"Have you caused enough trouble? Do you really think Anthony can replace you in my heart?"

Anthony. She called him by name so casually. I had spent ten years working hard for her family and the company. But it was clear now. None of it mattered to her.

I gave a bitter smile and nodded.

"Fine. It doesn’t matter anymore. Let’s get a divorce."

I had never brought up divorce, not even during our worst fights. I always tried to stay calm. But this time, I meant it. The thought of letting go squeezed my chest.

For a second, I thought I saw regret in Evelyn’s eyes. Perhaps, she still loved me. But then she laughed.

“Divorce? Don’t be ridiculous. How would you live without me? If my family hadn’t married me off to you, you’d still be sweeping the streets.”

She always did this, using my identity as a live-in husband to insult me. I used to feel ashamed. But not this time.

“It doesn’t matter. Even if I do end up sweeping the streets, it’s none of your business.”

“James!” she shouted.

People outside the office turned to look. Aside from the R&D team I led, most treated me like I was useless. A man living off his wife.

I used to put up with it for Evelyn. But now I knew that staying silent only made her worse. Suddenly, she softened and looked at me gently.

“James, I know it’s hard. But believe me, there will only be you and me. No other men.”

I didn’t know what exactly went on between her and Anthony. But I wasn’t blind. I had seen them in the car together. That wasn’t just friendship.

The way she looked at him … Was all her affection for me just an act?

“I’m going home. I need time to think.”

I left while the office workers watched, some of them clearly enjoying the drama. At home, I grabbed some beer and sat on the balcony alone. I didn’t know when I passed out.

Half-asleep, I felt someone cover me with a blanket.

When I woke up, Evelyn was smiling at me.

“You’re awake? You don’t usually drink, but you had so much.”

She handed me a hangover drink as she said, “Here, I bought this for you.”

For a moment, it felt like I had gone back ten years. She was even wearing an apron. I heard noise from the kitchen and turned to look. She was actually making soup. Spices were scattered across the stove. It was real.

In ten years, she had never cooked. I always took care of her meals, clothes and basically everything. I looked at her, unsure of what to believe.

Then, her phone rang.

She checked the screen, smiled and answered it quickly, “Oh, you’re already here? Wait a second, I’ll open the door.”

I suddenly felt something was wrong. Before I could say anything, the doorbell rang.

There Anthony was. He was standing outside while he was holding two young children.

As soon as they saw Evelyn, they ran to her and shouted, “Mummy! Mummy!”

Evelyn’s expression softened. She quickly took off her apron, hugged the girl and held the boy’s hand.

Anthony smiled and said, “Grandpa and Grandma were really sad to leave.”

“I can buy them more gifts next time,” he added.

Evelyn smiled.

“It’s okay. They’re very understanding.”

Watching them talk and laugh like that, they looked more like a real couple. I just sat on the balcony, feeling like I didn’t belong.

Evelyn then brought them to me and said, “James, this is Anthony. These are Matthew and Fiona.”

She asked the children to call me ‘Daddy’, trying to help me get used to them.

But Matthew stepped back and shouted, “I don’t want to! He’s not my dad! He stole my mom!”

Then he kicked me. It didn’t hurt, but it made me feel humiliated.

Fiona started crying, asking, “Mummy, don’t you love us anymore?”

Evelyn looked lost for a moment.

She knelt and said gently, “Of course I love you. Don’t say that.”

“Then, why do we have to call him Daddy? I don’t want to!” Matthew shouted again.

Evelyn turned to me and yelled, “Can’t you see the children don’t like you? Get out! You’re not welcome here!”

At first, I thought I had misheard. This was my home too. Did she really just tell me to leave?

And for children who had nothing to do with me? The kids stared at me with hate, as if I were the one who broke their family.

Matthew pointed at me and laughed as he shouted, “We’ll kick you out!”

Fiona cheered, “Yay! We won! Mummy and Daddy will be together again!”

Evelyn didn’t even look at me.

She smiled and said, “Yes, the bad guy lost. Justice wins.”

I stood there in silence, trying to understand what had just happened.

Evelyn looked annoyed.

“Why are you still here? Leave already!”

I finally understood that Evelyn really wanted me gone.

I glanced at Anthony. He smirked.

Anger burned in my chest. Ten years of love and effort were destroyed just like that. But I said nothing.

I swallowed my pride and replied, “Okay. I’ll leave.”

Just as I stood up, Matthew kicked me again.

I didn’t look back.

At the door, I heard Evelyn and Anthony talking and laughing together.

“Hurry and clean up. I made soup for you and the kids. Try it,” Evelyn said.

“As long as you made it, it’s the best in the world,” Anthony replied.

“Stop saying sweet things. Even if it tastes bad, you still have to eat it. From now on, you’re my official food tester.”