On our third wedding anniversary, l waited eagerly for Gray Carroll to come home.

But even as the night deepened. there was no sign of him.

l scrolled through social media only to find out he was on a luxury yacht, hosting a birthday party for his assistant, Zoe Walsh.

He even gifted her a skincare set worth tens of thousands and posted: "Happy birthday, and here's to a fresh start for us."

l liked the post and commented, "Wishing you both the best."

Moments later, the post was deleted and l received an angry call: "can't you stop being so sensitive?"

"I'm just rewarding an employee on her birthday, why do you have to be so petty?"

Shortly after, Zoe Walsh updated her profile picture to one of them cutting a cake together.

In the past, l would have demanded an explanation from Gray Carroll.

But this time, l simply texted him: 'That skincare set costs a hundred thousand, don't forget to transfer it to me."

In the early hours of the morning, the front door slammed open.

Gray Carroll staggered in, reeking of alcohol and perfume, carrying a fancy skincare gift box.

His eyes landed on me, full of mockery.

“Well, well, dressed up so nicely-heading somewhere special?"

Before l could answer he swayed toward me, grabbed a bottle of serum from the box, and poured the contents all over me.

“Selena Carroll, you love this, right? Then use it all up!"

He shouted angrily, “Does this ten-thousand-dollar skincare cover it? if not, I'll pour out more bottles!"

"You, someone who got to where you are because of me, have the nerve to question my decisions?"

The dress i had carefully prepared for our anniversary was drenched. lt was probably ruined.

Just like our relationship, which was nearing its end.

Yesterday was supposed to be our third wedding anniversary. We had planned to celebrate together.

Yet he was out gifting someone else a set of skin care worth tens of thousands. accusing me of making a fuss.

In the past, seeing him like this, l would have already apologized, humbling myself.

In Gray Carroll's world, he was always right, and l couldn't afford to make him angry.

But that only encouraged him to push the limits even further.

Now, l was exhausted, too tired to even argue.

l quietly walked into the bathroom, slipping out of the serum-soaked dress.

"Dressed like that-where were you planning on going tonight?"

Gray Carroll stood by the table, pouring himself a drink, glancing at the empty dining setup.

l had dressed formally, which seemed to irritate him.

He had clearly forgotten the promise to celebrate our anniversary tonight.

"Where could l have gone? I've been home, waiting for you."

My reply, laced with a hint of sarcasm, stopped him in his tracks.

Storming over, he pointed at me, voice rising, “Selena Carroll. what's that supposed to mean?"

"You wouldn't even have your cosmetics company if it weren't for my investment!And now you're giving me attitude?"

"All l did was celebrate Zoe Walsh's birthday. She's my employee! What's the problem with that? lt's a company benefit!"

Seeing his rising anger, l interrupted him.

"Have you forgotten what yesterday was?"

His furious tirade faltered, confusion flickering across his face.

"What?"

"Forget it, it doesn't matter anymore."

As expected, he had no clue. His assistant meant more to him than remembering our anniversary.

Gray Carroll's frustration deepened at my calm indifference.

He pulled out his phone, swiping a few times.

A notification popped up on my account - he had transferred one hundred thousand dollars, a poor attempt at compensation.

“Isn't it just an anniversary? I'll make it up to you today, okay?"

“You're almost thirty - why are you still hung up on this stuff?"

He stormed off to the study, slamming the door behind him.

In the past hearing those words would have melted my heart.

But now, l no longer had any expectations of him.

Nor did care whether or not we celebrated this anniversary.

As l sat at my vanity, for the first time, l felt a sense of peace.

No more nights spent anxious, worrying about upsetting him.

Early the next morning, Gray Carroll unexpectedly prepared breakfast for me.

However, all that was on the table were a few slices of bread and some instant coffee looking rather half-hearted.

Meanwhile, he was busy mixing a colorful, specially-made health juice.

Smiling as he texted on his phone, Gray poured the juice into a glass and walked over, noticing i hadn't touched the food in front of me.

His expression darkened immediately. "I got up early to make this, and you're not eating?"

"I was kind enough to make you breakfast, and you're acting ungrateful? Unbelievable!"

Getting up early? Preparing this breakfast probably took no more than five minutes. l had no interest in exposing his lie.

Clearly, he hadn't expected my response to be so different from the gratitude he had likely imagined. instead, l remained calm and indifferent.

Seeing this, he began accusing me of being ungrateful, not appreciating his efforts.

In the past, l was the one who meticulously prepared his breakfast everyday. He always had me pack it up so he could eat alone at the office, never once sharing a meal with me.

Back then, l didn't even dare to dream of him making breakfast for me. Now that no I longer cared about such things, he had started doing them.

His constant complaints were grating and l forced myself to take a few sips of coffee.

My skin, which had long been used for product testing, had become increasingly sensitive and fragile. l put down the coffee cup and said, expressionless, "I'd prefer something gentle, caffeine-free."

Hearing that, Gray's face darkened further, and he let out a cold snort.

"Coffee without caffeine? is that even coffee?"

He grabbed my breakfast and dumped it into the trash.

"Who do you think you are to be so picky? If you don't want it, don't drink it! Don't think I'm going to spoil you!"

With that, he turned and headed back to the bedroom to change, getting ready to leave.

I didn't bother to engage with him and instead checked my phone to confirm my appointment with the dermatologist for the day.

To my surprise, l saw a new post from Zoe Walsh. In the picture, she was receiving an IV drip at the hospital, captioned: Came to the hospital because of an allergic reaction, really craving that fresh juice you make.

I chuckled to myself, realizing the breakfast had been an afterthought.

