The moment Damian saw Waverly lunge toward the window, he rushed forward and grabbed her, holding her tightly as she sobbed uncontrollably. He whispered reassurances to her while she clung to him like a lifeline.

Simon slammed his hand on the desk, his face twisted with irritation. "You two have no shame at all! This is a workplace! Look around—everyone here is watching! Do you realize how ridiculous you both look right now?"

He turned toward me with a softer expression and said, "Maisie, go home and get some rest. I promise I'll handle this situation."

I gave him a nod, turned around, and left without a second thought.

As I walked away, I heard footsteps behind me. Damian was trying to catch up, his hand reaching for my arm.

However, before he could touch me, Waverly latched onto him, crying as she begged him not to leave her behind.

I did not stop or say anything. Instead, I walked straight home, grabbed my documents, and went to buy my plane ticket.

When I returned, I spotted Damian marching furiously down the street, with Waverly trailing nervously behind him.

I did not care what had happened after I left the office, nor did I want to know. I stuffed the ticket into my coat pocket, pretended not to see them, and made my way home.

Perhaps ten minutes later, I heard a commotion outside my door. I opened it to find Damian and Waverly standing there, along with a pile of random items scattered in the hallway.

Waverly's face was full of resentment, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Damian cleared his throat and spoke first. "Maisie, I got everything back. Can we... Can we forget about the divorce now?"

Before I could respond, Waverly burst out, voice sharp and shrill. "Maisie, you got your stuff back! I didn't take anything from you! Are you happy now?"

She turned to Damian, wiping away fake tears. "Fine! Don't worry about me or my kid anymore! We'll just starve, I guess!"

I crouched down and sifted through the pile they had brought back. There were broken appliances, worn-out clothes, and even a carton of eggs Damian had just bought for her two days ago.

I clapped my hands and laughed.

"Waverly, seriously? Damian spent five years helping you raise your kid. He paid for your food, your clothes, everything.

"Your late husband left you a pretty generous settlement, didn't he? I'm guessing you've been saving it all while living off my household.

"Starving? Yeah, I think you're exaggerating just a little."

The hallway was packed with curious neighbors, all craning their necks to watch the scene unfold. They had been waiting for the drama ever since I confronted Damian and Waverly at their workplace.

Damian's face turned beet red as he glanced around at the gawking crowd. "Waverly, enough! I helped you when you needed it, but stop making a spectacle of yourself. I might not care, but I'm embarrassed for you!"

Clara squeezed through the crowd and tried to calm the situation. "Maisie, dear, let it go. The more you fight, the harder it'll be for everyone. At the end of the day, you still have a marriage to protect."

I appreciated Clara's good intentions. People from her generation grew up believing that we should not air our dirty linen in public, but I did not care about appearances anymore.

I was done playing the dutiful wife, especially since I did nothing wrong. Soon, I would have nothing to do with Damian and Waverly, that shameless couple, anymore.

I squeezed her hand. "Clara, I've made up my mind. I'm divorcing him, no matter what. In five days, I'm leaving the country to study abroad. I've already bought my ticket."

I gestured toward the pile of junk in the hallway and added, "Look, if you see anything your grandson could use, go ahead and take it. I'll just sell the rest to a scrap collector."

Clara hesitated, glancing from me to Damian and back again. "Oh, I don't know... It feels a bit awkward."

I picked up a toy car from the pile and handed it to her. "Here, your grandson will love this. These clothes are unworn too. I'm pretty sure they'll fit him."

I held up the carton of eggs. "Take these eggs home and make him some breakfast."

Clara smiled gratefully and whispered, "Maisie, are you really leaving? I mean, won't that just give those two exactly what they want?"

I met her eyes and nodded. "I am, Clara. I've wasted enough time on Damian already. He never appreciated what I gave him, but with my education and my career, my country will appreciate me more than he ever did."

