Even Yvette, who had been full of complaints in her earlier messages, now beamed at him with a radiant smile as if all her grievances had evaporated in his presence.

In stark contrast, my mother’s quiet sobs broke through the joyous atmosphere, a haunting reminder of her grief amidst their laughter.

At that moment, a wave of desolation washed over me. Perhaps I had been wrong from the very beginning.

Six years ago, Yvette confessed her love, claiming it had been love at first sight. She pursued me with relentless determination. At that age, when emotions burned brightly, who could resist someone so young, beautiful, and seemingly devoted?

Yet, standing quietly in her shadow was Declan, her childhood sweetheart.

Their families weren’t just neighbors; they were perfectly aligned in social status, destined for a seamless union.

I had rejected Yvette time and again, but she refused to give up, declaring her love with unwavering conviction. To prove her devotion, she cut ties with Declan and distanced herself from every other man, prioritizing me above all else. For a while, I believed her. For a while, she made me feel secure.

Things took a sharp turn six months ago when Declan returned to the country as a general doctor. Yvette claimed he had been forced to leave because of me, and now, after all these years, she insisted she needed to take special care of him.

The truth, though, painted a different picture. Back then, it was Yvette who made the decision to send him away. All I had done was ask her to draw some boundaries with other men. Yet somehow, I had become the villain in her rewritten story.

I refused to engage in her theatrics. Instead, I went out to buy boxed meals for my mother, who was still waiting at the funeral parlor. On my way back, fate played a cruel joke. There she was, standing on a crowded street, laughing with Declan as they browsed through fireworks together.

A flash of fury surged through me, burning hotter than the flickers of the sparklers they held. Without thinking, I marched toward Yvette.

Before she could even process my presence, I struck her across the face. The sound of the slap echoed through the bustling street, and she stumbled back, clutching her cheek in disbelief.

Her wide eyes met mine, brimming with shock. “What’s wrong with you?” she gasped.

Declan, visibly alarmed, rushed to her side, gripping her hand protectively. “Are you okay?”

She didn’t bother to ask why I wasn’t home for New Year’s Eve, nor did she attempt to explain why she was wandering the streets with Declan late at night.

Her reaction struck like ice, freezing me in place before the shards pierced through, leaving me shattered.

I locked my gaze on her, my voice as cold as my stare. “Let’s get a divorce.”

Yvette’s eyes widened, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face. “What nonsense are you talking about? It’s New Year’s! You want a divorce just because I gave Declan a piece of cake?”

To her, it was incomprehensible. Divorce over something so trivial? A mere slice of cake? She couldn’t see the cracks widening beneath her feet.

She had once invited Declan to stay overnight at our home, and I had swallowed my anger in silence. Perhaps she thought I’d bury my feelings again this time.

Her uneasy gaze flitted to the boxed meals in my hands. With a mocking smile, she asked, “Are you sulking because you didn’t come to my place for New Year’s? What, your parents didn’t feed you? You had to go out and buy food for yourself?”

Her words stung like a slap, dripping with ridicule as if she had forgotten everything. Five hours ago, I had told her about my father’s heart attack.

She hadn’t taken a single word I’d said seriously, as though my feelings were mere whispers in the wind.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself before locking eyes with her. “Say whatever you want. I’ll send you the divorce papers tomorrow.”

As I turned to walk away, a firm grip suddenly wrapped around my arm. Declan’s face was flushed with righteous anger, his presence a shield as he positioned himself protectively in front of Yvette.

“Ethan, don’t you think you’ve gone too far?” he snapped, his voice tight with indignation. “Since the moment I came back six months ago, you’ve been trying to get rid of me. You’ve been picking fights with Yvette and pushing me out!”

His words rushed out in a torrent, his face red with emotion. “I could’ve worked at a prestigious hospital in the city, but for your sake, I settled for a small-town clinic. Why can’t you just leave me alone?”

“And now, suddenly, you want a divorce. All because she gave me a piece of cake? You’re doing this to push me away, aren’t you?”

His words stung like a slap, and I could see the injustice etched on his face, his eyes filled with grievance.

The street buzzed with people, the laughter and joy of the New Year’s celebration around us, but the glances thrown my way were sharp, filled with disapproval.