Once again, l had overestimated my importance.

Looking down at the redness spreading across my wrist, l sighed softly.

I had an appointment with the dermatologist in the morning, but at this hour, it was hard to get a ride.l decided to ask Gray to drop me off at the hospital on his way.

As he grabbed his water bottle and prepared to leave, l called out to him.

"I'm heading downtown too. Can you give me a ride?"

Gray immediately tensed up, glaring at me suspiciously.

"Have you been snooping on my phone? why do you want to go wherever I'm going?"

I knew he had misunderstood again.

A month ago, l had accidentally seen him and Zoe Walsh together in a parking lot. Ever since, he was convinced l had been following him, and my asking about his plans made him incredibly defensive.

With a sigh, l tried to explain, "I'm not interested in tracking your every move. I just need a ride."

"Isn't your trusty assistant at the hospital? As her boss, shouldn't you go check on her?"

Gray was taken aback by my words, shooting me a fierce glare.

"I'm only going to see her for work, unlike you!"

On our way to the city center, Gray received a call from another subordinate.

"Mr Carroll, the client urgently needs that sample of the new product. Where are you now?"

Not long after, he received another message from Zoe Walsh.

After hanging up, Gray Carroll looked troubled.

His gaze shifted back and forth between the water bottle and me, who was resting with my eyes closed.

After parking, he pulled a sleek box from the back seat and thrust it into my hands.

Keeping a straight face, he said, "I've got urgent business to handle. Can you deliver this sample for me?"

"Cross the street and deliver it to Manager Zachary at Yvonne Building."

He then confidently assured me. "Once you've delivered it, I'll come back and take you to the hospital."

With that, he rushed me out of the car and drove off.

After delivering the sample, l waited there for two long hours, but he never showed.

In the end, l had no choice but to grit my teeth and call for a ride to the hospital myself, all while enduring the itching of my irritated skin.

During that time, Gray never once called to check on me.

When l returned home, l habitually opened my social media and immediately saw Zoe Walsh's latest post.

In the photo, Gray was at the hospital carefully feeding her fresh juice.

I let out a cold laugh.

Suddenly, the door was flung open with a deafening crash.

A lipstick tube came flying at me, its sharp edges grazing my cheek, leaving a burning streak.

Gray Carroll stormed in, seething with rage."Selena Carroll, do you think playing games with clients is funny?"

"l told you to deliver a red lipstick sample, and what color did you send? Coral pink?!"

"The client specifically requested red. and you sent the wrong one! l waited for you there for hours, and you just left without a word!"

I looked at the furious Gray Carrol, puzzled.

The sample was handed to me by him personally, and i had delivered it as promised.

As for waiting for him, clearly he was the one who broke the promise first.

I gently pushed aside the scattered lipsticks on the table, not understanding his intense anger.

I replied honestly," sent you a message saying l was back. The sample was given to me by you."

His lips tightened, and his anger flared even more.

"Why didn't you say something? You, with your poor eye sight can't tell the difference between red and coral pink? Couldn't you just ask?'

"Even delivering a lipstick sample is a mess for you! l think you're just getting back at me for yesterday!"

Before l could respond, he threw a delicate gift box at me." Hmph, l even went out of my way to get you a custom anniversary gift. If l had known, l would have just thrown it away. what a waste of my effort!"

The gift box fell open, revealing a bottle of "limited edition perfume." l looked up at him, meeting his resentful gaze, and said coldly,

"It's indeed better off discarded."

Because just yesterday, l had seen this very perfume in Zoe Walsh's social media post.

“Birthday gift from my boss - he really spoils me."

The picture showed Gray Carroll selecting a haute couture dress for her, with that very perfume as a gift. The style and packaging were identical to the one he had given me.

In the comments, she wrote:“There's always this perfume as a gift; the scent is so strong, l can't use it."

Gray Carroll's voice rose sharply with anger. "what do you mean by that, Selend Carroll? Are you trying to be bold now?"

I interrupted him directly and showed him Zoe Walsh's comment.

Confronted so bluntly, Gray Carroll was momentarily at a loss for words. Exhausted by his endless lies, l felt drained.

"Just throw the perfume away. l don't like strong scents."

For the past six months, Gray Carroll had been giving me perfume as gifts. Looking at the row of unwanted perfume son my vanity, l felt nothing but sadness

"Perfume is all pretty much the same. Why make such a fuss..."

I ignored his attempt to justify himself and walked into the side bedroom, shutting him out.

We had been sleeping in separate rooms for the past six months.

His light sleeping habits and my need to apply medication due to skin allergies had led me to try not to disturb him.

Once, when l got up in the middle of the night to find medication,l woke him.

He had yelled at me, disregarding my discomfort, and after sending me to the side bedroom, he never mentioned having me return to our bed.

Looking back, it seemed our relationship might have started to deteriorate at that point.

With this in mind, l contacted a lawyer friend and decided to draft a divorce agreement for Gray Carroll to sign as soon as possible.

After playing on my phone for a while, my eyes began to sting, and l decided to rest.

However, just as l was drifting off to sleep, a rapid knocking at the door jolted me awake.

The loud "bangs" made me startle.

The person knocking seemed determined to see me, so l reluctantly got up to open the door.

Standing at the door, Gray Carroll spoke to me in an unusually gentle tone.

"Selena, things aren't as you imagine."

"Don't be angry. I'll get you another anniversary gift."

"I've booked a private room for the afternoon to celebrate our anniversary. I’ll come pick you up then."

I responded coldly, "Do as you wish."

With that, l promptly closed the door and returned to my interrupted sleep.