My mom lay on the hospital bed, delirious, muttering Kate's name.

Tears streamed down my face as I called my wife.

When she picked up, Kate impatiently said she was busy in a meeting and would call back later.

I could hear the laughter of a man in the background.

As the call ended, the heart monitor flatlined.

My mom closed her eyes and took her last breath.

While I was in the depths of grief, Kate's childhood friend Peter posted a new update on social media, tagging a location at a five-star hotel.

The photo showed them holding hands, the matching couple bracelets on their wrists shining brightly.

"If love lasts, why do we need to be together every day and night?"

At that moment, my heart completely died.

Wiping away my tears, I liked and commented on the post.

"Since the atmosphere is so perfect, why not get married? Then you can be together every day and night, fulfilling your wishes."

——

After handling my mom's funeral alone, I returned home and sat silently on the sofa for an entire day and night, thinking about many things.

At eleven o'clock at night, Kate Walsh finally came home.

Seeing that I was still awake, she looked surprised.

"Tobias, it's so late, why aren't you asleep?"

I replied emotionlessly, "Couldn't sleep."

"Is it because I'm not here?"

Kate sat next to me, her long legs wrapped in black silk crossed, creating a perfect and enticing curve.

She reached out to hug my shoulder.

"We've been married for so many years, and you still like to cling to your wife while sleeping. Aren't you embarrassed?"

She reeked of alcohol, and I could even smell tobacco in her hair.

I frowned and pushed her away.

Kate was taken aback. "Tobias, what's wrong?"

I coldly asked, "Where have you been these past few days?"

"On a business trip, negotiating a big deal in Osciena. I rushed back to the office for a meeting right after landing. It's been exhausting."

To prove she wasn't lying, Kate took out two gift boxes from her bag.

"Look, these are gifts I bought for you and Mrs. George in Osciena."

Even after all these years of marriage, she still called my mom "Mrs. George."

One gift box contained men's cologne, a familiar scent that Peter liked.

The other box had a jade bracelet.

I threw both boxes into the trash.

Kate's eyebrows furrowed in anger. "Honey, what are you doing?"

I looked into her eyes. "The cologne is a gift for Peter, right? You forgot to give it to him."

"Don't talk nonsense. The cologne is for you."

"Ha, in all these years of marriage, when have you ever seen me use cologne?" I sneered. "Kate, let me ask you, where was your meeting tonight?"

Kate's eyes flickered. "Of course, at the office!"

"The office? I think it was at a hotel. Your body reeks of alcohol and Peter's smoke. No amount of cologne can cover it."

I stood up, speaking clearly and firmly. "Kate, let's get a divorce."

These words hit Kate like a bolt from the blue.

"Tobias, what are you saying?"

"You want a divorce from me?"

I calmly replied, "Since your heart is no longer with me, the sooner the better. Peter and you are a perfect match. I wish you both happiness."

"Tobias, I've told you so many times, Peter grew up in the same neighborhood as me. I've treated him like my own little brother since we were kids!"

Kate raised her voice.

"Yes, I admit I lied to you. There was no meeting tonight. I went out to dinner with Peter to celebrate his promotion. What's the big deal?"

"And the bracelet?"

"Peter gave it to me. I'm his sister. Can't I accept a gift?"

"Ha, it looks like couple bracelets between siblings. That's something new."

Kate was stunned. "How... how did you know it was a couple's bracelet?"

As soon as she said this, I understood.

Peter Watson's previous post on his social media was most likely hidden from Kate.

He had intentionally made sure I saw it.

"How I found out doesn't matter anymore."

I stood up and went back to the bedroom, slamming the door, leaving Kate alone in the living room.

...

Kate and I first met on a rainy night.

After working late, I walked through a dark alley and heard a faint woman's cry.

My kind nature ultimately triumphed over fear, and when I rushed in, I found Kate being assaulted by two thugs, her white legs exposed to the rain.

The thugs warned me not to interfere, while Kate looked at me with pleading eyes.

Fresh out of school, in a moment of rashness, I picked up a brick and charged at them.

