For two years of marriage, we felt more like strangers living under the same roof.

Jen got a punishment for losing a game at the team building event. She had to kiss the man sitting to her left for one minute.

That man was Wesley.

Without the slightest hesitation, she leaned in and kissed him.

I turned off my phone in frustration.

Jen was not being anti-social. She was just avoiding me.

She did not come home that night. By morning, her mother stormed into my house, yelling the moment she walked in.

"Where's Jen? Why isn't she answering my calls? Can't you get anything done? You don't even have a job anymore. You're just a freeloader—"

Bang!

I slammed my glass down on the table to cut her off.

"You want me to get things done? Fine. Start by giving me 1.5 million dollars. I'll need money for favors and connections. Since you've made it clear I'm living off your daughter, I obviously don't have any myself."

Her face twisted with anger as she scowled, "You can't come up with that kind of money? Just say so if you don't want to help. Honestly, your family was already declining when we agreed to this marriage. The Wagners don't have much left, do they?

"Also, keep your idiot son locked up! I've been cleaning up his messes countless times. He's in his twenties and still acts like a child!"

She stood up, fuming with her hands on her hips and her face red with rage.

I retorted, "Be thankful that I never get rid of you. Jen and I are getting divorced. Either you leave now, or I'll get someone to make you."

Her confidence faltered for a moment, perhaps shocked by how different I was acting.

Previously, I had tried to please her family. After all, they were Jen's family members.

However, there was no need for that anymore.

I called security to escort her out.

I had saved her family business from ruin when Jen and I first got married, so they treated me with respect.

However, after all the crisis had passed, their true colors showed. They felt that I was not good enough for Jen.

To them, marrying Jen was a win for me—a man who did not deserve her.

I could feel their disdain growing over time.

Not even five minutes passed before Jen called, screaming at me through the phone.

"Ryan, could you stop causing problems for me? Do you even know how busy I am? Just do whatever my mom asks, okay?"

I laughed bitterly and asked, "Busy with Wesley in bed?"

There was a pause on the other end before the line went dead.

I could not help but feel bewildered. I never thought her mother would show up at my house.

Not long after, my mom called.

"Did you have an argument with Jen recently? It's normal for couples to have disagreements. Divorce is not a solution."

A lump formed in my throat. I had invested so much money into Jen's company, focusing all my attention on her.

It had taken a toll on my own business, which my parents had spent their lives building.

I took a deep breath and said, "Mom, I really want a divorce."

There was a pause, and my dad took the phone. "Ryan, it's good you've finally come to your senses. The Wagners aren't meant to be humiliated."

He raised his voice deliberately, but soon, I heard Jen's mom screaming in the background.

Then, the call ended.

I rushed home, worried my parents would not be able to handle Jen's mom's outburst.

By the time I arrived, Jen's mom was already gone. My parents were sitting on the couch, chatting calmly.

They saw me and walked over.

My dad frowned. "Why didn't you bring your luggage back?"

My mom rolled her eyes at him and said, "Don't worry, Ryan. Leela Walter won't be causing any more trouble in this house."

"Your mom's been a gentle soul her whole life, but she was so fierce earlier," my dad remarked.

I could not help but laugh, but as I did, my eyes stung a little.

"I'm sorry, Mom, Dad," I said, feeling the weight of everything I put them through.

Back at the office, I terminated the partnership with Jen's company. The project was practically a cash gift to her—something she had taken for granted.

That evening, for once, she got home before me.

The moment I stepped in, she confronted me.

"Why did you terminate the partnership? Just because Wesley and I shared a bowl of soup? Come on, Ryan. Don't take things too far."

She thought I was just throwing a tantrum.

I laid the divorce agreement in front of her.

She turned red with anger and shouted, "Are you serious, Ryan? You want a divorce over such a small problem?"

I leaned back on the couch, closed my eyes and replied calmly, "Yeah, such a small problem."

"I told you, Wesley and I are just colleagues. There's nothing going on."

"Oh, right. Just regular colleagues who sleep together."

Her mocking smile deepened. "We were drunk, and it wasn't me who initiated it. What are you jealous about?"

Her excuses no longer fazed me.

"Whatever. Sign the agreement."

I would not budge, so she became furious and started throwing insults.

"Fine, Ryan. You'll regret this. Don't beg me to come back later. You're not even worth one of Wesley's fingers—"

I snatched the signed agreement from her and snapped, "I'll see you at the Civil Affairs Bureau next Monday morning. Don't be late. Also, pack your stuff soon. I'm selling this house."

The next day, Leela stormed into my office. She started to scold before even meeting me.

"You ungrateful scumbag! How could you divorce Jen after two years of marriage? What, do you have someone else on the side?"

She did not hold back, hurling insult after insult.

"Do you think the Wagners are still a thing? We Walters could easily wipe you off the face of the earth!"

I had my assistant record the whole conversation. After all, Leela was a kind and gentle woman in public.

Her rant was vile, but she never even got to see me.

Later that evening, I went out with some old friends I had not seen in a while.

They were aware of what I was up to.

Zack Moller, one of my friends, asked curiously, "Ryan, are you serious?"

I downed a drink and responded, "Dead serious. It's over."

The group exhaled in relief.

"Honestly, Ryan, you've wasted two years of your life. We've warned you so many times, but you were so stubborn, like you were cursed or something."

"I saw Jen with another guy just a few days ago," one of them chimed in.

I glanced at him, and he immediately clammed up.

Zack patted my shoulder and tried to comfort me. "Alright, man. Let's chill tonight and blow off some steam. Do you want to hit up another spot?"

We ended up at a bar we used to frequent.

As soon as we sat in our usual booth, Zack exclaimed, "No way, man. Speak of the devil."

I followed his gaze and saw Jen leaning against Wesley.

As I got up, my friends followed.

Jen, clearly drunk, was muttering complaints about me.

"Wesley, you're so much better than Ryan. He says he wants a divorce, but without me, he's nobody. He always causes me trouble."

Wesley stroked her hair and comforted her, "Jen, just divorce him and be with me. I'll never treat you like that—"

I grabbed a beer bottle and poured it over Jen's head.

Both of them were startled. When Jen saw me, she immediately switched to a look of disdain.

"What do you want? I'll never forgive you for this!"

I sneered, "You'd better show up on Monday, on time, at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Otherwise, your video with Wesley, your mom's rant, and all the dirty secrets your family has will hit the top of the trending searches."

Jen's face paled as she stared at me in horror.