My husband showed up with his so-called “female brother.”

“Don’t get me wrong, sister-in-law, I just thought eating alone was too boring, so I came to join you two.”

“I grew up with Jason Miller. I even bought the condoms you used the first time you slept together. I know exactly how many times you did it that night!”

I froze, my mind going completely blank.

He was saying such private things out loud?

Seeing my displeasure, Jason quickly explained:

“I’m not good at expressing myself. If it weren’t for Emily Brooks giving me advice, I wouldn’t have been able to win you over. Telling her these details was just so she could help me evaluate my performance!”

Emily chimed in:

“Exactly! I’m not interested in Jason. I know every little thing about him, and even if something were to happen, it wouldn’t be with you!”

…

People around us were staring at me with strange looks.

Especially the waiter waiting to take my order—he looked at me with an expression that said big city drama.

My toes curled with embarrassment.

Jason finally realized Emily’s words were inappropriate in public. He patted her shoulder.

“Alright, sit across from me.”

Once Emily sat down, Jason began ordering:

“One order of fried shrimp tempura…”

I quickly reminded him:

“I’m allergic to shrimp!”

Jason smiled and looked at Emily across the table.

“Emily loves shrimp. If you don’t like it, just order something else.”

Emily grinned playfully:

“Oh, but I remember you like shrimp too. Why don’t you sit over here with me?”

To my shock, Jason actually got up and sat beside her. Emily immediately slapped his backside and teased:

“Good boy, so obedient!”

Seeing my tight lips and unhappy face, Emily turned to me:

“Rachel Evans, don’t take it seriously. We’ve always played around like this. I don’t even see him as a man! He doesn’t either!”

“Right, good boy?”

With that, she hooked her arm around Jason’s neck and pulled him closer.

Jason was caught off guard, and his lips landed right on her cheek.

I saw the pale skin of his neck instantly flush bright red.

“Ew, gross!”

Emily wiped the spit from her face and mock-wiped it off on Jason’s chest.

Jason didn’t resist. Instead, he smiled and handed me the menu.

“Emily and I already ordered. Pick whatever you want.”

I didn’t take the menu. Instead, I pulled a bottle of alcohol spray from my bag, stood up, and sprayed Jason all over.

“Ahh!”

“Rachel, what are you doing?” Jason yelped.

Emily rushed to pull him up, glaring at me.

“Rachel, are you insane?”

I put away the spray and shrugged carelessly.

“It’s mine. Just disinfecting. Who told him to touch dirty trash he shouldn’t touch?”

Emily froze, her face turning pale.

I looked at Jason with disgust.

“Are you a trash can? Letting any kind of garbage rub against you—so disgusting!”

Emily recovered, yanking Jason’s arm.

“Your wife really doesn’t know how to have fun, huh?”

My face turned cold.

“You know he’s married, yet you have no boundaries. That’s not playing around—that’s trying to be a home-wrecker!”

“What are you saying?” Jason slammed the table.

Since Emily had returned from abroad, this was the 99th time Jason had raised his voice at me.

People at nearby tables turned to look. I had embarrassed his “female brother.”

So he ordered me:

“Emily and I aren’t what you think. Apologize, now!”

Again, I’m the one who has to apologize!

I don’t even know what I did wrong!

I bit down hard and spat out two words: “In your dreams!”

Then I grabbed my purse and stormed off.

Jason grabbed my wrist.

“Why are you so petty?”

“No wonder you don’t have a single close friend!”

“With your small-minded personality, no one wants to be around you!”

I froze.

It was true I didn’t have many friends—but wasn’t that because I had insisted on moving far away with him?

He knew that, yet he still threw it in my face!

Fury rose inside me. I struggled hard, trying to shake off his grip.

My bag slipped and accidentally struck his face. Blood immediately poured from his nose.

Emily grabbed tissues from the table, pressing them to his nose as she fussed over him:

“Forget it, you should just take Rachel home before she snaps again and bites someone!”

“Rachel, honestly, men need their pride out in public. How could you hit him?”

“Good boy, hurry and apologize to Rachel. Let’s just drop it.”

I knew Jason’s temper well.

Even when we fought to the point of nearly breaking up, he never said the words “I’m sorry.”

I didn’t expect an apology.

But when Emily spoke, Jason hesitated only two seconds before muttering reluctantly:

“Sorry, okay?”

