Chapter 2

002

I hung up the phone and dumped the cold food and roses straight into the trash can.

Exhausted to the bone, I forced myself to pack all of Jocelyn's belongings into suitcases and left them in the living room.

Once that was done, I collapsed into bed and slept until the next morning.

Jocelyn didn't return all night, sending only a few scattered texts.

"Fine, I was wrong this time. Once I'm free in a couple of days, we'll celebrate the anniversary properly."

"Why are you ignoring me? Say something! I already explained myself, what more do you want from me?"

I opened her social media feed, and the top post was a nine-photo collage of her and Hudson.

In several shots, they looked like college sweethearts in the honeymoon phase, holding iced coffees and leaning on each other's shoulders with radiant smiles.

Jocelyn had written a poetic caption: "Life is a series of crossroads. Some people part ways forever, while others meet again at the next turn. The world changes and people drift, but at least we are still us."

Her younger sister, Chloe, was the first to comment below.

"Hudson is back? Why didn't you tell me, sis? I want to grab dinner with him too!"

Half an hour later, my mother-in-law chimed in. "Hudson is back in town? What a secretive girl you are!"

"Your dad was just saying he wanted to play chess with Hudson! Bring him over for dinner tonight, tell him Mom will cook his favorite seafood feast!"

In all the years I was married to Jocelyn, her family had never shown me an ounce of that warmth.

I used to have a stable government job with a decent paycheck, living a quiet and predictable life.

The Foster family looked down on my modest income and pressured me to quit for a corporate sales role, which led to endless overtime and sleepless nights.

To make it easier to look after her aging parents, I agreed to stay in their city.

Her mother had chronic health issues, so I drove her to medical appointments three times a week. Her father loved chess, so I spent a small fortune ordering him a custom rosewood set.

When Chloe failed her college entrance exams, I pulled every connection I had and paid for private tutors so she could finish her degree and land a respectable job.

Yet they still treated me like dirt. Every time I visited their house with Jocelyn, they barely acknowledged my existence.

A few minutes later, Jocelyn sent me a text. "Mom and Dad invited Hudson and me over for dinner. Are you coming?"

Before I could reply, she added another message. "Make sure to bring expensive gifts. You know my parents aren't fond of you. Hudson naturally knows how to charm them, so don't embarrass me by looking cheap next to him."

I didn't buy a single gift. I only took a signed divorce agreement and drove over to the Foster residence.

When I stepped inside, the entire family was gathered around Hudson in the living room, laughing warmly.

Jocelyn frowned in displeasure the moment she saw me. "Why are you so late? Where are the gifts I told you to bring?"

Her mother sneered with obvious disdain. "Always so clueless and tactless. No wonder nobody likes you."

Sitting on the sofa, Hudson gave me a smug, patronizing smirk before pulling out several luxury boxes. "Mr. and Mrs. Foster, it's been so long. These are just some small tokens I brought back from overseas. I hope you enjoy them."

My mother-in-law had chronic inflammation and couldn't handle potent herbal supplements like wild ginseng.

My father-in-law suffered from severe hypertension and liver problems, meaning he wasn't supposed to touch the expensive imported liquor Hudson handed him.

In the past, I would have stepped in immediately to warn them, but not today.

After all, this was their golden boy. Looking out for their health would only earn me their resentment.

Sure enough, my mother-in-law beamed as she accepted the gifts, then turned a cold glare toward me.

"What are you just standing there for? Can't you see we're having a conversation? There's soup simmering in the kitchen, go check on it!"