In the end, the two thugs ran away, but not before I got stabbed in the waist, blood flowing everywhere.

Fortunately, the ambulance arrived in time, or else my life would have ended there.

During my recovery in the hospital, Kate visited me every day.

Over time, we developed feelings for each other.

However, after we became a couple, Master Walsh appeared to obstruct us.

Only then did I learn that Kate's background was far from ordinary.

She was the heiress of the Walsh family and the Walsh Group, with assets worth billions.

I, an ordinary worker, was worlds apart from her.

I had planned to give up, but to my surprise, my mother knew Master Walsh. After some mediation and Kate's threat to end her life, Master Walsh finally relented.

After our marriage, no one in the Walsh family, including the lowest servants, respected me.

Despite living humbly, I devoted myself entirely to Kate, focusing all my thoughts and efforts on her.

As the eldest daughter of the Walsh family, she had many quirks.

She was domineering, capricious, petty, and controlling...

I tolerated everything, catering to her every whim, taking meticulous care of her daily life.

Many said I was more of a sycophant than a man.

But I didn't care; I believed it was my duty.

I only thought of pampering her, loving her, taking care of her, and spending a happy life together.

However, everything changed silently when Peter returned to the country.

They were childhood friends, even engaged as toddlers.

The engagement was called off when Peter's family emigrated abroad.

From what I knew, they had kept in touch, and their feelings had never faded.

Peter's return was his own suggestion.

When we picked him up from the airport, Kate brought me along.

As soon as they met, they hugged tightly, completely ignoring my presence.

I didn't think much of it, assuming it was normal for siblings to be close.

When Kate introduced me, Peter's gaze was intriguing, but he still shook my hand amicably.

In retrospect, his eyes must have been filled with jealousy and hostility.

Under Kate's arrangement, Peter smoothly entered the Walsh Group, becoming a mid-level manager.

Meanwhile, I remained an insignificant employee, with only a few top executives knowing I was the CEO's husband.

From then on, Kate and Peter were inseparable, commuting together daily, and occasionally he would visit our home.

To please Kate, my mother often came to help. Kate loved her soup, and she had it every few days.

Last week, Kate wanted to eat minestrone.

After receiving the call, my mother immediately went to the market to buy fresh ingredients, but she accidentally fell in the kitchen, hitting her head.

My mother didn't want to trouble Kate, so she called me while I was on a business trip in a nearby city. I immediately called Kate, asking her to take my mother to the hospital.

Kate refused, saying she and Peter had something important to do and were unavailable.

In the end, I called an ambulance and asked a neighbor to help take my mother to the hospital.

However, because too much time was delayed, my mother passed away after several hours of treatment in the ICU.

Her only thought before she died was to see her daughter-in-law one last time.

She wanted to tell her that the minestrone was ready.

I found out afterward that the five-star hotel Peter booked was less than a five-minute drive from my house.

If Kate had rushed back then, my mother might not have died...

I turned off the light and was about to sleep when Kate came in.

She had already taken a shower and changed into a sexy nightgown, lying beside me as usual.

"Still mad at me?"

I lay with my back to her, saying nothing.

Kate wrapped her arm around my waist and whispered softly in my ear, "Honey, this time it's my fault. I shouldn't have lied to you."

"But there's really nothing between Peter and me. That bracelet has no special meaning. You're overthinking it."

"You're an adult, yet you're throwing a tantrum and even talking about divorce."

"If your mom knew, what would she think?"

I said coldly, "Don't mention my mom. You're not worthy!"

Kate sat up straight, her eyebrows furrowing. "Tobias, I've already humbled myself to apologize to you. You're really pushing it, aren't you?"

"Your mom always doted on me the most. Why can't I mention her?"

"Do you believe I'll call her right now and let her judge?"

"Go ahead if you want."

After saying that, I left the bedroom with a pillow and slept alone in the living room.

After a few seconds of shock, Kate slammed the door shut to show her anger.

The next day at work, as I went downstairs, I saw Peter leaning against a BMW, holding a bouquet of vibrant roses.

