Chapter 1

I gave up on my dreams to live in a cramped, rented studio with my wife for ten years. Finally, the day of our wedding arrived.

But on that day, she said she had an emergency. She abandoned me and left in a hurry without looking back.

I waited all day while the guests whispered in confusion and mocked me behind my back.

I waited until she posted a photo on her social media, holding a trophy for Best Director.

She wrote a caption for her dead first love, the man she called her "white moonlight."

【Sebastian, after all these years, I've finally fulfilled your dream.】

In that moment, everything clicked.

These ten years had been nothing but a cruel scam.

01.

When Andrea called me, I was staring blankly at the trending topics online.

【Famous Director Returns After Ten Years! Her Masterpiece is a Tribute to Her Late First Love!】

【Director Andrea Sterling Wins Gold! She Claims Her Inspiration Came from a Friend Who Closely Resembles Her Departed Lover!】

The headlines made my blood run cold. On the other end of the line, Andrea's voice was nonchalant.

"Lucas, I really had an emergency today. The Awards ceremony doesn't wait for anyone. You should be able to understand that, right?"

When I didn't respond, she paused before speaking again. "Don't look at the trending news. Those reporters just write trash for clicks."

"I'm coming home soon. Fix me some warm honey-lemon tea. Remember to slice the lemons very thin. Last time they were too thick, and Sebastian's mother couldn't drink it..."

Andrea was still rambling on, but I suddenly cut her off.

"Andrea, let's get a divorce."

There was a moment of absolute silence on the other end. Then, her voice exploded with rage, and she began lecturing me.

"Lucas, are you serious right now? Is this really necessary? So I missed the wedding―so what? This ceremony only happens once in a lifetime. We can have a wedding any day! Don't be so dramatic!"

"I've already told the planners to reschedule. Go pay the deposit later tonight..."

Listening to her entitled voice, I felt nothing but a sharp, bitter irony.

For ten years of marriage, I had centered my entire world around Andrea.

The moment something didn't go her way, she would lash out and blame me exactly like this.

In the past, to save our relationship, I would always swallow my pride and beg for her forgiveness.

But now, I was just tired.

I rubbed my temples and repeated myself firmly.

"I'm serious. I've already printed the divorce papers. Make sure you sign them later."

Realizing my tone was different this time, Andrea's voice softened for a split second.

"Lucas, the wedding was your idea anyway. I just had a scheduling conflict. It's actually your fault for not coordinating the time better."

"I said I'd do it again with you. This award is incredibly important for my career. Stop throwing a tantrum."

"A grown man talking about divorce all the time is honestly pathetic."

A month ago, the movie Andrea directed―a story based on our ten-year romance called 《An Island in My Heart》―became a massive hit.

Because of this film, she won the Best Director award this year.

When she heard she won, Andrea was in the dressing room, wearing her wedding gown and getting her makeup done.

Yet, she didn't hesitate for a second to ditch me and all our guests to rush to the ceremony.

On the big screen, she had clutched her trophy and sobbed, recounting the struggles of her creative journey.

She even publicly admitted on her social media that the new movie was a tribute to the dream of her first love, Sebastian, who died ten years ago.

That was when I realized I was just a placeholder for her dead lover.

Thinking back on every detail of our decade together, I saw Sebastian's shadow in everything.

My heart felt numb with pain. I told Andrea, "If it's so pathetic, let's stop being together. Go find your Sebastian. He's the one who matters, right?"

Those words seemed to hit a nerve, and she snapped instantly.

"How dare you even mention Sebastian?"

"You're jealous of a dead man? You're delusional! I must have been insane to marry someone like you!"

"You want a divorce? Fine! I'll give it to you!"