Chapter 1

1

On my son's fifth birthday, our family of three went to a remote national park to watch a meteor shower.

Halfway through the night, my husband, Lucas, took a call and rushed off in a hurry.

In the middle of the night, my son's asthma flared up, but the only emergency inhaler was in Lucas's car.

I carried my son through the desolate wilderness, running frantically while calling Lucas over and over again.

All I got in return was a cold, five-word text: "Busy now. Do not disturb."

The next day, I finally received a call from his phone, but it was the voice of his old flame, Lindsey, on the other end.

"My puppy passed away suddenly last night. Lucas was afraid I'd be too heartbroken, so he stayed by my side all night. He just fell asleep."

She continued in a sugary tone, "If you have anything to say, just tell me."

I stroked my son's cold, blue face.

"Tell him we are getting a divorce."

...

It turned out that Lucas's so-called emergency was nothing more than the death of Lindsey's dog.

He couldn't bear to leave her alone, and that was his reason for abandoning us.

That was why he wouldn't pick up my calls.

After hanging up, I began to handle my son's final arrangements like a hollowed-out puppet.

When the small urn was placed in my hands, I was still in a state of shock.

I couldn't understand how the little boy who was whispering "Mommy" in my ear yesterday had become this tiny box today.

Friends and family at the scene tried to comfort me, their words filled with resentment toward Lucas.

They criticized him for being absent even at his own son's passing.

They said no matter how big the business deal was, he should have dropped everything to come.

As a successful young entrepreneur in the city, everyone naturally assumed he was tied up with work.

But Lindsey had just posted on her Instagram a minute ago.

It was a photo of Lucas sleeping, captioned: "Thanks to the person who helped me through my grief. You worked hard staying up all night. Get some rest."

We had been together for eight years, and everyone said we had beaten the seven-year itch.

They said we would be together forever.

But today, the cruel reality told me that eight years of devotion amounted to nothing in the end.

I met Lucas during the early days of his startup.

I was the one who stayed by his side during his most pathetic and penniless moments.

When we got married, he held my hand tightly and promised, "You are my strongest support system."

I took those words to heart, giving up my own career to manage everything at home for him.

He always had a hot meal waiting the moment he stepped through the door.

I even picked out his outfits every single night for the next morning.

After our son, Leo, was born, I handled every single detail of his life alone.

No matter how much I struggled, I never complained.

Over the years, I watched his company grow, and he became busier and busier.

Whenever Leo cried for his father, I would comfort him, saying Daddy was a superhero out fighting bad guys.

I thought things would get better once the company stabilized.

I thought we had a long life ahead of us as a family of three.

That was until Lindsey returned to the country and became his executive assistant.

They went to work together and left together.

Whether it was a business trip or a gala, Lindsey was always the one by his side.

I even started smelling faint traces of her perfume on his shirts every night.

When I questioned him, he said she was new in town and didn't know anyone else.

He claimed he was only helping her out of old friendship.

I chose to believe him.

He once told me that I and our son were his forever home.

But I forgot one thing: hearts change.

Now, it was time to face the reality.