Chapter 3

3

A seven-year relationship ended the very day the baby was born.

My mother had traveled all the way from her small town with homemade meals, spending half the day in the kitchen.

She was about to head to the hospital when I stopped her at the door. Seeing her confused face, I finally broke the news.

"Melody and I are over, Mom. "

"But... what about the baby? "

"The baby stays with her. I don't want him. "

The container in her hand hit the floor with a heavy thud. The scent of homemade chicken stew filled the room, but it felt suffocating.

My whole world had revolved around Melody, but her world only ever had room for Jasper.

Seven years ago, Jasper chose to study abroad and dumped her. If he hadn't, I never would have stood a chance.

The memories of youthful hormones are always the hardest to erase.

I thought that years of devotion would earn me a place in her heart, but it was all just wishful thinking.

Then Jasper came back into the picture―tall, handsome, and fair-skinned.

He wore a bracelet on his wrist that was identical to Melody's.

Years ago, Melody had accidentally dropped that bracelet into a pool and cried until I drained the entire thing to find it.

When she finally held that cheap piece of jewelry again, she wept with joy as if it were a priceless heirloom.

She told me they were just childhood friends.

Friends so close that she needed him present for the most intimate moment of our marriage?

I wasn't a saint. I was full of rage, but I had learned to hide it well.

My phone started vibrating incessantly.

Looking at the string of notification alerts for credit card transactions, I knew this was Melody's typical style.

Whenever she was angry, she would go on a shopping spree using my cards as a form of revenge.

Every single one of her accounts was linked to my name.

In the past, I let her splurge, thinking that if I worked myself to death, the least I could do was make her happy.

But now, the thought of her using my money to fund a lifestyle with another man made my blood boil.

She wanted my money while she slept with her first love? In what world?

I had been the world's biggest sucker for years, but it was time to wake up.

I immediately called the bank to freeze all my accounts and delink her cards. It was time to hit back.

Sure enough, less than ten minutes later, Melody was blowing up my phone.

"What kind of man are you? " she screamed as soon as I picked up. "You're really going to be this petty over a little money? "

"Listen to me, Ethan. We aren't divorced yet. Half of everything you own belongs to me. "

"Restore those accounts right now, or I'll have my lawyer ruin you. "

In the background, I heard Jasper's voice, sounding frantic.

"Those shoes were limited edition! I was one second away from checking out! Damn it... "

I froze for a second. So, she was trying to buy things for him. No wonder she was so livid.

I actually admired her audacity. Even now, she felt entitled to my hard-earned cash.

She probably thought my silence meant I was scared.

"What, are you shaking in your boots now? " she taunted. "Then crawl back here and get on your knees. Maybe I'll forgive you. "

I almost laughed out loud. "Melody, let me give you some advice. If you don't sign those papers, you won't see another cent. "

I wasn't going to be the cuckold who financed his wife's affair.

She was flirting with Jasper right in front of me. Why should I endure this for even a second longer?

Melody clearly didn't expect me to grow a spine. I could practically feel her blood pressure rising through the phone.

"Fine! You asked for this! Be at the lawyer's office tomorrow at nine sharp. "

"Great, " I snapped back. "Anyone who misses it is a coward. "

After hanging up, I took our wedding portrait off the wall. I flicked a lighter, watched the edges curl into flames, and then flushed the ashes down the toilet.

Maybe my obsessive love for her was what made her so reckless.

Since there was no love left, it was better to let go and stop the mutual torture.