To the crowd gathering around us, I had become the villain—a gold-digger living off a successful woman, a shameless freeloader with no bottom line.

"This man deserves to die," someone muttered loud enough for me to hear. "She supports him, and he still throws tantrums?"

"Even a hundred and eight gifts can't buy that washed-up old man's heart."

"I feel so bad for Tessa. She should divorce him. I'd date her in a heartbeat."

I ignored the noise. My gaze swept over the three of them: Tessa, eyes flickering with panic; Audrey, trembling with righteous indignation; and Carter, wearing that punchable smirk.

Without a word, I drove my foot into the snowman.

Snow exploded outward. The structure collapsed in a heap of white powder.

"You want to know why I'm divorcing her?" My voice cut through the murmurs. "This is the answer."

Buried in the snowman's torso, an exquisite velvet gift box sat revealed against the snow.

Tessa's jaw dropped. "Impossible... How could that be here?"

Audrey didn't miss a beat, pointing an accusatory finger at the box. "Oliver, look at this! This is the surprise Tessa prepared for you. She never does housework, yet she froze her hands scooping up icy snow just to build this. And you still want a divorce?"

"A surprise for me?" I let out a low, humorless laugh. "Audrey, are you sure those initials are meant for me?"

"Who else would they be for?"

Before I could answer, Tessa rushed forward.

"Oliver! I wanted to surprise you," she stammered, voice pitching up. "I was going to call you once I finished building it. I didn't think you'd misunderstand."

She masked the panic in her eyes, snatching up the velvet box. "Honey, Happy New Year. I bought the style you like. Hurry, open it."

She shoved the box toward me. I looked into her eyes and saw nothing but calculation. No sincerity—only fear of exposure.

I slapped the box away.

"Don't use this filth to disgust me. It's dirty."

The box hit the ground and popped open. Sheer lingerie spilled out onto the snow.

I stared at the lace. Identical to the set in Carter's photo.

The crowd's vitriol grew louder.

"Director Fletcher humbled herself to please him, and he refuses?"

"She spends money on him, buys him gifts... what does she see in this man?"

Tessa moved quickly, scooping the lingerie back into the box, wiping away a nonexistent tear.

"Oliver, if you don't like this style, I'll change it." Her voice trembled perfectly. "Please don't be angry. Don't divorce me, okay?"

I looked down at the pitiful mask she wore. A performance worthy of an award.

I reached out, pushing her hand aside, and pinched the fabric between my fingers. "You picked it out yourself—how could I not like it?"

I held her gaze. "Since you've put in so much effort... For five years, you prepared so many gifts for me. A 'kept man' like me should be grateful, right?"

My voice dropped, turning icy. "In front of everyone, how about I give you a big gift in return?"

Tessa's eyes darted nervously, but she forced a sweet, relieved smile. "Oliver, I don't want a gift. I just want you to agree not to divorce me."

I reached into my coat, pulled out the divorce agreement, and tore it in half.

Tessa let out a heavy breath, shoulders sagging. The tension left her face—she thought she had won.

I turned and walked to the car, opening the trunk to retrieve the portable projector.

Originally, this projector was meant to play a video I had spent months editing—a montage of our life together. But now, as I thought about what I was about to display, a dark satisfaction coiled in my gut.

The video transfer completed.

For the sake of the five years I once loved her, I gave her one final exit ramp.

"Tessa." My hand hovered over the controls. "I'll give you one last chance. Agree to divorce me right now, and I won't open this 'surprise.'"

She shook her head violently, playing the martyr to the bitter end.

I sighed. I gave you a chance. Don't blame me for what happens next.