Steven Zimmer, the assistant of my wife, Lucy Quinn, has lost in a truth-or-dare session. Lucy doesn't hesitate to file for a divorce from me for the ninth time.

In the courthouse, I hear the staff member asking Lucy curiously, "Your husband is like a well-trained dog now. You've already married and divorced him nine times! Aren't you worried that your husband might ditch you for real?"

Lucy merely smirks at her. "Do you know that the more ruthless you are when you abandon your pets, the harder it'll be for them to live without you? In fact, they will just become more obedient and docile. As long as I curl a finger at him, he'll definitely sink down to his knees and beg me to remarry him."

Everyone bursts into laughter after that. They bet that I'll plead pathetically to Lucy to remarry me for the tenth time in less than a day after I've obtained the divorce certificate. Lucy even declares that she'll stream the tenth wedding proposal on the Internet when it happens.

But the next day, Lucy keeps waiting for me to show up at the city hall while clad in a wedding dress. All she gets is a text from me.

"No more proposals. This is the end between us, Lucy."

The company had just landed a major deal, and I worked so much overtime that I collapsed at the office with a raging fever.

While I was being rushed to the hospital, my wife, Lucy Quinn, was busy organizing a company drinking party to celebrate her assistant, Steven Zimmer's first day.

When Lucy called me at the hospital, there was no concern in her voice. She impatiently told me the waiting period was over and ordered me to pick up the divorce certificate.

She had timed it perfectly. There was exactly one hour left before the mandatory 30-day waiting period ended. Once it passed, the divorce would be finalized.

It felt as if all the blood in my body froze at once. I stood there stiffly, phone raised to my ear.

This was the ninth time Lucy was divorcing me.

We married nine times, divorcing and remarrying again and again. Hope and despair chased each other in a vicious loop.

The first time she divorced me, she said I was old-fashioned and predictable, even in bed.

The second time, she said I was too stable, too dull. I was nothing like her young assistant with his energy and spark.

The next six divorces followed the same pattern, each one coming with a new excuse, each one cutting a little deeper.

Listening to the clink of glasses on the other end of the call and the drunken laughter slurring together, I understood perfectly. This ninth divorce was nothing more than a truth-or-dare stunt at her drinking table.

The pleas I wanted to voice stayed trapped in my throat. Lucy had always said the thing she hated most was my clinginess.

At that moment, I was exhausted and utterly hopeless.

I knew Lucy too well. Once she made up her mind, she never backed down. Ignoring the nurse's attempts to stop me, I pulled out the IV needle and staggered out toward the courthouse.

I dragged myself in, dizzy and aching, only to see Lucy glowing with pride. She was talking happily about her successes from the "abandoned-cat effect".

Her words were so cold they pierced straight through me. In that instant, I finally understood everything.

I never figured out why Lucy kept marrying and divorcing me over and over again.

To stay married, I molded myself to fit her expectations, losing whatever parts of me she rejected. But no matter how desperately I begged, she would always bring up divorce again almost immediately.

I would grit my teeth and agree. Not long after, she would cry and say she couldn't live without me, and every single time, I went back to her.

I had ground myself down to nothing, thrown away all my pride just to cater to Lucy and please her.

Only now did I realize the truth. Nine divorces, nine remarriages; it was just her way of keeping me under her thumb.

The anxious, insecure version of me in this marriage was a complete joke.

Tears streamed down my face. It felt as if my heart itself had shattered.

Lucy chatted with the staff a moment longer before she finally turned and saw me.

For a heartbeat, her expression stiffened. Then she hurried over and grabbed my hand. "Zack, when did you get here? Why didn't you call out to me?"

I hesitated. I could feel her probing in her tone, so I kept the truth to myself. "I just got here."

Her shoulders relaxed, and she let go of my hand. "Alright. Look at you. It's not even your first divorce, and yet you're crying your eyes out. Are you even a man? And what took you so long? We've been waiting forever."

I gave her a bitter smile and raised my arm to show her the needle mark. "I've got a fever."

Lucy's eyes widened, a flicker of concern breaking through her usual composure. "A fever? Why didn't you tell me? We could've delayed getting the certificate. I'll drive you to the hospital."

I remembered telling her earlier at the office, but she had been busy fussing over Steven's tie before rushing off to the party, brushing me off with a half-hearted reminder to stay hydrated.

