Veronica shot me a sharp glare and snapped, “Marvin, I can’t believe how petty you are. Since you clearly can’t accept Skyler’s existence, I guess we have no choice but to break up!”

“Alright,” I replied calmly.

My indifferent response caught her off guard.

Skyler nudged the little boy beside him and coaxed, “Come on, call him ‘Uncle.’ Tell him not to be upset.”

But the boy scowled and shouted, “I won’t! He’s a bad man—a homewrecker!”

He shoved me hard. “Don’t you dare take my mommy away!”

People nearby turned to look. Some of them even had disdain in their eyes.

I heard someone mutter, “Wow, look at this guy—what kind of shameless homewrecker comes to the Civil Affairs Bureau to steal someone else’s wife?”

I looked down at the boy and spoke evenly. “Don’t worry. Your mom and I are over.”

“I wish your parents a long, happy life together.”

Veronica nodded, clearly satisfied. “Now that’s the mature attitude I want to see from you. Keep it that way.”

Then she turned and walked off, holding the boy in one arm and Skyler’s hand in the other, a perfect little family unit.

As I watched them leave, I thought to myself, That wasn’t me being mature. I meant every word I said.

I found a nearby café to wait for Cassidy.

While I was sipping my coffee, a sudden headline popped up on my phone:

Breaking News: [Heiress of the Monroe Group abruptly walks out during overseas signing ceremony.]

My heart skipped a beat.

Monroe Group? Heiress? Could it be... Cassidy?

I tapped the link, and a video began to play.

On the screen, a tall, elegant woman turned away from a signing table while speaking urgently on the phone.

It was indeed Cassidy. Who else could it be?

I could even faintly hear her say, “Whoever backs out is a little puppy.”

The video cut to a foreign reporter interviewing the other party involved in the contract.

“Miss Monroe left midway through the signing. Do you consider that disrespectful to your company?”

The older white man simply shrugged with a warm smile. “All I can say is—love comes first. I don’t feel disrespected at all. In fact, I admire her. It aligns with our values, too.”

“We’ll wait for her to return and finish the signing. It won’t affect our cooperation in the slightest.”

I set my phone down, my emotions in turmoil.

Cassidy had chased after me for ten years, always putting me first, loving me with everything she had.

And yet, I had been blind—completely focused on Veronica, never giving Cassidy the chance she deserved.

Now, finally disillusioned with Veronica, I was starting to wake up.

Only now could I truly compare the two and understand the difference between real love and mere obligation.

I opened my inbox and found all the old emails Cassidy had sent me.

Each one burned with affection, each word sincere and heartfelt.

I used to find her letters irritating, but now… I can feel the affection hidden between every line.

These weren’t just messages—they were love letters, plain and clear.

And for the first time, my heart ached for her.

How had she held on all these years?

I read every message carefully, one by one. Without realizing it, dusk had fallen.

Suddenly, a bouquet of flowers appeared before me.

I looked up—and there she was. Cassidy, beaming from behind the bouquet.

“Honey, sorry to keep you waiting,” she said cheerfully.

That word honey startled me. I wasn’t used to it.

Sensing my silence, Cassidy grew anxious. “Don’t tell me, you’ve changed your mind?”

I gave her a smile. “Relax. I’m not about to become a little puppy.”

We walked into the Civil Affairs Bureau side by side and registered our marriage.

I knew there were still people across the ocean waiting for her to return and complete that important deal—so I urged her to hurry back.

Cassidy wrapped her arms tightly around me. “Wait for me to come back, and we’ll have our wedding. Also, remember—whoever changes their mind is a little puppy.”

As I watched her figure fade into the distance, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

The mighty Cassidy, feared and respected in the business world... was she really this insecure?

The sky had already darkened by the time I headed home with the bouquet in my arms.

But the moment I opened the door, I was met with a scene I never expected.

Skyler and his son were inside.

Skyler was lounging on my couch, dressed in my pajamas, watching TV like he owned the place. And his son—still wearing his shoes—was jumping up and down on the custom-made sofa I’d carefully picked out. The one that cost over a hundred thousand dollars, now covered in dirty little footprints.

Rage instantly surged through me.

But before I could say a word, Veronica walked out of the kitchen and frowned.

“What are you doing here?”

My breath caught in my throat from anger, and it took me a moment to reply coldly, “This is my house, remember?”

The boy suddenly threw his toy at me and shouted, “This is my mommy’s house! This is our home! You get out!”

Skyler gave me a lazy, dismissive smile. “Don’t take it personally, Marvin. He’s just a kid—he doesn’t know any better.”

Then, without asking, he walked over and took the bouquet from my hands.

“Are these flowers for me and Veronica? That’s thoughtful of you—thanks for the blessing.”

I reached to take them back, but the little boy grabbed the bouquet and yanked it away.

He threw the flowers on the floor, stomped on them twice, and sneered, “Stop trying to please my mom. We don’t want your stupid flowers!”

My head pounded with fury. “You’d better pay for that bouquet!”

Veronica’s voice rose in irritation. “Marvin! He’s just a child. How can you be so petty and argue with him?”

“Go cook dinner already. Stop causing drama in front of the kid.”

