Chapter 3

3.

As soon as we sat down, Vivian's brow furrowed.

"Could you please make something a bit lighter?"

I was confused.

Vivian usually loved heavy, flavorful food.

I always cooked according to her preferences.

Was it that time of the month?

I was thinking that she shouldn't have spicy food during her period, but then she added that Sebastian had a weak stomach.

"He can't handle spices well."

I froze for a second, then nodded.

"I'll go whip up two more dishes then."

"That's too much trouble," Sebastian said.

He said it, but he didn't actually look like he felt bad about troubling me.

In fact, there was a faint, mocking glint in his eyes.

And my wonderful son waved his little hands around.

"It's not trouble! My daddy loves to cook!"

I couldn't quite describe the feeling in my chest. It was bitter, but more than that, it felt like I was wasting my life.

I didn't say a word. I got up, went to the kitchen, and started washing and chopping vegetables.

Vivian eventually followed me in.

"I should have told you earlier, but I got caught up in a phone call..."

She trailed off and changed the subject.

"Don't put any green onions in. Sebastian hates them."

Leo called for her from the living room.

She told me to keep the seasoning light and then left the kitchen.

My son's laughter was loud outside.

Sebastian and Vivian were playing with him.

I glanced over my shoulder and felt, once again, completely redundant.

After dinner, Leo threw a tantrum, crying for Sebastian to stay.

I picked up the struggling boy to comfort him. "How about I read you a story about fighting monsters?"

His little hand slapped me across the face without any restraint.

"I don't want you... I want Uncle Sebastian."

"I want Uncle Sebastian to be my daddy!"

Vivian just glanced over with a frown before going back to saying her goodbyes to Sebastian.

In that moment, I suddenly didn't understand what I was holding on to.

My son didn't love me, and my wife was cold to me.

Even though I worked so hard to play my part, it felt like no one saw me.

No, it was more like no one cared.

The thought of divorce suddenly flooded my mind.

It wasn't until two weeks later that I actually brought it up.

I laid the divorce papers on her desk.

"I don't want anything. I'm not even asking for custody of Leo."

"You can change his last name if you want; you don't even have to tell me."

"If there are no issues, just sign it."

Vivian was stunned for a moment.

She flipped through the papers and asked how long I'd been preparing this.

"The last couple of days."

She didn't say anything else. She just nodded and signed her name.

I didn't linger. I went straight to the bedroom to pack.

I left behind anything that wasn't essential.

I wanted to see Leo one last time, but he was out playing with Sebastian.

Who knew when he'd be back?

Whatever. It didn't matter anymore.

As I was rolling my suitcase out the door, Vivian grabbed me.

"There's really no need to rush out like this!"

She said she didn't mind if I stayed.

But I minded.