Yvette, who had seemed momentarily guilty, now stood tall and unshaken, her confidence bolstered by Declan’s fiery defense.

"He actually took the time to ask for leave from the hospital to come home for the New Year. Why can’t you make the effort to visit my parents' house for the holiday? What kind of son-in-law skips out on his in-laws during New Year’s?"

Her voice was deliberately loud, trying to force an air of authority.

Maybe it was because we had been together for so long, but I could see right through her, her guilt as clear as day.

She knew it was wrong, sneaking around with Declan in the middle of the night. She knew she had betrayed me. And yet, here she was, defending him and scolding me as though I were the one at fault.

Before tonight, I might have tried to argue, to defend myself. But tonight, my father’s sudden passing had left me hollow, too drained to fight.

My mother was still waiting for me at the funeral home. I threw them both a cold, empty glance, my silence speaking louder than any words could.

Yvette's face twisted uncomfortably. "Apologize to me, and I’ll take you home to see my parents right now. As a son-in-law, you can’t just skip out on New Year’s."

She softened her voice, trying to make it sound more reasonable. "My mom even made your favorite braised prawns. Don’t you want to show her some respect?"

I let out a sharp, cold laugh, meeting her eyes with disdain. "Get lost."

Her temper flared once more, her patience clearly running thin. "I’ve said everything there is to say, both good and bad. Are you still trying to make a scene?"

She continued, her words growing sharper. "You insisted on going home for the holiday, and now look at you, wandering the streets like some lost soul. I tried to coax you, and this is how you repay me?"

A faint tinge of hurt flickered across her face, but my gaze remained as cold as ice.

She kept going on about those braised prawns as if they were some magical offering. To me, they were nothing more than a deadly allergen.

I could only eat river prawns and seafood in any form, which was something I couldn’t touch. Yet she hadn’t even bothered to remember that.

Then, the image of the photo Declan had sent me earlier of their family dinner flashed through my mind.

In the picture, the braised prawns lay in front of Declan, nearly devoured, with just one or two remaining. And there was Yvette, wearing gloves, carefully peeling the shells for him. The pile of discarded shrimp shells was a clear sign of her favoritism.

This dish, supposedly "made for me," had ended up in Declan’s stomach.

I remembered a time when I had asked Yvette to peel an orange for me. She had mocked me for the simple request as if I had asked her for something outrageous.

The sting of that memory hit me like a sharp jab to the chest, and I felt my eyes burn.

Yvette noticed the change in my expression, letting out a sigh of impatience. "What’s got you so upset now? Can’t we just have a peaceful New Year for once?"

"I don’t remember you being this difficult before."

Her words caught me off guard. I couldn’t believe she had the nerve to bring up the past.

Once, I had been the general manager of a top-ten company, respected and successful. She had been the one to ask me to step back, to take a backseat and let her take the lead.

She promised that even if I didn’t work, there would always be enough money to spend.

Whenever I mentioned wanting to work again, Yvette would find a thousand ways to shut me down, whether through arguments or the coldest silence. To keep the peace, I compromised, lowering my expectations bit by bit, each time convincing myself it was for the greater good.

Now, it hit me like a ton of bricks: just how much I had sacrificed for this marriage. It wasn’t just my career or dreams; it was my very sense of self. The person I once was, strong and unyielding, would never have allowed such self-pity to take root. Never would I have lowered my standards for anyone, no matter how much I loved them.

But love, it seemed, had the power to make us foolish.

Yvette, however, saw my sacrifices as nothing more than proof of her own worth. She didn’t understand that it was never about her, she thought I couldn’t survive without her.

Then Declan sighed heavily, his brow furrowing.

"Enough," he muttered, a hint of frustration lacing his voice. "I’m done. Let me get through this New Year, and I’ll leave the country tomorrow, alright?"

Yvette’s face immediately darkened, her expression turning to one of genuine concern.

"No," she said firmly. "You can’t go. It’s too chaotic abroad. You can’t go alone. You were forced to leave six years ago because of him, and I won’t let you make the same mistake again!"

Even now, Yvette spouted nonsense, her mind clouded by fears that weren’t even her own.

I fixed my gaze on Declan, speaking each word with deliberate weight. "No matter what Yvette told you, I never asked you to leave. I never suggested you should run off and leave everything behind."

