Chapter 4

Jordan indeed never appeared again. Everything seemed to be getting back on track.

Georgina continued being a disciplined lifestyle blogger, even featuring Mary's life in her content.

Until one day, I saw a corner of clothing in a photo she posted.

A man's clothing.

But her new trainer was a single female trainer.

The later photos became even more brazen.

The female trainer's face wasn't in frame, but they were feeding each other coffee and wearing matching friendship rings.

To wear the new ring, she took off her wedding ring that she never used to remove.

The comments praised their close relationship.

But I noticed the trainer's muscular arms under the sleeves were a man's.

She was blatantly having Jordan wear the female trainer's clothes, being intimate with him, as if I were some ridiculous blind fool.

But that wasn't enough.

That same day when I got home, she sat on top of me, laughing coquettishly as she pressed against me.

"Lucas, my wedding ring got so old. I bought a new one. Isn't it pretty?"

I thought of the bank card notification on my phone—a payment of over a hundred thousand dollars—and couldn't help feeling bitter.

She used the money we'd saved together for Mary to buy a pair of rings and gave one to Jordan.

I looked at the latest model phone worth ten thousand dollars she used to photograph us, and the thousand-dollar phone she'd given me that barely worked anymore, and couldn't help but laugh coldly.

It was like at that moment I finally understood—giving up on something might not be as painful as I thought.

This phone was just charity she'd pretended to carefully prepare for my birthday.

Yet I'd treasured it like a precious thing, using it year after year.

Now, the flickering signal light seemed to remind me that it was time to get a new phone.

I didn't expose her. I just reached out and held her.

Consider it saying goodbye to the little tail who used to follow me around.

But the person who used to love nestling in my arms pulled away from my embrace like she'd been startled.

I seemed to see dark marks on her collarbone.

When she went to shower, I found the lawyer's number I'd saved before and had him continue drafting divorce papers.

When she came out wearing tight clothes and nestled in my arms as usual, she said, "The teacher said Mary's grades aren't great and she can't concentrate. I'm planning to take her out to relax."

"Okay, don't put pressure on Mary."

Waking up in the middle of the night, I habitually tucked her in, but saw what seemed to be tears at the corners of her eyes.

I leaned close to her slightly parted lips, trying to hear what she was saying.

But when I heard clearly, the warmth I'd barely gathered suddenly dissipated.

She said: "Jordan, you're so much gentler than Lucas. If only you were Mary's father..."

My fist immediately clenched tight as I looked at her face through gritted teeth.

Since you won't accept an amicable separation, don't blame me for not honoring our years of marriage!

The next day, Georgina took Mary out to relax, saying Mary had her genes—with training she'd definitely become disciplined.

I just smiled faintly, noncommittal, telling her to have fun with Mary.

Last time after my team leader chewed me out, he assigned me a lot of work.

I stayed at the company for several days before barely finishing it all.

The divorce papers were ready, and Mary should be back.

I walked into the house but saw a complete mess.

Our dusty wedding photo had been smashed on the floor, shards scattered everywhere.

The narcissus our family of three had raised was pulled up by the roots, petals floating one by one on the water's surface.

Even the scarf Georgina had knitted for me had a glaring cigarette burn!

I shoved open the bedroom door and saw Jordan sprawled arrogantly in the master bedroom, holding Georgina's pajamas!

I immediately felt nauseated!

But when he woke up and saw it was me, he immediately showed a mocking smile!

He held up the key on him high, his words slurred from being drunk.

"I've been sleeping here for days before you came. I was starting to think you were planning to give me the house!"

"But hey, don't be mad. Even though Georgina gave me her body and money, I don't think much of her either. Don't let me ruin your marital harmony."

His words were incoherent as his hand crumpled our family photo.

He wadded up the photo and stepped on it with his filthy feet!