Jason’s smile was practically spilling over.

“Oh, Ms. Emily, you’re too kind. Really, you shouldn’t have gone to the trouble!”

The moment Ethan heard the invitation, he cheered excitedly,

“Yay! A Broadway show—with Ms. Emily!”

Just then, Emily noticed me briefly appear on the screen.

She froze for a second, her face flashing with a hint of awkwardness.

“Oh, Ethan’s mom is home too? But Ethan told me you had gone back to Miami to visit your family—that’s why I only bought three tickets.”

“How about this, I’ll see if I can get one more right now…”

As she pretended to fiddle with her phone, my heart sank.

I had never said I was going back to Miami. Clearly, Ethan had made up that lie to get rid of me in front of her.

I was about to refuse this fake display of kindness when Ethan impatiently cut me off,

“No need, Ms. Emily!”

“My mom is just a housewife who doesn’t know anything. She only ever hangs around the kitchen! A Broadway show is way too classy for her—she wouldn’t understand it. Buying her a ticket would just be a waste of money!”

My whole body stiffened, the blood draining from my face.

Unbelievable. The son I carried for ten months and raised with my own hands was belittling me like this in front of outsiders?

Hearing Ethan, Jason frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of reproach,

“Ethan, watch your mouth. You can’t talk about your mom like that!”

For a moment, I thought he was finally going to take my side.

But the very next second, his words shoved me straight into the abyss.

“Rachel, really, why argue with a child? Kids just say what’s on their minds! Look at yourself—”

Jason paused, his eyes sweeping over my faded house clothes and bare face, unable to hide the disdain.

“You’re always looking so worn out, like some frumpy housewife. Isn’t it normal for Ethan to be embarrassed by you?”

“Ms. Emily is young, beautiful, gentle, and she knows art. Of course Ethan likes her—who doesn’t like beautiful things?”

“Besides, children are straightforward. They say what they think. We adults shouldn’t be teaching them to lie from such a young age, right?”

His words came through clearly on the video call.

Emily’s lips curled into the faintest smirk before she quickly pressed them together, putting on an innocent, apologetic expression.

I trembled—not with anger, but with disappointment.

Ten years ago, I gave up a high-paying job and followed Jason to New York City, pouring all my energy into the little home we built together.

And this was my reward: open disdain from both my husband and my son.

So all my sacrifice and devotion—worthless to them. Nothing.

I had had enough.

I stood up suddenly, ignoring Jason’s mockery, Ethan’s disdain, and Emily’s fake concern on the screen. I walked straight into the study.

I quickly printed out the divorce agreement and slammed it down on the table.

“Jason, let’s get a divorce!”

Jason glanced at the document, stunned for a moment, then burst into mocking laughter as if I had told the world’s funniest joke.

“Rachel, are you out of your mind?”

“Open your eyes! The house and the car—I paid for them in full! You have no family here in New York City, no real job to support yourself. What are you going to use to get divorced?”

“And don’t tell me you’re dreaming of getting custody of Ethan! Do you really think the court would give him to a full-time housewife who can’t even support herself?!”

Looking at his smug face, the last flicker of attachment in my heart was extinguished.

Curling my lips into a cold smile, I flipped open the agreement and sneered,

“Custody? Jason, are you blind? When did I ever say I wanted custody of Ethan?”

A son who sides against his own mother? I hadn’t wanted him for a long time.

Ethan seemed startled by my expression and quickly hid behind Jason.

The smug look on Jason’s face froze instantly.

He probably never imagined that I, who had always treated Ethan as my whole world, would so decisively give up custody.

When he saw me sign the agreement without hesitation, the contempt in his eyes finally turned into shock and fury.

He jumped to his feet, raising his voice,

“Rachel, what the hell are you doing? Just because I didn’t take you to see a Broadway show, you’re acting like this? Is it really worth it?”

“Besides, do you even understand that kind of high art? Bringing you along would be a total waste of a ticket!”

“If you can’t handle Ethan saying a few truths, then you’re way too sensitive! He’s just a kid! What kind of mother bickers with her own child like this?”

After speaking, he drew in a deep breath, forcing down his anger, and turned sharply toward Ethan, his tone harsh,

“Ethan! Go apologize to your mom! Say you’re sorry! Otherwise, she’ll hold this over you forever!”

“Do you still want to see the Broadway show or not?”

Ethan flinched under his father’s roar. His lips trembled, his eyes welling with tears.

Reluctantly, he shuffled toward me.

“Mom… I’m sorry…”

The words carried no sincerity—just the empty compliance of a child being forced.

At that moment, Emily’s voice chimed in from the video call,

“Ethan’s mom, I’m so sorry. This really was my oversight—I didn’t ask carefully beforehand, so I didn’t get your ticket. I never meant to cause such trouble, and I truly apologize.”

“It’s too late to buy one now, but next time, I promise I’ll visit you personally to make it up to you.”

She paused, her voice laced with just the right touch of grievance,

“Ethan is such a sweet, thoughtful boy. I genuinely care about him, so of course I tend to look after him a little more. But I swear I don’t mean anything else… you really don’t need to feel so insecure…”

Jason’s face softened slightly, and he looked at me with an exasperated impatience, as if to say: See how considerate Ms. Emily is?

