Back then, when my parents tried to stop me from marrying Ines, they gave me a final warning.

"If you dare marry her, we will cut ties with you. We will not acknowledge you as our son."

At the time, I was blinded by love.

I believed love could overcome anything. I was willing to abandon the whole world to be with her.

So I followed Ines to her hometown and moved into her family's orbit.

For the first two years, Ines really was good to me. She put me first in everything.

But a year ago, her older sister died in a car accident, leaving behind Marcus and his young son.

Ines's mother suggested that Ines take responsibility for Marcus too. She wanted Ines to divide her life between Marcus's home and mine.

I strongly rejected the idea on the spot.

Only after I threatened divorce did Ines promise she would never make that arrangement. She said she would merely help Marcus a little in daily life.

But that help gradually lost all boundaries.

On New Year's Eve, she stayed in Marcus's room to keep him company and did not come home all night.

At his son's parent-teacher meeting, she and Marcus attended together like a loving couple.

Even when she traveled for work, she forgot to buy me a gift but remembered Marcus's measurements and bought him a suit.

Whenever I questioned her even slightly, she accused me of having a dirty mind and insisted she was only taking normal care of him.

A few days ago, I saw the purchase record for that fifty-two-thousand-dollar watch. I thought she had finally thought of me.

Instead, reality slapped me hard across the face.

From the moment she took out that Rolex and gave it to Marcus, our marriage was already over.

On the phone, my parents burst into tears when they heard my decision.

"There is no feud between father and son that lasts overnight. You have been away all these years, and we have worried so much we could not sleep.

"But you were stubborn. When you said you would not contact us, you really never called."

I sniffed and choked out, "Dad, Mom, I am sorry. I was an unfilial son.

"Once Ines and I finish the divorce, I will come back and stay with you. I will never leave again."

My parents repeated "good" several times, as if afraid I might change my mind. Hearing them made my chest ache even more.

After hanging up, I saw that Marcus had updated his social media.

"On Valentine's Day, she said she would be my support from now on."

The photo was taken in a restaurant, with a romantic candlelit dinner in the background. A man and woman held hands across the table.

My eyes locked on the matching rings on their fingers. Then I looked at my own bare hand and laughed at myself.

After three years of marriage, the wedding band Ines had once promised me had ended up on Marcus's hand.

That night, Ines did not come home. Instead, Marcus posted another photo of a hotel check-in.

By then, I had no illusions left about her. I calmly sent her a text.

"Come back tomorrow and sign the divorce papers."

Early the next morning, I was woken by my phone ringing violently.

My mother-in-law's anxious voice came through the line.

"Ines went into the woods last night to catch fireflies to cheer you up. She was bitten by a snake and fainted on the hill behind the park.

"Hurry over!"

I woke up completely in an instant. I grabbed a jacket and rushed toward the hill. I was in such a panic that I lost one shoe on the way.

But when I arrived, I saw Ines, Marcus, his son, and my mother-in-law leisurely having a picnic.

Marcus covered his mouth and laughed when he saw my bare foot.

"Ines, look how worried Arthur was. You cannot play this kind of joke next time."

Ines came over and directly tied an apron around me.

"The weather is nice today. Marcus suggested a picnic. Make a few dishes and apologize to him. Then I will not hold yesterday against you."

Behind her, my mother-in-law said sternly, "Arthur, for Ines's sake, I will give you one last six-month chance. If Ines still is not pregnant with a grandson by then, no one can stop the arrangement with Marcus."

I stood there like a clown, mocked and warned by all of them.

I took off the apron and threw it hard onto the ground.

"I did nothing wrong, and I will not apologize.

"Ines Sutherland, I will say this one last time. I want a divorce."

Ines's face turned cold at once.

"Arthur, I am giving you a way out. Don't be an ingrate."

I stared at her coldly.

"Say whatever you want. I am getting this divorce."

Marcus came over and held Ines's arm, speaking gently.

"Ines, Arthur has always been spoiled by you. He is only using divorce to threaten you. You should coax him a little."

Ines glared at me.

"I really have spoiled you too much. That is why you have become so reckless. You want a divorce? Fine. Bring me the papers and see whether I sign them."

I had rushed over so quickly that I had not brought the divorce agreement.

"Wait here. I will go back and get it now."

Ines scoffed.

"I knew you would not dare. Stop making excuses.

"Arthur, I have known you for seven years. I know you too well. You cannot leave me."

I did not waste another word on her. I turned and left.

Later, when I slapped the divorce agreement in her face, I would see whether she still had so much to say.

Because I had lost one shoe, the path down the hill was rough. Stones and thorns cut the sole and top of my foot. At the same time, a heavy pain began to sink through my stomach.

In the past, to help Ines secure contracts, I had drunk with clients until I bled internally more than once. That left me with a serious stomach condition.

I stopped, clutching my stomach as the pain grew worse and cold sweat broke across my skin.

Just as I was about to call for help, Ines came slowly down the hill with Marcus and the others.

I spoke weakly.

"Ines, my stomach hurts. Take me to the hospital..."

Marcus cut me off.

"Arthur, there is no shame in a man lowering his head and admitting he was wrong. Why make so many excuses?"

Ines lifted her chin, arrogant as ever.

"Arthur, if you apologize to me and Marcus now and promise not to be jealous over nothing again, I will forgive you this once."

My face was pale, my voice thin.

"My stomach... really hurts... take me to the hospital..."

Ines hesitated and seemed about to walk toward me.

But Marcus stretched out his hand to stop her and whispered a few words in her ear.

Ines's expression turned stern.

"Marcus is right. If I forgive you this easily, who knows whether you will make an even bigger scene next time."

"Consider today a lesson. Reflect on yourself."

After that, Ines stepped past me and went down the hill.

I watched her figure grow farther away, my heart desolate.

A self-mocking smile pulled at my lips until the tears fell.

Was this the woman I had abandoned everything to marry?

Arthur Weber, you really were blind.

An hour later, the ambulance arrived.

By then, I was almost unconscious from pain. The blood I vomited had stained a large patch of my shirt red.

The doctors diagnosed a ruptured esophageal and gastric varix with massive bleeding and rushed me into emergency surgery.

Before the surgery, the doctor used my phone to call Ines so she could sign the consent form.

But after only a few words, Ines's disdainful voice came through the line.

"How much did Arthur pay you to act in this little drama with him?"

The doctor said seriously, "Ms. Sutherland, this is Brookhaven General Hospital. Your husband is in critical condition. Please come to the hospital and sign immediately."

"Tell Arthur to stop playing tricks. If he wants me to forgive him, he should come apologize to me and Marcus."

Then she hung up.

When the doctor called again, she rejected the call.

The doctors and nurses in the hospital looked at me with pity as I lay on the bed.

I forced out a breath and said, "Doctor, let me sign it myself. I can write a waiver. Whatever happens, I will bear the responsibility."

They could not reach Ines, and my condition was urgent. The doctors had no better option, so they agreed to let me sign.

As I lay on the operating table and the anesthesia entered my body, one tear slipped from the corner of my eye.

Ines Sutherland, this is the last tear I will ever shed for you.

From now on, we go our separate ways. We have nothing to do with each other.

Three days later, once my body recovered a little, I checked myself out of the hospital.

Then I called a courier and had the hospitalization record and divorce agreement delivered to Ines.

After that, I took a cab straight to Brookhaven Airport and bought a ticket back to Harbor City.

The moment I boarded the plane, Ines's calls came in one after another.