I give up on my position as a higher-up in a listed company just so I can accompany my wife, Jennifer Hurley, to a rural area to carry out a cultural tourism project. I even help her secure subsidies from the government and transform that project into a state-recognized exemplary project.

But the first thing Jennifer does right after becoming the main person in charge of the project is force me to quit.

"I want to tender an application for this project to be recognized nationally. Unfortunately, as the main person in charge, my spouse isn't allowed to take on any roles in the business aspect.

"Either you quit your job or get divorced. You should make your choice."

I don't hesitate to quit my job on the spot. But after that, Jennifer has her assistant, Maurice Gould, take over my position immediately.

Her reasoning is, "Young people know more about coming up with creative ways to promote cultural projects. Our project needs new blood."

At the afterparty, Jennifer raises her wine glass and gives a grand speech on the project's success.

It turns out that I'm the only one who gets kicked out after everything I've done.

After I submitted my resignation, it got approved immediately without going through the usual layers of approval.

I stood there, stunned by the lightning-fast speed.

A core member was about to leave, yet not a single person in the entire team raised any objection?

Jennifer smiled and said quite naturally, "Although I really want you to stay, I am the person in charge of this project, after all. So, I have to be responsible for both the project and the other team members."

As I listened to her, I felt something was off.

After returning home that night, I asked her, "You actually wanted to get rid of me, didn't you?"

Jennifer propped up her chin and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Is that how you see me? You're my husband, so what good would it do me to kick you out? It's just the way things are. I'm also thinking about the whole project team."

I found it laughable and shot back, "Then how come Maurice, an inexperienced assistant, gets to take my place? Is that what you call being responsible?"

"You're right, he has no experience," Jennifer said matter-of-factly. "But I can give him authority. The project needs innovation and fresh blood. You old-timers with rigid thinking should step aside for the younger generation."

With that, she let out a disdainful click of her tongue and turned into the study.

Through the door, I could vaguely hear her speaking softly on the phone to Maurice.

The last remaining shred of feelings I had for her completely vanished at that moment.

About an hour later, Jennifer pushed open the door and came out.

"In a few days, Mr. Clinton Parker, the cultural tourism investor we've been in touch with, is coming for a site visit. You're coming with me," she said, her eyes sparkling.

I knew exactly what she was thinking.

Mr. Parker was a connection I had built back in the day, and I was the only person in the whole country he was willing to deal with. If he found out I'd been kicked out, there was no way he'd keep investing.

"I'm not going. I have no position or title now, so what identity would I even attend under?"

Even though I had put up most of the startup capital for this cultural tourism project, Jennifer had never let me take the lead publicly.

She'd said to me, "You look too old-fashioned and aren't suited for dealing with an international team. It would hurt the project's image."

In this moment, I really wanted to ask, "So, now you're not worried about me looking old-fashioned and hurting the project's image?"

A chill settled over my chest, and I couldn't help but let out a scoff.

Seeing me refuse, Jennifer pursed her lips and rolled her eyes disdainfully. Then, she went back into the study.

I wasn't in the mood to talk anymore either, so I went to bed early.

Late at night, Jennifer suddenly came into the bedroom and shook me awake.

"Archie Richmond, let's have a baby. Once we have one, you'll be happier staying at home, and you'll be out of the drama outside. I'm saying this for your own good. You've worked hard for half your life—it's time to stop and enjoy life. Being a stay-at-home dad is what suits you best."

I nearly let out a cold laugh.

I was an executive who had taken a company public, and the best job for me was to be a stay-at-home dad?

Her real intention for bringing up having a baby at this moment couldn't be more obvious.

She wanted to tie me down with a baby and keep me around to help her hold onto Mr. Parker. And while we were at it, have me finalize the paperwork for the national recognition submission.

I instinctively moved away from her. Suddenly, I remembered the day she came back from her business trip last month.

We hadn't seen each other for days, so I couldn't help but go into her room that night. However, she pulled a pair of scissors from under her pillow and pointed them straight at me.

"Archie, even between husband and wife, you need my consent!" she said, her eyes cold as ice. "What's the difference between you and those men who think only with their lower halves? I'm warning you—if you try to force yourself on me, I'll call the cops immediately."

I froze on the spot.

How had something that was perfectly normal between a married couple turned into "forcing" her in Jennifer's eyes?

Thus, even though she was now putting on an alluring show, I only felt a bone-chilling cold and had zero interest.

To her, a baby was nothing more than a bargaining chip for her own benefit.

When she first begged me to invest in the project, to help her secure government subsidies, and to push her to be the project director, she had also sworn up and down that she wanted to have a baby with me.

But she secretly took birth control pills. Then, she would accuse me of having fertility issues, saying I couldn't father a child.

Once, by chance, I overheard her chatting with Maurice about who their future child would look like.

Jennifer had said with utter certainty, "He'll look like you, of course. Why, you're the most handsome man in the world."

Thinking of this, I couldn't hold back a cold, sarcastic laugh.

"Even if we did have a baby, I'm afraid he wouldn't turn out the way you want. You expect him to look like Maurice? You'd be disappointed."

The false warmth in the bedroom instantly froze.

Jennifer's face turned thunderous as she sat up abruptly.

"Archie, I'll say this one last time—Maurice and I are just colleagues! Your constant suspicion is utterly irrational! I gave you a chance, and you didn't appreciate it. From now on, don't even think about having a baby unless you're willing to get down on your knees and beg me!"

She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

I buried my face deep into the blanket, my chest so tight I could barely breathe.

How?

How could she act all insulted and high-and-mighty with me when everyone knew she had been fooling around with Maurice?