“You hear that? Ms. Emily already apologized, and Ethan did too. What more do you want? Isn’t that enough?”

Looking at the three of them—playing their parts in perfect harmony—I felt nothing but nausea rising in my stomach.

Ten years of marriage—it all felt like one cruel joke.

The truth was, in the early years after our wedding, when Ethan was still little, we did have warm, happy moments as a family of three.

But when did it all start to change?

Probably when Ethan started kindergarten—and his teacher just so happened to be Jason’s former classmate, Emily Brooks.

From then on, Jason, who had never bothered with school drop-offs or pick-ups, suddenly showed up rain or shine.

When the school organized field trips, he was more enthusiastic than Ethan himself.

And in Ethan’s mouth, Ms. Emily’s name appeared more and more often.

As for me, his real mother—I gradually became the unwanted, embarrassing presence.

Sensing the shift in my husband and son, I once tried to gently ask about it.

But all I got in return was Jason’s impatient scolding,

“Rachel, you’re just a housewife. All you do is overthink! Emily studied abroad, she’s worldly and cultured! Do you think everyone is as narrow-minded as you?”

At the time, I convinced myself that maybe I was imagining things.

Until my birthday—when Ethan accused me of ruining the cupcake meant for Emily. That was when I finally saw the truth of my pathetic situation.

My dear son and my dear husband had spent an afternoon together in the kitchen, making a cake with their own hands.

But who among them remembered that it was also my birthday that day?

Exhaustion swept over me.

I closed my eyes briefly, then said,

“I’m not being difficult. Like you said, children don’t lie. Since he wants another mom so badly, I’ll grant his wish.”

“I’m tired, Jason. Back then, I gave up everything to follow you here to New York City, a place where I had no one. Looking at where I’ve ended up today, I don’t blame anyone but myself—for being blind enough to believe in you!”

“But now, I don’t want to waste another minute with you!”

Without glancing at Jason’s suddenly darkened face, I turned and walked into the bedroom to start packing my things.

Realizing I wasn’t joking, Jason completely lost his temper.

“Rachel, get back here!”

“What are you packing? What do you even have to pack? For the past ten years, everything you’ve eaten, worn, and used—I paid for it!”

“If you want to leave, then leave clean. Even the clothes you’re wearing now—I bought them. Take them off before you go!”

Even Ethan stood at his father’s side, looking up at me with a face both innocent and cruel.

“Dad’s right! Mom, if you want to leave, you have to take off the clothes too!”

The world went black before my eyes, and I clutched the doorframe, my body trembling uncontrollably.

So this is what my blind gamble on love brought me. Giving up everything, marrying far from home… it was the most foolish decision of my life.

Seeing me frozen there, pale and shaken, a flash of triumph crossed Jason’s face. He thought he had me cornered.

He cleared his throat, softening his tone with false generosity.

“Alright, enough drama. Later, I’m taking Ethan and Ms. Emily to see the show. Afterward, I’ll invite her over for dinner.”

“You go to the kitchen and cook a few of your specialties. When she arrives, you’ll apologize properly, and then this will be over.”

The moment Ethan heard Emily was coming for dinner, he forgot all about the tension. He tugged eagerly at Jason’s sleeve.

“Dad, let’s go! We’re going to be late!”

“Mom, don’t forget to make Cola glazed chicken wings! That’s Ms. Emily’s favorite!”

Jason let himself be pulled toward the door. Turning to the screen, he spoke in that gentle, affectionate tone again,

“Emily, shall we come pick you up first?”

Then, as if remembering something, he turned back and ordered me,

“Oh, and Emily doesn’t eat spicy food. Make sure you don’t put in any chili.”

On the screen, Emily’s face lit up with delight, tinged with a coy blush as she teased,

“Oh my, Ethan’s dad, that was from our college days. You still remember I can’t eat spicy food? You’re so thoughtful.”

Even through the screen, I could feel the pride and provocation radiating off her.

And with that, the last thread inside me finally snapped.

I no longer spared a glance for my repulsive husband or Emily’s fake sweetness, nor for my eager son.

Instead, I stormed into the bedroom, yanked open the closet, and dragged out a large duffel bag.

I dumped out all the old clothes inside and frantically searched.

At last, I found the red dress.

Ten years ago, when I decided to follow Jason’s family, my mother had bought it for me with tears in her eyes.

She had said, “Rachel, if Jason ever makes you suffer, come back home. I’ll cook you your favorite BBQ ribs.”

Back then, I had smiled with confidence, calling her overly worried.

Jason had even patted his chest in front of her, swearing he would never let me suffer.

But now, ten years later, those vows had faded, just like the color of this dress.

Right in front of Jason, I stripped off the house clothes he had bought me and slipped into the faded red dress.

Jason was about to drag Ethan out the door. When he saw me wearing the dress, he froze, then shouted, his voice laced with panic,

“Rachel, what the hell are you doing now?”

I walked over to the dining table, grabbed the divorce agreement, and hurled it straight at his face.