Jessica quickly softened her tone and said, "Sorry, honey. I was being too sensitive. I thought you were ignoring me on purpose because you were upset about Stan becoming fire captain. To make it up to you, I'll bring the chicken soup to the station for you later."

My expression was stone cold, but I replied in an exceptionally gentle voice, "I wouldn't want you to go through all that trouble for me, babe. You can have the soup instead and rest early tonight."

"It's no trouble at all, honey. I haven't seen you all day. I'm starting to miss you!" Jessica declared. "Besides, I prepared the chicken soup for you. Are you really going to let my effort go to waste like that?"

Hearing this, I couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Even though I knew everything she said was a lie, I still agreed to it. "Alright. You might as well come and join Stanley's celebration party, too."

If she didn't come, she and Stanley wouldn't be able to carry on with the performance they'd carefully prepared.

Upon arriving at the fire station, the first thing Jessica did was congratulate Stanley. "I knew you'd become the fire captain, Stan!"

Even though they were right in front of me, Stanley showed no qualms about putting his arm around Jessica's waist.

"It's all thanks to your support and encouragement, Jessica. Without it, I wouldn't have had the confidence to beat Craig for the position," he said while shooting me a gloating grin.

I just smiled without saying anything.

I'd told the fire chief, Ezra Higgins, in advance that I wasn't interested in becoming the captain. If not for that, Stanley would've received zero votes, just like he had in my first life.

But now, I wanted them to be as giddy with self-satisfaction as possible. The more smug they were, the more they'd lower their guard around me, and the better it was for me to carry out the rest of my plans.

After flirting with Stanley for a bit, Jessica finally remembered the chicken soup she'd brought. She quickly took the cap off the thermal flask and handed the flask to me.

"Come on, honey. Drink the soup while it's still warm."

As I stared at the soup, the smell wafting in the air, my hands clenched beneath the table. In the previous two lives, it was this very soup that had ruined my reputation, destroyed my future, and ultimately cost me my life.

When Jessica saw me eye the soup without showing any intention of drinking it, she asked in confusion, "Why aren't you drinking, honey? Haven't you always loved the chicken soup I make for you?"

"Doesn't the captain also love the soup you make?" I said. "Since it's his first day as captain today, he should get the first spoonful as well."

I pushed the soup toward Stanley, but he didn't even hesitate before pushing it back toward me. "I appreciate the thought, Craig, but Jessica made this soup specifically for you. How could I take it? You should drink up. Don't let Jessica's efforts go to waste."

He even shot Jessica a meaningful look. She got the hint and immediately acted as if I'd angered her, exclaiming, "Craig! I spent all the time and effort preparing this soup just for you! How can you offer it to someone else?

"How many times must I tell you that Stanley and I are just friends? Can you stop being so jealous all the time?"

I stared straight into Jessica's eyes, my tone a mix of hurt and confusion as I said, "Why are you getting so worked up, honey? All I did was stare at the soup for a little longer and made the offer out of politeness. Don't tell me you added something extra to the soup that only I'm supposed to drink."

Jessica's expression stiffened, her eyes flickering evasively. Forcing a dry laugh, she retorted, "Don't be ridiculous! What could I have possibly added to the soup?"

Stanley quickly chimed in teasingly, "If Jessica did add anything, it would definitely be some kind of aphrodisiac. Be honest with me, Craig. Have you been having a hard time keeping Jessica satisfied? I know what she likes. Want me to share some tips with you in private?"

Though he appeared to be joking, his tone was taunting and full of ridicule.

Jessica glared at Stanley. "Hush, Stan!"

Then she pushed the soup toward me again.

"Hurry up and drink the soup, honey. It won't taste as good when it's cold," Jessica urged.

I looked at her affectionately and said, "Don't worry, babe. I'll drink every last drop."

With that, I picked up the thermal flask and brought it to my lips, with Jessica and Stanley eagerly watching me.

Just as I was about to take a mouthful, however, I pulled the flask back a bit. As if remembering something, I said to Stanley, "Oh, captain. I almost forgot to tell you that Chief Higgins was looking for you. I think he wants to introduce a potential girlfriend to you. You should go see him."

Jessica's eyes immediately flashed with displeasure. With feigned curiosity, she asked, "A potential girlfriend? What's she like? I'll come with you to see who it is, Stan."

Then, she turned to me and added, "Don't forget to drink the soup, honey."

Nodding, I smiled faintly as I watched them leave. Once they were out of sight, I swiftly poured some of the soup into a resealable bag I'd prepared in advance. The rest went down the toilet bowl.

…

By the time Jessica and Stanley returned, there was no trace of the soup left in the flask, save for the drop of it that clung to the corner of my lips.

Jessica secretly exhaled in relief before glaring at me. "Craig, Chief Higgins said he never claimed he was going to introduce a potential girlfriend to Stan. Can you stop making up these ridiculous lies?"

Looking all aggrieved, Stanley said to Jessica, "I think Craig doesn't like it when you spend too much time with me, Jessica. That's why he said that on purpose to drive a wedge between us.

"Maybe I should keep my distance from you from now on. I wouldn't want Craig to get annoyed with me and start picking on me."

His words only made me want to laugh. Jessica was my wife. Why was it any of her business whether he got a girlfriend? How would it drive a wedge between them?

With a smile that didn't reach my eyes, I looked at Stanley and said, "You need to watch what you say, my dear captain. After all, you're the fire captain, and I'm just a lieutenant. Since you outrank me, if anyone's going to be picking on someone, it'd be you picking on me."