She even handed me an apron.

I let out a sharp laugh. “Veronica, do you think I’m your housekeeper now? Why the hell should I cook for the three of you?”

She frowned deeply. “Can’t you just be a little more understanding? Ever since the Civil Affairs Bureau, you’ve been acting out like some drama queen. Things were peaceful until you started stirring everything up.”

“I’m giving you a way out—making dinner is your way to apologize to Skyler and the kid.”

I locked eyes with her. “Veronica, look me in the eye and tell me—do you really believe we don’t have a problem? Do you truly think I should be the one apologizing?”

Her gaze wavered.

But she quickly sighed and said, “Look, the kid is innocent, okay? Marvin, you’re an adult. So what if you suffer a little for now? I’ll make it up to you later, I promise.”

My heart turned cold. “Why should I be the one to suffer? Am I not innocent too?”

Just then, the boy came out of nowhere holding a dinner fork—and drove it hard into my thigh.

“Get out! Get out of my house!”

I shoved him away and said icily, “I bought this house. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you.”

The boy burst into tears and ran into Skyler’s arms.

This house really was mine—meant to be our marital home.

But now it was clear Veronica had completely forgotten that, already planning to play house with another man and his child under my roof.

Skyler’s eyes turned red. Holding the crying boy, he choked out, “This is our fault... we shouldn’t have come. We’ll leave right now.”

But Veronica quickly stopped him, clearly distressed.

She turned to me, clearly annoyed.

“It’s already dark. Skyler has a child with him—where are they supposed to go at this hour? Marvin, could you please be a little more generous?”

I nodded slowly. “Fine. They can stay tonight. But by tomorrow morning, they must leave—or I’m calling the police.”

Veronica scowled. “If you insist on kicking them out, then I’ll leave too.”

I let out a cold laugh. “Sure. Go ahead.”

I opened the bedroom door, ready to get some rest. But the moment I stepped inside, I froze.

The bedsheets were crumpled. The blanket had clearly been slept under.

And beneath the pillow... was a pair of men’s underwear.

Disgust twisted in my gut.

Skyler slept in my bed?

I snatched up my important documents, didn’t spare them another glance, and walked out.

The door slammed shut behind me with a loud bang.

Forget it. I’ll sleep in a hotel tonight. That place already feels filthy. I’ll get someone to deep-clean it tomorrow—and throw away everything that needs to go.

After an exhausting day, my whole body felt like it was about to fall apart.

I showered and collapsed onto the hotel bed. Just as I was about to fall asleep, my phone buzzed.

It was a friend request notification.

I accepted, and in the next moment, a flood of photos came through.

Every single photo was of Veronica and Skyler, and the location was my house.

What was worse, it was on our supposed wedding bed.

The two of them tangled up together in intimate poses, without shame or restraint.

The last message was a single line. [Smart people know when to back off.]

I replied. [If someone wants to collect trash, I won’t stop them.]

Then I shut off my phone and went to sleep.

When I woke up, the sun was already high.

After breakfast, I returned to reclaim my house.

But when I opened the door, I was stunned.

The entire place was decked out with balloons and streamers.

Posters lined the walls—each one a wedding photo of Veronica and Skyler.

Music blasted from the speakers, shaking the walls with noise.

Strangers filled the space, sitting and standing wherever they pleased. I didn’t recognize a single one.

Some were stomping on my sofa. Others raided my fridge. People were drinking from my cups.

My books and documents were scattered across the floor, torn and trampled.

The antiques I’d won at auction, the precious keepsakes my parents gave me—they were being passed around like toys. Some were already broken.

I forced myself to hold back my fury and shut off the music.

Instantly, all eyes turned to me—full of annoyance and confusion.

I asked coldly, “Who are you people? What are you doing in my house?”

They looked at each other, then one said suspiciously, “Your house? Isn’t this Skyler’s place?”

“We’re here for the wedding. Who are you?”

Shaking with rage, I spat, “Wedding? Veronica and Skyler are holding their wedding here?”

Then someone suddenly pointed at me.

“Wait! You look familiar. You’re that third party, aren’t you?”

Before I could speak, a cup of milk tea was thrown in my face.

“Shameless! You actually had the nerve to show up here and ruin their wedding?”

Then more fists and feet followed.

I fought back with all I had, but there were too many of them.

They surrounded me, ganging up on me with growing boldness.

Some punched me, some clawed at my clothes.

One person held up the phone, livestreaming everything. “Let’s show the world what this homewrecker looks like!”

I tried to shield my face, but someone yanked my arms apart.

They pinned me down, laughing as they hung a pair of high heels around my neck like a noose.

Spitting on me, cursing at me—calling me garbage, a worn-out shoe, and a disgrace.

No matter how hard I struggled, it was useless.

They humiliated me, used me for their entertainment, like I was less than a human.

Finally, someone shouted, “The groom is here!”

They paused, and everyone turned toward the door.

I dragged myself off the floor just in time to see Veronica, dressed in a wedding gown, and Skyler in a tailored suit.

Veronica froze when she saw me.

Then she walked quickly toward me and lowered her voice.

“I thought you left... This wedding—it’s not real. It’s just for the kid. We're putting on a show.”