I gripped the ring Samuel gave me so hard that it nearly cut into my palm.

He had designed it himself, along with all the other gifts in this villa that once seemed to prove his love. They had been nothing but lies.

Together, they formed a suffocating web that left me struggling to breathe.

Back then, seeing these things warmed my heart. That warmth had turned into disgust.

After Samuel left, I contacted an auction house right away and sold off all his gifts.

The diamond on the ring he designed sparkled so brightly it burned my eyes.

I took a deep breath and threw it out the window with all the strength I had.

With that throw, I left behind the version of myself that had been trapped in all his lies.

…

For the next few days, Samuel did not come home.

Stella sent me videos of them together by the river.

It was the same river where Samuel once swore he would love me for the rest of his life.

He laid on her stomach and said he hoped she would give him a child.

He looked exactly the same as when he found out I was pregnant.

On the third day, they were on a swing. On the fourth day, they went to my university.

I closed my eyes as tears fell down my cheeks.

I was not as frigid or as numb as I thought. The more pain I felt, the more it showed just how much I had loved him during these three years of marriage.

Humans were not machines. Three years of memories could not disappear overnight.

But I knew I could never forgive them for their lies or for what they did to my mother.

My phone buzzed again.

Stella sent me a photo of Samuel’s back.

[Samuel has been working so hard these days to prepare for my welcome-back party. He said I should reward him well tonight.]

[Oh right, I heard you’re planning to apologize and make peace with me.]

[How about giving me your divorce papers with Samuel as an apology?]

I heard the door lock turn.

I quickly turned off my phone in a panic.

Samuel walked in holding a bouquet.

“Honey, I’m sorry I’ve been neglecting you these past few days. After the party is over, I’ll go with you for your prenatal checkup, okay?”

I stared at the flowers in his hand. In the photo Stella sent me, that exact bouquet had been on their bedside table while they were together.

“No need.”

I looked away and gently pressed my empty belly.

Samuel’s heart skipped a beat.

But when he saw me smiling at him like always, he forced that uneasy feeling back down.

“Honey, I saw a necklace I really like, but it needs to be customized. Could you sign it for me?”

“Of course, it’s just a necklace. Even if you wanted the stars in the sky, I’d find a way to get them for you.” His voice was full of affection as he signed the documents without looking.

He kept signing until he reached the last page of the divorce agreement. When I saw his signature there, I realized my palms were soaked in cold sweat.

From that day forward, I was finally free of Samuel.

For the rest of my life, we would never see each other again.

When I put the papers away, Samuel reached out to hug me. But before his hands could touch my waist, his phone rang.

Stella’s sweet, spoiled voice came through the speaker.

Samuel quickly covered the phone’s speaker. I saw the desire flicker in his eyes.

“You should go if you’re busy.”

I tenderly handed him his clothes.

He looked at me, and for a moment, guilt flashed across his eyes. He lowered his head and gave me a gentle kiss.

“I’ll have the driver pick you up for tomorrow’s party.”

I did not answer him because I had no intention of going to that party.

When I walked him to the door, I gently helped him straighten his clothes.

“Samuel, have a safe trip. Drive carefully.

“Oh, and I hope you’ll like the special gift for tomorrow’s party.”

He was about to ask me what I meant when his phone rang again.

I caught a glimpse of Stella’s explicit photo on his screen.

I urged him to leave.

Once he disappeared from sight, the smile on my face faded.

Messages kept coming into my phone.

After I confirmed that all the evidence would play out at Stella’s welcome-back party just as I had planned, I packed up the remaining things, took the fifty million I earned from the auctions, and left for the airport without looking back.