But Stanley became even more indignant and started complaining about me. "See that, Jessica? Doesn't that prove my point? Craig can't accept the fact that I became the captain. He spends all his time gathering the others in the station and forming cliques with them. Everyone gets along well with him.

"Even though I'm the captain, all he has to do is say the word, and everyone will still follow his command. I'm just a figurehead. If that's going to be the case, I might as well just step down voluntarily to avoid embarrassing myself."

He turned and immediately started heading toward Chief Higgins' office.

Jessica hurriedly grabbed his arm. Eyes filled with tender concern, she assured him, "Don't worry about it, Stan. As long as I'm here, no one can push you around."

She marched up to me and slapped me right in front of everyone in the station. "Apologize to Stan at once, Craig!"

I cupped my cheek, my gaze darkening slightly. "What did I do wrong? Why should I apologize to him? I'm your husband, Jessica! Instead of trusting me, you'd rather stick up for another man?"

As I recalled what had happened in my first two lives, I almost roared the last sentence. Even my eyes began to redden.

However, Jessica looked as if she'd done nothing wrong.

Perhaps it was because she thought I'd drunk the soup. Maybe she believed that, after tonight, I would be labeled a criminal, subjected to everyone's scorn and contempt.

Either way, she couldn't even be bothered to hide her true self anymore. She came right out and mocked me.

"That's because you're a petty man who does nothing but stir up trouble! If I hadn't come to the station today, I wouldn't have realized just how much you've been bullying Stan.

"I've already shown you enough courtesy by not demanding that you get on your knees and beg for Stan's forgiveness! I'm warning you, Craig. If you don't apologize to Stan in public today, I won't forgive you!"

She grabbed Stanley's hand and turned to leave.

"Don't go, babe!"

Pretending to be scared, I hurried after Jessica and caught her arm. I used this opportunity to slip a recording bug into the pocket of her jacket. "I'm sorry, babe. I was wrong."

Jessica stopped in her tracks and eyed me frostily.

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to!" Jessica snapped.

Only then did I look at Stanley. He held his head high, as if he were expecting me to bow down and worship him.

My lips curled, and while everyone else looked on in shock, I said slowly, "I'm sorry, Captain Porter. I was wrong."

Stanley's eyes were practically gleaming with scorn and smug delight. Jessica was just as satisfied with my display.

I kept my eyes lowered to hide the cold glint in them. I would let them revel in smug contentment for a little longer. It wouldn't be long before I'd wipe that cocky smile off their faces.

…

"It's Stan's celebration party tonight. Since he's the star of the event, he has to be there. You have nothing else to do anyway, so you can be on duty in his place," Jessica instructed matter-of-factly.

But I pressed a hand to my forehead, looking a little troubled. "I'd be more than happy to cover for the captain, but I'm starting to get rather lightheaded. It feels like I'm about to doze off. Do you think I'm coming down with something, honey?"

Jessica and Stanley exchanged a glance, noting the exhilaration in each other's eyes.

"Since Craig isn't feeling well, Jessica, we shouldn't trouble him," Stanley piped up in feigned concern. "We should let him go home and get some rest as soon as he can."

However, Jessica simply eyed me in disdain and said, "Why are you so weak? You're always suffering from something or another. Are you even a real man? Get the hell out of here and go home. Stop being such an embarrassment in front of everyone!"

Ignoring the attitude she took with me, I smiled warmly and reminded her, "Don't stay out too late tonight, babe, and don't drink too much. Otherwise, you'll have a bad hangover in the morning."

Jessica simply waved me off impatiently before walking away with her arm around Stanley's.

The rest of the squad glanced at me, standing there all alone, with looks of sympathy and ridicule.

"Craig's always so strict with us during our training. I never thought he'd turn out to be a henpecked husband!"

"He's more than just a henpecked husband. Isn't it obvious that she's openly cheating on him?"

"If my wife ever dared to talk to me like that, I would've divorced her long ago."

As their chatter reached my ears, I let out a self-mocking smile.

Jessica and I had been together for ten years, and our relationship had been great. Then Stanley came along.

But even after finding out about their affair, I couldn't bear to leave her and give up on our relationship.

I kept giving her more and more chances, hoping that she would come to her senses and come back to me eventually.

Who would've thought that my soft-heartedness would result in a tragedy for me?

This was the third life, and perhaps my last chance. I couldn't repeat the mistakes I'd made in my first two lives.

I'd applied to use some of my annual leave. Once it was approved, I left the fire station.

I took a cab to Henry Stone's house. He was my friend and a lawyer.

"Help me test this chicken soup for possible drugs or other unusual substances. And while you're at it, draft a divorce agreement for me," I said and handed him the resealable bag with the soup.

After taking the soup, Henry looked at me in shock. "You're serious about it, Craig? I thought you were joking in your text."

I gave a bitter smile. "When have I ever joked about something like this?"

"You two—"

I cut him off, "I don't have time to explain everything to you now, Henry. Just do what I said. When the time comes, you'll know why I'm doing this. You're my best friend. You're the only person I can trust."

After saying that, I headed straight to the airport. Once I got there, I didn't go through customs. I sat in a spot visible to all the security cameras and pretended to fall asleep, waiting for the police to arrive.

At 10:00 am the next day, the police found me.

"Craig Latham," one of the officers said, "you are suspected of arson. Please come with us for further investigation."