I hovered above, taking in his disgraceful behavior. Bitterness was welling up inside me.

Christopher, the phone that was always on standby for you would never be answered again.

……

Christopher had been swamped with social engagements, turning down Nikki’s dinner invitations for several days straight.

Around the dinner table, the businessmen made small talk, skirting around any serious discussions with him.

"It’s almost ten o’clock. Why hasn’t your wife called to check in yet?"

One of them teased him. Everyone in Christopher’s circle knew that his “nagging wife” would call like clockwork at nine every night.

Hearing that, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile. No wonder Christopher did not like me, with how I used to be. But why did my child have to pay the price?

Christopher paused for a moment, holding his drink. He probably remembered the days when I used to check up on him, but for once, there was no hint of annoyance on his face.

"She’s giving me the silent treatment," he said.

I could swear there was a slight chuckle. It must have been my imagination.

The others at the table started offering him tips on how to make up with his wife, but no real business was discussed.

In the end, Christopher drank until he threw up, and the business deal fell through. Instead, he walked away with a bunch of useless advice.

Yet, he did not seem the least bit upset. In fact, he even went out of his way to stop by Newton Road and pick up roasted walnuts for me.

Back when we were dating, no matter how much I begged him, he always found excuses not to get them.

"Phoebe, I brought you roasted walnuts," he said.

He was swaying slightly as he wandered around the house, looking for me but failing to find any sign of my presence.

It wasn’t long before his patience ran out. He threw the bag of walnuts on the floor, letting them scatter everywhere.

The ringing phone broke the silence in the room.

A faint smile appeared on Christopher’s face, but he quickly forced it back into a neutral expression.

"It isn’t Phoebe?"

He sounded disappointed, his face blank again.

"Hello, Mr. Ford. Mrs. Ford had left your number on file. I’m calling to confirm if the tenth-anniversary banquet will still take place as planned?"

Before I died, I had genuinely looked forward to celebrating our tenth anniversary. I never imagined that now, we would be separated by life and death.

Christopher paused for a moment, and I was sure he would decline.

"Proceed as planned, and upgrade it to the highest-tier package."

I was stunned. What was this, a case of him losing his mind?

My last memory of that night was Christopher crouched on the floor, carefully picking up walnuts and placing them in the microwave.

"What if she comes back and wants to eat them?" I heard him mutter to himself.

……

Despite his busy schedule, Christopher canceled all his plans for the day of our tenth anniversary.

He hosted the banquet, and someone at the table commented on how deeply in love we were. For once, he did not correct them.

I never showed up, of course. Eventually, Christopher smashed his phone in frustration and borrowed someone else’s to call me.

"Phoebe, don’t push it too far! You’re just a bar hostess. What makes you think you’re anything special?"

The guests at the banquet stared down at their plates, pretending not to hear, and no one dared to say a word.

"If you don’t want to come back, then let’s get a divorce! I’ve had enough of being with a bar hostess!"

I watched him ranting drunkenly, my heart heavy with sorrow.

People said the truth would come out when one was drunk. He must have despised me for a long time.

But Christopher, if you hated me so much, why did you marry me in the first place?

After that outburst, he began frequenting bars and clubs. Rumors of our crumbling marriage spread throughout the entire social circle.

The reality of human nature was harsh and I thought I had seen it all.

But I still underestimated how awful people could be. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect Sally to encourage Christopher to call my father.

"This is what he owes you! If it weren’t for that old man, your company would’ve taken off by now!"