Oliver Walker, my son, was in the late stages of leukemia, and his greatest wish before passing was to see his father, Chris Walker, one more time.

Despite my repeated pleas, Chris finally agreed to come to the hospital.

But on the day of the surgery, he suddenly disappeared. That night, Oliver left me with regrets.

The next day, his childhood sweetheart, Chloe Kade, posted a photo of the three of them at Disneyland on Instagram.

The caption read: "Being part of a child's growth is indispensable to our lives; the real outsider is the one who isn't loved."

In the past, I might have called and messaged non-stop to confront him.

But now, I just moved my finger and liked the post.

After I left without a word, taking my luggage with me, he became frantic, searching everywhere for me.

He said, "I was wrong, please don't leave me."

1

I buried Oliver's urn without crying or fussing. My expression was cold and detached.

It was no surprise to me that Chris left me for Chloe.

In our five-year relationship, a single call from Chloe was enough to pull him away from my side.

But I never imagined he would miss our child's funeral.

I called Chris, and as soon as the call connected, a backdrop of laughter filled the air.

"What's up?" Chris asked, his tone impatient and out of place with the surrounding mirth.

I cried all night, and my throat was raw.

"Chris, Oliver he..."

I began, but he harshly cut me off.

"Oliver, Oliver! That's all you ever talk about! How can a child so young constantly think of his father? Stop putting ideas in his head."

After that, Chris hung up.

Staring at my phone, I opened Chloe's Instagram, and sure enough, there were photos of Chris and Chloe with their daughter at Disneyland.

The caption read: "Being part of a child's growth is indispensable to our lives; the real outsider is the one who isn't loved."

It was clear who the outsider she meant was.

I didn't call back to argue. Instead, with a pale face, I liked the post.

After handling Oliver's affairs, I returned home for a while.

Oliver's toys and books were all neatly arranged in his room.

I sorrowfully sniffed the lingering scent in Oliver's room, feeling as if he had never left my side.

I packed my belongings, ready to move out and settle in before bringing over Oliver's things.

Just as I was about to leave, I saw Chris and Chloe walk in.

Chloe's three-year-old daughter, Amanda Kade, was following behind them.

Chris clearly paused upon seeing me, then noticed the suitcase in my hand, his eyebrows knitting together involuntarily.

"Ashley, what are you up to now?"

His tone suggested I was being unreasonable, like a shrew causing trouble.

Chloe smirked at me provocatively, her arm looped through Chris's, leaning almost entirely on him.

"I'm so sorry, Ashley. Adeline was fussing yesterday about going to Disneyland, so Chris had to take care of us. I didn't know Ollie had surgery that day."

Ollie was Oliver's nickname.

I hoped he would live a long life.

Yet, I still couldn't keep him.

I looked at the privileged pair, mother and daughter.

So this was the reason Chris left me, not showing up for Oliver's last moment?

In his heart, Chloe and Amanda mattered more than Oliver and I.

The absurdity hit me hard.

I chuckled lowly.

"Chris, let's get a divorce."

From the moment Oliver drew his last breath in my arms, I ultimately gave up on Chris.

But Chris thought I was just holding a grudge.

"Ashley, can't you be reasonable? Oliver won't disappear from the hospital. You can visit him anytime. Adeline is still here. Do you have to upset everyone?"

He won't disappear.

That was what Chris said most often whenever I called him to visit Oliver at the hospital.

But now, Oliver really had disappeared.

He would never return.

I looked at Chris coldly.

"You don't need to be involved in anything to do with Oliver anymore. Do whatever you want, I won't care anymore."

After that, I pulled my suitcase and walked past him.

Chris finally sensed something was amiss and grabbed my hand.

"Did Oliver get mad because I didn't visit him? I'll go as soon as I'm done with this."

I couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.

It had been days. If he had just made a phone call to the hospital or even asked anyone around him, he would have known what happened. There was no need for him to utter such nonsense.

But he hadn't, and even now, he was using the same absurd excuse of being too busy to fob me off.

I pulled away from his grip.

"No need!"

From now on, there would be no need at all.

I just want to get away from this dreadful place as quickly as possible.

He immediately blocked my path with a commanding presence.

"I didn't think this through. From now on, I'll come running as soon as Oliver calls. Will that make things right?"

It was Chris at his most apologetic.

He probably thought my anger stemmed from his neglect of Oliver, and uncharacteristically, he lowered his stance to coax me.

Commonly, I would have gladly accepted his apology, perhaps even flattered, and then hugged him, blaming my temper.

But now, I remained silent, my face cold and pale, my only desire to leave.

Finally losing his patience, Chris's tone grew cold.

"Ashley, you're my wife, and Oliver is my own flesh and blood. Why must you always compete with a patient?"

Chloe had a frail heart since childhood, often relapsing, and as childhood friends, Chris had cared for her all her life, embedding it deep in his bones.

Even after both had married, he continued to look after Chloe and her daughter as if they were his own family.

Yet, I found it all rather amusing.