However, I didn't argue. My voice was hoarse as I asked her, "Lucy, are you sure you want to divorce me over a drinking-game challenge? This is our ninth divorce. I won't remarry you again. I'll ask you one last time. Do you really want this?"

I remembered how we had gotten together. She pursued me first, staging nine elaborated declarations of love that people still talked about on campus.

And yet, on the very night we registered our marriage, she'd asked for a divorce.

At the time, I had asked why.

She had smirked and said, "I humiliated myself declaring my love for you nine times. Even if I divorce you nine times, you can take it. You owe me this!"

That was why I endured all those humiliations, telling myself it was repayment for the past.

But now, this was the last time.

Hesitation flickered across Lucy's face when she heard my question.

Just then, Lucy's phone rang.

Steven's voice came through the speaker, drawling and clingy. "Lucy, are you done yet? If you don't come back soon, they're all going to make me drink as punishment.

"If Zack throws a tantrum and refuses to divorce, forget it. I'm a little dizzy, sure, but even if I had a few more drinks, at worst I'll just end up in the hospital for a couple of days."

Lucy shot me a disapproving look at once. Then she softened her voice and coaxed Steven for quite a while before finally hanging up.

She suppressed the impatience in her tone and said, "Zack, do you think I don't know you? You can't live without me. That kind of threat doesn't scare me at all. Enough, okay? I don't have time to argue with you. Let's get this over with. Don't keep Steve waiting."

The moment Lucy dismissed me, the last trace of reluctance in my heart disappeared. I handed the documents to the clerk.

After checking them, the clerk issued our ninth divorce certificate to Lucy and me. At the end, she chuckled and said. "Over here, it's rare for us to see the same couple this many times. Looking forward to your tenth visit!"

I shook my head and looked straight at Lucy. "There won't be a next time."

With that, I turned and walked out of the courthouse.

Lucy chased after me, relentless. "Zack, you know it was just to help Steve with his truth-or-dare game. He has health issues and can't drink. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?

"You know it yourself. We've divorced and remarried so many times, but I've always put you first. You're the one I love most. That's beyond question. Tomorrow, when you propose, I'll make it up to you, okay?"

Hearing that only made my heart grow even heavier. I was sick of this whole charade. I wanted nothing to do with Lucy anymore, and I'd never marry her for a tenth time.

But just as I was about to speak, I was cut off.

A large bucket of ice-cold liquid was poured over me. Instantly, I was soaked through.

It was the dead of winter, and I shivered uncontrollably.

I forced my eyes open and saw Steven standing in front of me. With a smug grin, he yelled, "Surprise!"

The sharp smell of alcohol hit me, making my head spin. I grabbed Steven by the collar, about to punch him, when a slap landed on my face first.

"Zack, are you out of your mind?" Lucy snapped icily.

Steven hid behind her, looking pitiful. "I was just joking. Lucy, didn't you say Zack is getting old? I just wanted to wash off that old-man smell. He's not mad, is he?"

"He wouldn't dare!" Lucy sneered. "Last time he proposed, I made him kneel in public for three hours, and he didn't even complain. Why would he make a fuss over this now? If he dares to get angry, next time he proposes, I'll livestream it for everyone to see and make him kneel for an entire day!"

"Lucy, this is our last divorce," I said flatly. "I'm not proposing again."

Her smile froze when she saw the icy resolve on my face.

But as soon as my words fell, my coworkers, who had come with Steven, burst out laughing.

"Zack's improved this time! That act was pretty convincing. Playing hard to get now, huh? He might actually rattle Ms. Quinn!"

"I bet tomorrow, no, maybe tonight, Zack will be back home proposing again!"

The director, Henry White, sneered. "Zack's been turned into a lapdog by Ms. Quinn a long time ago. And now he thinks he can put on airs?"

The taunts grew louder and harsher. I was used to it and didn't react, but Lucy suddenly exploded.

She glared at Henry and thundered, "Who do you think you are? How dare you insult my man? My company doesn't need someone like you! You're fired!"

The others were stunned. So was I.

Henry was highly capable and a veteran employee of the company.

Yet Lucy fired him on the spot, just to defend me.

Lucy patted my shoulder as if to comfort me and said, "Zack, don't listen to their nonsense. Your place in my heart is irreplaceable. I won't let anyone who hurts you stay in the company.

"Tomorrow, I'll have Steve take over Henry's position. Oh, and I'll transfer those recent major deals to him as well. You can help him ease into things."