Clara could tell I was determined, eventually supporting my decision. As she turned to leave and passed Damian, she shook her head and muttered under her breath.

"You had a good woman and threw her away. What a damn shame."

Damian stood there, rooted to the floor, not daring to lift his head under the weight of the neighbors' judgmental stares.

When Waverly saw Damian's reaction, she put on her usual pitiful expression and rushed back into her apartment. Moments later, she returned holding a thick envelope.

She shoved it toward me and said, "This is twenty thousand dollars. It's everything I have. Take it all. As for the remaining five thousand dollars... Well, you decide if my life is worth that much."

Damian's face went pale. He immediately softened, his voice trembling as he said, "Waverly, what are you doing? You don't have to hand it over all at once… Take your time. We'll figure it out."

I shot him a glance and snatched the envelope from Waverly's hand. Right there in front of her, I counted the bills out loud.

"One, two, three... Exactly two hundred bills. Well, Waverly, you can consider the remaining five thousand dollars Damian's gift to you—money he's been saving for your future wedding."

Damian's head jerked toward me, eyes wide with panic. "Maisie, don't spout nonsense like that. The entire neighborhood just heard you! They all know you're my wife!"

I let out a cold laugh. "Everyone knows you spend every other day at Waverly's place. Your heart's with her, Damian, not me."

Waverly's eyes lit up for a moment, though she quickly lowered her head to hide her satisfaction.

Damian's voice grew louder and firmer, "Maisie, I'll never divorce you. Never."

Waverly's hopeful expression instantly collapsed.

I did not respond. Instead, I turned around, walked into the apartment, and shut the door behind me.

Damian followed me, practically stepping on my heels like he was afraid I would disappear if he gave me a second's head start.

I sat down at the table, opened the envelope, and set aside 10,000 dollars. My first instinct was to leave it for Damian since, technically, he was the one who had earned it in the first place.

Suddenly, I heard Waverly shriek from the hallway. Damian's entire posture shifted. His eyes darted toward the door, and he bolted like a man responding to a fire alarm.

Halfway out the door, he suddenly hesitated and looked back at me, uncertain. His body was practically vibrating with indecision.

I gave him a dismissive wave. "Go ahead. She's your neighbor, after all. Helping each other out is just good manners."

Damian exhaled in relief and ran out the door.

Minutes later, Clara knocked softly and let herself in. "Maisie, I just saw Waverly twist her ankle. Damian carried her off to the hospital. I can't tell if she's really hurt or just putting on another show."

She shook her head and sighed. "You're still here, and they're already acting like this. I can't even imagine how shameless they'll be once you leave the country."

I smiled and shrugged. "Clara, I've made up my mind, and I'm leaving. Let them do whatever they want—it won't matter to me anymore."

I pulled out the wad of cash I set aside earlier. "Oh, by the way, here's ten thousand dollars. Give it to Damian for me. I finished all my paperwork, and I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

Clara's eyes widened in surprise. "Tomorrow? Isn't that too soon? I thought you still had a few more days."

I zipped up my suitcase and kept my tone casual. "I'm worried Damian might try to stop me if I wait until the official departure date. Leaving early makes it easier."

Seeing my determination, Clara simply shook her head and sighed. She did not say much after that.

The next morning, just as dawn painted the sky in pale gold, I rolled my suitcase out of the apartment. The only thing I left behind for Damian was a signed divorce agreement.

Sitting on the plane, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. In my past life, I had devoted myself entirely to my family. I did not even get the chance to step outside my home state, let alone leave the country.

However, what did all that sacrifice get me?

Even after my death, I ended up as a spiteful soul who lingered, watching Damian and Waverly parade around like a blissfully married couple. The anger burned inside me, but I could do nothing but stand there and watch their happiness unfold.

I watched them live their lives, carefree and affectionate, until I was finally reborn.

Nonetheless, I had everything figured out. There was nothing more important than investing in myself and contributing to my country.