, Keira finally let go of my hand. With tender affection in her eyes, she confessed her feelings to me.