I froze, feeling something inside me shatter.

Jason, who always claimed to be a straight shooter, had just treated Emily’s words as law.

I sucked in a sharp breath, suddenly unwilling to say another word, and walked away.

When I got home, Jason arrived soon after.

He held a massive bouquet of red roses. After shutting the door, he pressed close to me.

“Alright, don’t be mad. Today’s our fifth wedding anniversary!”

“Look, 999 red roses—I’ve been planning this for a while!”

Looking at the fiery bouquet, my anger eased a little.

After all, he’d never given me gifts before.

This time, I had hinted at it for weeks—it meant he finally took my words to heart.

Seeing me soften a bit, Jason added:

“But seriously, you should apologize to Emily sometime. We’ve known each other since childhood. It’d be bad to fall out completely.”

“Anyway, think about it. I’m tired, going to shower first.”

He headed to the bathroom.

A moment later, his phone rang on the couch. I picked it up—it was Emily.

Against my better judgment, I opened their chat history.

Emily: “Did your nagging wife calm down? Next time we eat, don’t bring her. Total buzzkill!”

Scrolling up, I found Jason asking: “What do you want for your birthday tomorrow?”

Emily: “Surprise me. I’ll love whatever you get.”

Jason had sent two pictures—one of a million-dollar necklace, the other of 999 roses.

Jason: “Do you like these?”

Emily: “Forget the roses, too cliché. I need a new perfume!”

Jason: “Fine, I’ll buy you perfume. I’ll give the roses to Rachel—she’s been hinting at an anniversary gift nonstop. She’s annoying, so this should shut her up.”

I stared at the bright red roses on the table.

But my heart grew colder and colder.

So, what he gave me was just what Emily didn’t want. And I had treated it like a treasure.

Just then, Emily sent another message:

“I’ve got some friends celebrating my birthday. Wanna come? Same old place. Don’t bring your nagging wife—she ruins everything. If you do, I’ll flip out!”

The sound of running water in the bathroom stopped.

I hurriedly took screenshots of the chat, marked the messages unread, and set his phone back down.

Jason came out, a white towel wrapped around his waist, hair dripping wet.

His firm chest and defined abs made it hard to deny—Jason kept himself in great shape.

He sat down, buried his head against my neck, nuzzling me like a puppy.

“Babe, tonight I’ll take good care of you.”

On another day, I might have given in.

But tonight, I could only sneer inside.

The next second, his phone chimed.

He picked it up—Emily again.

“My good boy, are you coming or not? At least reply!”

Jason glanced at me nervously, then quickly tucked his phone away.

He hugged me with an apologetic look.

“Sorry, babe, something urgent came up at the office. I have to head over. Sleep early tonight.”

He kissed me loudly on the cheek and started changing clothes.

I caught his wrist, smiling coldly.

“If it’s work, I’ll come with you.”

A flicker of panic crossed his face, but he quickly covered it.

“No need. You’ve been tired lately. I’ll handle it.”

I pressed on.

“I can’t sleep alone anyway. I’ll keep you company.”

At that moment, his phone rang again—Emily.

Jason squatted down, looking me in the eye.

“Alright, the truth is—it’s Emily. She invited friends for her birthday. I didn’t bring you because you don’t know them. You wouldn’t enjoy it. Just stay home and watch TV. I’ll be back soon.”

Even as he spoke, Emily was already at our door, ringing the bell repeatedly.

From outside, her voice called:

“Good boy, did you calm your wife down? Don’t tell me she’s not letting you out again?”

Jason rushed to open the door.

“Okay, okay, let’s go!”

He barely let her in, shoving her out as he got dressed.

From the hallway I could hear Emily’s complaints:

“Marriage is just restricting your freedom! If it’s such a hassle, good boy, listen to me—just divorce her already!”

I sat frozen on the couch, staring at the mocking bouquet of roses.

They seemed to laugh at me.

My heart felt like it had a gaping hole, cold wind rushing through it.

With trembling hands, I picked up my phone and texted the only close friend I had in Oceanview City:

“I want a divorce. Can you help me?”

Her reply came instantly:

“Finally? About time. Do you want Jason Miller to walk away with nothing?”

“If so, you’d better have direct proof he cheated.”

Olivia Carter had been my best friend since college. After graduation, she moved to Oceanview City with me and started her own law firm from scratch.