Declan’s lip curled into a sneer. "You told Yvette to stay away from me, to keep her distance. Isn't that basically telling me to go as far away as possible?"

"We’re both men," he continued, his voice dripping with accusation. "Do you really think I don’t see what you’re doing?"

I stood there, momentarily speechless. But as the truth settled in, I realized something else, he had always seen me as an opponent. A rival in a game I hadn’t even known I was playing.

And now, I was ready to give him exactly what he wanted.

At that very moment, I dialed my lawyer friend, my voice calm but resolute.

"Are you busy? Do you have time in the next couple of days to draft a divorce agreement for me?"

"Yes, I’m getting a divorce," I added, watching Yvette’s face freeze in disbelief.

Her mouth hung open, her eyes wide with shock. "Are you serious?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

I nodded, the weight of the decision sinking in. "Yes."

She took a moment to process, her confusion turning into frustration. "You’re divorcing me over a piece of cake? Over that? You’re really going to end our marriage just because I brought Declan some cake while he was on duty?"

In stark contrast to the shock that painted Yvette’s face, I replied with unnerving calm, "Yes, that’s exactly why."

The moment the words left my lips, Declan couldn’t hold back his laughter. It came out as a mocking cackle as if he found the situation utterly absurd. "Oh, come on! Stop pretending! You nearly gave your life to donate a kidney to Yvette, and now you’re telling me you’re divorcing her over a piece of cake?"

At the mention of the kidney, Yvette’s expression shifted. A flicker of pity danced in her eyes before she sighed with resignation. "I know you’ve always loved me deeply, but love can’t survive the weight of constant strain. If you keep tossing around divorce like it’s nothing, what happens if I actually agree one day? You might regret it then."

I was about to fire back, but before I could, Declan cut me off, his voice suddenly alarmed. "Oh no! I left my phone at the claw machine shop we were just at! Yvette, come with me to help look for it!"

Yvette hesitated for a brief moment, her eyes flicking between me and Declan. With a heavy sigh, she gave in. "You need to calm down and think things through. Come find me when you’ve made up your mind."

With that, Declan seized her hand, and they jogged off together, leaving me standing there, rooted to the spot. The distance between us only seemed to grow.

I kept my eyes locked on their retreating figures, the distance between us growing with every step they took. It wasn’t until I felt the wetness of a tear roll down my cheek that I realized I’d been fighting to hold back the flood.

My phone buzzed in my hand. It was a message from my mother asking me where I had gone.

I quickly wiped my tears, trying to regain some composure before typing back. [Out to get food. Thankfully, the shop was still open. You know how it is; food keeps you going. I’ll eat first and then announce the death.]

My mother responded almost immediately, her tone heavy with sadness. She pleaded with me not to ruin the New Year’s mood for our family and friends, urging me to wait until tomorrow to tell them about my father.

I sighed, realizing that for now, the world would remain unaware of the tragedy that had befallen us.

When I finally arrived at the funeral home, my mother was already waiting, her face a mixture of exhaustion and grief.

As I approached, my phone vibrated in my hand. The message that popped up was from an unfamiliar number.

[So pathetic. Your dad died, and even your wife doesn’t care enough to visit. You’re absolutely useless as a son.]

I froze. The words hit harder than I could’ve imagined, the weight of them sinking deep into my chest. Another message quickly followed.

[Your mom was sobbing when she called for the ambulance. I couldn’t stop laughing when I answered the phone. She couldn’t even give the address right. Hahaha, serves you right!]

I stood there, stiff and numb, nearly losing my balance as the harshness of the messages hit me like a punch to the gut.

The moment I recalled the post Declan had made earlier on his social media, accusing someone of prank-calling emergency services, everything suddenly clicked into place.

A wave of fury surged through me, uncontrollable and all-consuming. Without thinking, I spun on my heel and sprinted back, ignoring the world around me.

My mother, of course, couldn’t keep up with me, but I didn’t care.

I tried calling Yvette repeatedly, but each time, the line went silent. I didn’t stop. I dialed again and again, my impatience building with each unanswered ring.

When I finally reached the spot where I had seen them before, I overheard Yvette and Declan talking, their voices filled with excitement.

"Good thing I didn’t lose my phone! Otherwise, all our fun photos from the outing would’ve been gone."