"Natalie, I haven't eaten yet..."

I turned back and looked at him, confused. "If you haven't eaten, then eat. Why are you telling me?"

Did he still expect me to be like before? No matter what, always making sure a home-cooked meal was waiting for him?

Holding the baby, I glanced over my shoulder and added, "Oh, right. If you're hungry, there's still a pack of spicy noodles. You can cook it yourself."

-

Newborns fall asleep quickly. Once the baby was settled, my phone buzzed with a message from my father.

[Natalie, you've turned me down so many times, but I'm getting older. Can't you take over the company for me? Just think of it as doing your dad a favor.

[I know you don't want Daryl to feel like he's been deceived, that the company he's been working for all this time is actually ours. But in the end, you're my only child. If you don't take over, who will?]

A dull ache spread through my heart. My parents had already sacrificed so much for me. And yet, I had nearly let all their hard work go to waste—for Daryl.

I took a deep breath and typed my reply. [Dad, I've made up my mind. I'll take over the family business.]

Sullivan Enterprise had investments in major companies across the country. My parents had brought it up many times, hoping I would step in as they aged.

But I kept turning them down—for the sake of Daryl's fragile self-esteem.

Daryl and I met in college. He was the only person from his village to make it to university, thanks to the community pulling together to fund his education.

He could endure hardship. And because he worked hard, he achieved success.

But what he never realized was that every step of his success had been carefully orchestrated by me. Someone from a small village could never truly navigate the treacherous waters of the business world on their own.

On my birthday, Daryl stood in the snow and waited for three hours.

The moment he saw me, he immediately dropped to one knee.

"Natalie! Will you marry me?"

Daryl's nose was red from the cold, his eyelashes dusted with snowflakes that shimmered under the moonlight.

For that moment, his gentle eyes reflected only me.

My heart pounded wildly, and my hands fidgeted with the hem of my coat, unsure of what to do.

Then, he stood and stepped closer. He pressed a soft kiss to my cheek before leaning in to whisper against my ear.

"Natalie, be my wife, okay?"

"Okay."

I said before I could even think.

Daryl knew I would say yes. Everyone at Aurelia University knew how much I liked him.

And just like that, we were soon married.

After the wedding, Daryl insisted he could provide for me and refused to let me work. Whenever I brought it up, he would drink himself into oblivion.

"Natalie, even you look down on me, don't you? Have you always despised my origins?"

I knew it was just his pride talking, so I never called him out on it. I thought I had already done everything a wife was supposed to do.

My father must have sensed something because he sent me a message.

[Are you and Daryl okay?]

I didn't reply. A moment later, another message came through.

[Sweetheart, no matter what you decide, your mother and I will support you.]

-

After dinner, Daryl came into the bedroom. I turned away from him, lying on my side with my back facing him.

"The baby is still so little. It's hard for me to nurse her at night if you're here. You should sleep in the guest room."

In the past, whenever Daryl came home from a business trip, I would cling to him and not want to leave his side.

Now, just looking at him made me sick.

I didn't expect him to explode in anger, completely disregarding our sleeping daughter.

"That's enough! How long are you planning to throw a tantrum? I already explained everything! A week ago, Madison and I were stuck together because of work. This trip was for work too—what the hell was I supposed to do?

"If I don't work, who's going to support you? Who's going to support Jennifer? Everything costs money! How much longer are you going to throw this childish jealousy fit?

"You can't even help me at work, and all you do is make things harder!"

Oh, yes.

If Daryl hadn't brought it up, I might have forgotten just how foolish I had been.

A week ago, Daryl disappeared for an entire night.

I had been in pain. It was postpartum cramps so severe that the doctor advised I get a check-up, preferably with a family member accompanying me.

But no matter how many times I called, Daryl was nowhere to be found.

Left with no other choice, I turned to my best friend for help. She found him in a private booth at a nightclub—his arms wrapped around Madison.

The next day, we had a huge fight in my hospital room.

Daryl stuck to the same excuse, acting like I was making a big deal out of nothing.

"I was drunk. And anyway, there were so many people there—what could have possibly happened between me and Madison? You've been so paranoid since you got pregnant. Are you sure this isn't just postpartum depression?

"If something were going on between me and Madison, don't you think we would've been together a long time ago? You wouldn't be here if that happened!

"When you gave birth, Madison even came to see you in the hospital. And now you're thinking the worst of her? Maybe it's your own heart that's black—always assuming the worst in people. Stop being so unreasonable."

Right.

It was all my fault for being unreasonable.

I should have just thrown them a wedding right then and there when I caught them together.

Even when I saw the plane ticket, I still foolishly held on to hope.

But that was the final blow.

Looking back now, I realized how exhausted I was—how utterly drained I had been all these years.

Daryl was watching me, irritation written all over his face.

I met his gaze and calmly said, "No, you're overthinking it."

Daryl likely never expected me to remain calm. For a split second, I saw something strange flicker across his face—panic.

"Natalie… you're really not mad?"

I chuckled. "What's there to be mad about? You should head to the guest room. I need to sleep. The baby will wake up soon, and I have to feed her."