I couldn't and wouldn't accept a marriage like this!

The next morning, Jennifer acted completely out of character.

She came up to me and said with a smile, "Archie, we got married in such a hurry back then that we never even had a wedding. So, how about we take a trip to make up for it? Consider it my compensation to you."

In the eight years we had known each other, she had never been this proactive.

I looked at her strangely, my guard going up. There was no telling what she was after now.

But still, I wanted to give it one more try.

Maybe I had been too busy handling project meetings and had neglected her feelings. A trip together might just bring us closer.

However, the moment we got to the airport, I realized just how naive I was.

Jennifer had brought Maurice along.

Seeing me frown, she casually explained, "Maurice is in charge of the project's digital marketing. A lot of the plans targeting younger customers require his attention. We can't afford to fall behind on the project timeline, after all."

"Don't you have three female assistants? Can't you bring one of them instead?"

I had long been dissatisfied with how she brought Maurice along to everything.

"No. To me, Maurice is irreplaceable," Jennifer said firmly.

Before departure, Maurice suddenly said, "Jennifer, let's go to Mount Pratt at Abama. I've been wanting to shoot some footage of camping in the bamboo forest for a while now."

I frowned instinctively. This was my and Jennifer's honeymoon trip, and we had agreed to go to Oakport. What right did an assistant like Maurice have to make suggestions?

I said exactly that.

Maurice immediately looked surprised and aggrieved.

"Jennifer, I've been telling you all along that camping at Mount Pratt is trending and would be great for project promotion. Why would Archie just go and change the destination without telling anyone?

"The signal in those heritage villages at Oakport is unstable. What if a project partner needs to reach us?"

He looked at Jennifer with big, sad puppy dog eyes.

Jennifer changed her decision on the spot and immediately rebooked the flights.

She pinched Maurice's cheek affectionately and said, "You're right. We're going to Mount Pratt. Camping is so much better."

"Yay! I brought a tent. We can go stargazing then," Maurice cheered happily. Then, he turned and asked me with feigned innocence, "Archie, are you coming too?"

Looking at the two of them, I finally understood that this was never a make-up trip for me. In fact, Jennifer had no intention of taking me anywhere from the very beginning.

I really wanted to ask Jennifer whose honeymoon trip this was supposed to be.

However, the words died in my throat because confronting her would only make me look more pathetic.

Seeing my silence, Jennifer frowned in displeasure. "Archie, are you deaf? Maurice is talking to you."

Instead of answering, I silently turned and walked toward the gate for Oakport.

"Archie, what's gotten into you? I specifically cleared my schedule to spend time with you, and this is the attitude I get?" she shouted behind me.

I stopped in my tracks. I wanted to turn back and tell her, "You didn't come here to spend time with me. You came here specifically for Maurice."

But then I caught sight of the matching hoodies they were wearing under their coats.

I laughed and couldn't help but say mockingly, "You two look great in the matching hoodies. It's just a shame I don't enjoy being a third wheel."

My words drew stares from the surrounding passengers.

Someone recognized Jennifer and pulled out their phone to take pictures.

Jennifer immediately zipped up her coat, her expression darkening. "There are custom project team hoodies. Everyone has one. Must you be so petty?"

I let out a derisive snort.

Did she think I was blind? The brand logo was plastered all over the hoodie.

Just then, Maurice sidled up to her and said pitifully, "Jennifer, Archie seems pretty lonely by himself. How about we stick to the original plan and go to Oakport? I don't want Archie to feel left out.

"But several influencer hostel owners and investors have already arranged to meet us at Mount Pratt, and you just got the state recognition. If you stand them up at this stage, I'm afraid the industry might question your professionalism. Don't worry about me—I don't want to come between you two."

I couldn't bear to listen anymore, so I walked straight toward the gate.

Behind me came Jennifer's cold voice. "Let him be. He can't even take an out when it's handed to him. All he knows is to throw a tantrum at the drop of a hat. Whether he comes or not, I don't care. I'm done accommodating him."

I laughed bitterly to myself.

I wanted to tell her that the only person in this world who would ever accommodate me unconditionally was my mother, Constance Powell.

What was Jennifer compared to that?

Right in front of them, I boarded the flight to Oakport alone.

I walked through those heritage workshops and indigenous villages in Mount Cypress and Lake Emery by myself.

During the day, I chatted with local artisans. At night, I sat in the courtyard of my inn, quietly stargazing.

The peace and purity of this place made me forget about Jennifer, if only for a while.

It wasn't until the trip was nearly over that I suddenly realized that Jennifer and I had perhaps always been from two different worlds.

The day would come when we would part ways for good, just like this trip.

Before heading back, I received a call from Jennifer.

Her opening line was the familiar accusation. "After this trip, I can clearly see that we're just not on the same page. I tried to compensate you out of kindness, yet you humiliated me in public. Archie, I suggest you know when to stop. There's a limit to my patience."

I listened quietly, then nodded in agreement. "You're right. We're really not on the same page."

Then, I hung up.

Now that I had fully seen Jennifer for who she was, I actually wanted to thank Maurice for crying and throwing a fit back then to stop her from getting our marriage license.

I had everything arranged. But the night before, Maurice bombarded Jennifer with messages.

One said, "If you get married, I won't go on living." Another said, "What am I supposed to do without you?"

He even demanded that Jennifer come to him immediately. If he didn't see her in ten minutes, he'd slash his wrists.

At that thought, I smiled slightly.

Naturally, Jennifer couldn't sit still. She rushed over in a panic, and after that, she never brought up getting the marriage license again.