That night, David didn't come home.

I didn't know where he went, nor did I care.

In the past, I was always the one to apologize first after a fight, but this time, I had no intention of soothing him.

Over the next few days, he still didn't return.

At work, he's a mid-level manager, and we're not even on the same floor. I used to be the one who'd bring him food and make him coffee, but after that fight, I hadn't seen him at all in the company.

He didn't seek me out. Instead, he was deliberately avoiding me.

Now that I was alone, I actually felt free and relaxed.

I used to pity him for being so busy, always making him delicious meals and handling all the housework.

And he shamelessly dumped his endless work on me, calling it a "learning opportunity" for me. Then he'd take credit for my efforts, saying he'd look over everything to catch any mistakes.

But now, I could do whatever I wanted.

As a low-level employee, I just coasted through work without worrying about overtime for David anymore.

I didn't need to research new recipes or force myself to cook when I didn't want to. I could just order takeout.

Even house chores could be outsourced to a cleaning service.

Before Cindy came into the picture, I accompanied David to a class reunion. Many of the girls there were whispering, saying how could David end up with such a tired-looking woman.

At that moment, I was stunned. After all, I had been the campus beauty in college.

But when I looked in the mirror later, I hardly recognized the weary face staring back at me.

It was true. Over the years, I had made David my entire world.

I loved him, giving him everything I had.

He took on more work to get promoted, but in the end, I was the one working late into the night to complete everything.

He said he needed to be well-rested to impress the higher-ups.

Half a year ago, the company offered me a vacation, but he said he couldn't do without me, so I gave it up and continued working for him.

Looking back, if I hadn't helped him, would I be this worn out?

In this relationship, I was always the one giving, while he just enjoyed the convenience I provided.

And David?

Ever since Cindy came along, he had stopped caring about me entirely.

When I was writhing in pain from menstrual cramps, he only said he was busy and went back to his cozy office with Cindy.

While I worked late into the night, handling his paperwork to further his career, he was sitting on the beach with Cindy, arm in arm.

While I was begging a client for leniency on a proposal, he was taking Cindy to the hospital, tenderly caring for her.

So what am I to him?

In his eyes, he had done nothing wrong — it was all my fault.

I was the unreasonable one, the one who didn't understand Cindy.

Hehe.

How righteous he must feel.

I stopped thinking about him and focused on myself instead.

I adjusted my schedule, went to the gym to get in shape, and treated myself to nutritious meals every day. I made sure to dress up whenever I went out.

Within days, my overall appearance improved, and even my colleagues complimented how much healthier I looked.

One day, a colleague told me that there was a company dinner tonight and that David would be attending. She asked if I would go.

Of course, I would go. How could I miss it?