Before he could reply, I turned off the light and climbed into bed.

Daryl stood there for a moment, clearly displeased. Then, he stormed out of the bedroom with a scowl.

I didn't understand.

Hadn't he always hated it when I made a fuss?

Now that I wasn't making a fuss, even when I had every right to—why was he still angry?

The next morning, Daryl had breakfast ready. Everything on the table was food that I liked.

"Natalie, you're awake. I heard the food at the postpartum care center wasn't great, so I got you your favorite pastries."

So he had always known I wasn't eating well there.

He knew I hated the food at the postpartum center.

When I scrolled through Madison's posts previously, I found that Daryl knew her preferences inside and out.

Madison didn't like eating out, so Daryl humbled himself and cooked for her—just to earn a single word of praise.

I bore him a daughter, yet this was how he treated me.

I realized that I was never loved in our relationship.

I couldn't help but wonder—what even counted as love?

There was a time when I saw myself reflected in Daryl's eyes, but that moment had long since disappeared.

Daryl pulled out two plane tickets.

"Didn't you say you wanted to visit Mirelia? I finally have some time off, and I know you've been in a bad mood lately. I already bought the tickets—we can go together."

I almost laughed out loud.

So he was really going to take two different women to the same place?

Forcing down my anger, I managed a smile. "No, I don't have time. The baby is still too young."

"We can get a nanny to take care of her."

I looked out the window, watching the autumn leaves drift down.

"Daryl, Mirelia's most beautiful season is already over."

He had already brought the person he loved the most to experience it.

I left the latter half unsaid.

Daryl hesitated for a moment before stammering, "Oh… right… sorry, I forgot…"

No.

He didn't forget.

He remembered perfectly.

"You should get to work before you're late."

-

I thought my attitude made my stance crystal clear.

But to Daryl, I was just throwing a tantrum.

Recently, he had been trying all sorts of ways to cheer me up—even suggesting a trip to an amusement park.

I never took his promises seriously. After all, something always came up to ruin them before they could happen.

Now, I realized that Madison was probably just jealous and stirring up trouble on purpose.

But this time, strangely enough, everything went smoothly.

Daryl pulled up in his car, rolling down the window—

And there, in the passenger seat, sat Madison.

She beamed at me, waving like she was the true lady of the house.

"Natalie! Get in!"

Daryl glanced at me and quickly explained, "I accidentally mentioned the amusement park, and Madison got excited. She insisted on coming. I figured, why not? One more person won't hurt.

"By the way, honey, Madison gets car sick, so I asked her to sit in the front. How about you sit in the back?" Daryl asked tentatively.

Before I could respond, Madison chimed in, "Oh, don't worry, Daryl! We're both women. I'm sure Natalie will understand. You don't have to say anything."

With that, she lightly tapped Daryl, her fist landing softly.

Daryl instinctively grabbed her fist, a look of indulgence in his eyes.

The sight disgusted me and made my stomach churn.

Even if I had given up on Daryl, did he have to rub it in my face like this?

It was as if Daryl realized what had just happened. He quickly pulled his hand away from Madison, his face flushed with embarrassment.

I walked over to Daryl's car, looked him straight in the eyes, and said calmly, "Daryl, let's get a divorce."

Daryl immediately got out of the car and rushed to my side.

"Natalie, don't be like this. We're just going out to relax, and bringing Madison along doesn't change anything. Don't treat her like some rival."

I scoffed. "Daryl, you're overthinking it. I'm not treating her like a rival. I just want to divorce you."

When Daryl saw the seriousness in my expression, his face darkened.

"Do you really have to make this scene in front of others? Jennifer is still so young. What's your plan after a divorce? You have no skills or talents. Who else apart from me will treat you like this?

"With your abilities, surviving in this society would be tough. Looks like I've spoiled you all these years of marriage!"

I chuckled. "Spoiled me? In all these years of marriage, when have you ever spoiled me?"

"Natalie, can you honestly say I haven't done enough? Everything we eat and drink, I bought with my own salary. Have I ever let you work a day in all these years? And now you're acting all high and mighty?

"You married me. Do you think that any other man would have put up with your spoiled attitude?"

Daryl furiously tore the divorce papers into shreds.

"You keep using divorce as a threat. Do you know how annoying you are?"

Madison ran over with red-rimmed eyes and tried to explain.

"Natalie, you're really misunderstanding Daryl. There's no need for you two to argue over me… really."

When she tried to reach out to me, I shoved Madison's hand away.

"You're filthy!"

At that moment, a luxury minivan pulled up nearby, and a well-dressed man stepped out.

When Daryl saw him, he immediately straightened up and put on a forced smile. Then, he walked forward to greet the well-dressed man.

"Mr. Lane, what a surprise! If you'd let me know you were coming, I could have made arrangements for you."

Samuel Lane didn't even glance at Daryl. Instead, he turned and walked toward me. When he stopped before me, he addressed me with respect, "My lady, Mr. Sullivan sent me to pick you up. You've worked hard all these years."

"My lady?"

Daryl stood frozen in place, unable to move.