I almost laughed from sheer anger. Lucy wanted to promote Steven from a personal assistant who knew nothing to a director. She wanted to put me in the line of fire, then quietly hand everything I'd worked for to him. She had it all figured out.

I refused outright. "No way."

In the past, I had indulged Lucy in everything to the point where I'd have gladly torn my heart out for her.

Now, my refusal made her frown instantly, and her voice turned sharp. "Zack, the company doesn't need employees who are petty and selfish.

The threat in her words was unmistakable.

I nodded and replied calmly, "I understand. Then I resign."

After all, I had already made up my mind to cut all ties with Lucy. Staying in her company was never an option.

Lucy stared at me, eyes wide with disbelief. "You're resigning?"

Steven immediately stepped forward, pretending to look concerned. "Zack, I know you've always disliked me, but you can't threaten Lucy with resignation just because you're jealous. If you really can't stand me, then for Lucy's sake and the company's, I'm willing to resign."

His clumsy performance made my stomach turn. Unfortunately, Lucy bought every word.

She lowered her voice and said, "Steve, you're just too kind. That's why he keeps taking advantage of you. It's okay. Let him leave. The company will do fine without him."

She then turned to me and smiled confidently, pulling out her trump card. "Zack, you're disappointing me. I think I really need to consider whether remarrying you again is even worth it!"

Lucy clearly expected me to back down and apologize, but I ignored her and walked away.

I trudged through the snow, my steps uneven. The courthouse was in a remote area, and there were no cabs in sight. I had no choice but to walk.

At some point, thick snow began to fall. A sharp wind cut through me, and soaked in alcohol, I was so cold my teeth wouldn't stop chattering.

My coworkers followed Lucy's lead, and not one of them offered me a ride. Cars sped past as if I wasn't there.

Suddenly, one slowed and pulled up beside me.

The window rolled down, revealing Steven's flushed face. Around his neck was the scarf I had knitted for Lucy. He said, putting on an act, "Lucy, I'm really not that cold. We should give the scarf back to Zack. Otherwise, he might freeze to death."

Lucy snorted. "Steve, you're the fragile one here. He can take care of himself. Don't worry."

Then she looked at me. "Zack, I'll ask you one last time. Are you going to help with Steve's tasks or not?"

I just kept walking through the wind and snow without responding.

Lucy honked angrily, then slammed on the accelerator and sped off.

The car kicked up a blast of icy wind that sliced into my body like knives, leaving me aching all over.

By the time I finally made it home, my breathing was ragged and my body burned with fever.

Dragging myself into the bedroom, I placed the divorce certificate on the nightstand. There, neatly lined up, were eight other divorce certificates. I marked the newest one with a clear number nine.

Barely conscious, I swallowed some fever medicine and collapsed onto the couch, sinking into a heavy sleep.

I didn't know how long it was before I woke again. The night outside the window swam into view.

Lucy sat beside me, her expression carrying a rare trace of concern.

A coat was draped over me, carrying a strong scent of unfamiliar cologne. Realizing Lucy had put it there, I pushed it off immediately, disgusted.

Lucy froze, then she said coldly, "Zack, I forgot you had a fever and left you in the snow. I went too far, so I'll let the resignation matter slide. Go to work early tomorrow. There's a ton to do. I drank too much, and my head hurts. Make me some hangover soup."

I didn't bother responding to the first part. At the last request, I replied flatly, "You can make it yourself, can't you?"

I rarely spoke to Lucy like this. She looked flustered, her eyes reddening with grievance. "Zack, what's wrong with you? You never used to say no to me. Today alone, you've done it three times."

"We're divorced. I have no obligation to do anything for you."

Lucy looked confused. "But we only got divorced for the drinking game. It's only temporary. Zack, you're the one I love the most. You'll always be my husband. I thought you were different, not someone so petty."

None of her words stirred anything in me anymore. I didn't even bother looking at her.

Lucy fell silent. With no other choice, she went to the kitchen.

In three years of marriage, she had never cooked once. She fumbled awkwardly, either pouring in too much water and extinguishing the flame or shattering bowls and cutting her finger.

She looked utterly wronged. Holding up her bleeding finger, she glanced at me hesitantly. I didn't spare her a single glance.

Just as the silence stretched unbearably thin, Steven burst out of the bedroom, brimming with excitement.

Only then did I realize, completely stunned, that Lucy had brought Steven home too.

He was wearing my bathrobe, holding something up in his hand. "Lucy, look what I found! Zack has a secret!"