My jealousy had caused scenes before, as Chris always insisted Chloe only as a sister to him.

He pitied Chloe, whose husband had died young, and felt it his duty to care for her more.

He would tell me to be sensible and not let my imagination run wild.

I feared losing him, and so I gradually came to accept that a third person could intervene in our relationship.

I allowed Chris to abandon Oliver and me for Chloe time and again and allowed our years of marriage to be marred by countless arguments over Chloe...

With all these allowances, I still couldn't fulfill Oliver's final wish.

It was just to see Chris one more time. How hard could that be?

After all, Chloe could see him every day.

I was done arguing with Chris. Whatever he said, so be it.

Chris watched my retreating figure, a flicker of bewilderment crossing his eyes.

He felt he was losing something, instinctively wanting to grasp hold, but Chloe interrupted him.

"Chris, let her go if she wants to. Where's Adeline's room? I'll go check on her."

Chris's voice came from behind me.

"This way."

Then, right before my eyes, I saw them leading someone into Oliver's room.

"What are you doing?!"

I pushed Chloe away and blocked their entrance to Oliver's room.

Chris, who had been guilty, suddenly changed his expression.

In a panic, he looked at Chloe, whom I had pushed to the ground, concern in his eyes that I had never seen before.

"Ashley, you're insane!"

I glared at Chloe, who was still on the ground, pretending to be frail and unwilling to get up.

"Don't even think about taking over this room!"

Chloe, noticing my angry demeanor, saw a glimmer of opportunity and immediately clutched her chest.

"Chris, what did I do wrong? Why is Ashley so upset? I just thought that since Ollie is always in the hospital, the room was unused, so I suggested that Adeline could stay for a few days."

I was furious.

Just because my child was ill and bedridden, did that mean his room should be taken away?

I looked at Chris.

"Did you agree to this?"

He didn't respond, but I found my answer in his expression.

In our second year of marriage, Chris and I welcomed a new life.

At that time, we were in another cold war over Chloe. I left the pregnancy test report in his study, and by evening, he had surprised me with a massive bouquet of roses.

I vividly remember how elated Chris was that night and how eagerly he awaited the arrival of our Ollie.

The year we awaited this new life was the warmest Chris and I had ever spent together.

Though he still left me anytime because of Chloe, he would always make it up to us by bringing us and Oliver gifts upon his return.

I loved him dearly and was quickly appeased.

But eventually, he couldn't even bother to soothe me.

Ollie was diagnosed with acute leukemia at one due to the harmful substances in his toys.

Nearly all of his toys, gifts from Chloe via Chris, contained these toxins.

I was furious, wanting to confront Chloe with the stuffed toy's toxic report in hand, ready to sue her.

Chris blocked every move.

"I know Oliver's illness pains you, but this isn't a reason to falsely accuse Chloe."

He dismissed all evidence, attributing our son's illness to fate.

Only later did I learn that Chloe had spent a night crying in Chris's arms, panicked about my threat to expose her company.

From then on, my resentment towards Chris grew.

I was no longer subservient, indulgent.

And Chris, too, began to drift away from me.

In the eyes of others, I had nothing but the title of a wife.

He would parade Chloe around, introducing her to everyone.

Ollie's condition was deteriorating rapidly, and it was only because of my constant pleas that Chris finally agreed to visit him at the hospital.

Yet, even that he missed because of Chloe.

I'm exhausted, genuinely weary.

I was ready to let go.

But their cruelty was too much.

Oliver died, and now the murderer wanted to take his room!

I looked at Chris with disappointment, feeling that the past five years were just a joke.

Chloe's eyes were red with tears.

"Chris, look at my hand. Isn't it swollen? It's so painful! How could she be so malicious?"

Chris's attention instantly returned to her.

The push I gave came with all my strength, the resolve of a mother trying to protect her child.

So, Chloe's pain wasn't feigned.

Chris's expression turned cold.

"Ashley Stone, apologize to Chloe!"

I used to fear his cold demeanor. Even a frown or a displeased look from him would scare me, making me subconsciously admit fault.

It was all because I cared about him.

Now that I've lost what mattered most, what was there to fear?

I stared at Chris fearlessly.

"An apology is acceptable, but tell me, why did you choose to stay in Oliver's room?"

Chris avoided eye contact.

Eventually, it was Chloe who spoke for him.

"Adeline wasn't comfortable living elsewhere, and the room was vacant. Besides, it's only temporary."

I laughed out of anger.

Temporary?

Oliver is never coming back. I wonder if Chloe would call her daughter a usurper if she knew.

The answer was obvious.

I looked at Chloe.

"Don't you have a home? Are you so poor that you have to force your way into staying at someone else's place?

"Chloe, unless I'm dead, don't even think about it!"

My words drove Chloe to tears; she clutched her chest, crying out in pain.

Chris wrapped his arms around her, his eyes blazing with anger.

"It's one thing to deny her a place to stay, but did you have to push her to this?!"

"She wants to live in my son's house? Dream on!"

"Your conscienceless people, get out!!"