When he saw me, he greeted me with a smile. "Morning, Tobias. Where's Kate?"

I gave Peter a cold look and said that Kate was still at home.

If he wanted to find her, he should go up himself.

Just then, I heard the sound of high heels behind me.

It turned out Kate had come down too.

She was wearing a professional black outfit with light makeup, looking noble and aloof.

Peter's eyes lit up, and he immediately went up to her.

"Kate, you look beautiful today. Even the most beautiful flowers pale in comparison to you.

"I personally picked these roses. Happy Valentine's Day!"

Kate glanced at me nonchalantly, then took the roses and said thank you.

My gaze grew even colder.

Peter smiled slightly. "Tobias, don't misunderstand. When I was young, I used to give Kate roses every Valentine's Day. It's a habit.

"Only those years abroad I didn't give them."

Kate snorted. "No need to explain to him. He's just a blockhead."

Peter looked surprised. "What's wrong, Kate? Did you argue with Tobias?"

"No. He just mentioned divorce," Kate said resentfully, "All because of that bracelet you gave me."

Peter turned his gaze to me, his eyes full of meaning.

"I'm sorry, Tobias. I originally bought that bracelet for my girlfriend.

"But she broke up with me the day before yesterday. Since I had already bought it, I didn't want to waste it, so I gave it to Kate.

"I didn't expect it to cause trouble for you. I'm really sorry."

Looking at his "sincere" face, I showed no expression and turned to leave.

"Hey, Tobias, I'm telling the truth. Don't misunderstand!"

"Enough, Peter. Tobias won't listen right now. Let him be."

...

In the following days, Kate ignored me.

She didn't speak to me proactively. Every time I brought up divorce, she only responded with rolled eyes and indifference.

Over the years of our marriage, we had cold wars a few times due to conflicts.

Under my mother's persuasion, I always chose to compromise, thinking of various ways to please Kate, and then we would reconcile.

This time, my mother is no longer around.

And I have no intention of going back to my old ways of being a pushover. I'm determined to divorce her.

One afternoon, while I was working, the female supervisor came over and asked me to help move some things in Peter's office.

Peter got promoted to general manager after his business trip. His new office happens to be next to Kate's.

The female supervisor was recruited by Peter and was a real sycophant, often giving me a hard time over trivial matters.

I refused, saying I had a back injury and couldn't do heavy lifting.

Her face immediately darkened. "Tobias, I'm ordering you, not asking you.

"A grown man can't even move a few things? Who are you fooling?

"I think you're just being lazy!"

Her voice was loud, drawing the attention of everyone in the office, and whispers began to fill the air.

"What's wrong with Tobias? He's usually so compliant, but now he's standing up to the supervisor?"

"Maybe he's just in a bad mood today."

"It's hard to find a job these days, isn't he afraid of getting fired?"

"He's been with the company for years, he's a seasoned hand and doesn't fear anything."

The female supervisor slammed the table. "Tobias, I see your stubbornness. You're even daring to defy your superior, huh? Do you believe I can deduct all your bonuses this month?"

"Go ahead and deduct them, or, better yet, fire me."

"You think I don't dare?"

I pushed the keyboard away, stood up, and grabbed my bag to leave.

The female supervisor was stunned for two seconds before chasing after me in a rage.

"Tobias, stop right there!"

She grabbed my bag forcefully, and off guard, I stumbled, hitting my back hard against the corner of the table.

A sharp pain shot through me, and my vision darkened. I almost passed out.

Just then, Kate and Peter happened to pass by.

"What's going on here? Why is there such a commotion? Don't you all have work to do?"

As she spoke, Kate didn't even glance at me.

The female supervisor immediately bowed and scraped, explaining. "Ms. Walsh, Tobias was disobeying work orders, causing a disturbance.

"Don't worry, I will discipline him properly."

Peter pretended to ask, "Ms. Lewis, what task did you assign to him?"

"Just to help move some things, but he refused. I said a few words to him, and he started throwing a fit."

Kate finally looked at me, coldly asking, "Tobias, you're making a scene over such a small matter?"