Terrance Burgess slapped me in front of the entire company, all because I accidentally knocked over his assistant's vase.

My five-year-old son, Claude Burgess, stood off to the side, clapping like it was something worth cheering for.

Afterward, the assistant walked up to me while holding the bouquet the father and son had given her, showing it off right in my face.

"So what if you're the wife? The one who isn't loved is the real outsider."

I looked at her calmly. "Then you'd better watch yourself. If he can have you on the side, he can just as easily find someone else after you."

I used to think I had a happy, complete family.

Until Terrance's assistant came along and made me realize it had all been in my head. The love from that father and son had already moved on to someone else.

That was the moment something in me went completely still. I called a number I hadn't contacted in years.

"Dad, I want to come home and take over the family business."

[I booked you a red-eye flight. Keep an eye on the time.]

Ten minutes after I told my father I was going back to take over the family business, I got that message.

I had been playing the role of an ordinary person in front of the Burgesses for far too long. It was time to go back and inherit what was mine.

Just as I was about to reply, Terrance Burgess and Claude Burgess suddenly showed up behind me, leaning in to peek at my phone.

"A flight? What flight?" Terrance only caught the last few words and frowned. "Are you going back home?"

I gave a small nod. I didn't feel like lying to them.

"Yeah, right. Grandpa and Grandma are dirt poor. Why would you go back?"

Claude crossed his arms, his tone dripping with disdain.

"You're just mad that Dad hit you earlier, and you're trying to make a scene for us. You smashed Stephanie's favorite vase. Of course, he hit you. What did you expect?

"Stephanie's already being nice about it and letting it go. If it were anyone else with her family's power, you wouldn't even last a day in this city. You should hurry up, take her out to dinner, and apologize properly."

Claude had no idea who I really was. There was no way Stephanie Blunt could ever come close to my family's background.

Back when I first got together with Terrance, I hid my identity so I wouldn't bruise his pride. I stayed by his side as just another ordinary woman.

Later, when he started his business and grew it into something big, my parents had been quietly supporting him every step of the way.

I had planned to come clean next week.

Now, there was no need. I was leaving anyway.

Before I could respond, Terrance spoke up and shut Claude down.

"She can apologize to Stephanie another day. We're celebrating her birthday today. We don't have time for that."

He had forgotten. Today was also our wedding anniversary.

Every year before this, the two of them would carefully prepare gifts and decorations, always finding new ways to surprise me.

But ever since Stephanie showed up, that day had disappeared from their memory.

If it were before, I would've reminded them.

But I was leaving now. It didn't matter anymore.

"Dad, let's go. Don't keep Stephanie waiting," Claude urged, tugging on Terrance's hand as they hurried out.

After I made sure they were really gone, I contacted the divorce lawyer my father had recommended.

Back then, my parents hadn't approved of my marriage to Terrance. They thought he wasn't good enough for me. But I was deep in love, and at the time, he truly treated me like I was everything. So I ignored their objections and built a life with him anyway.

I never expected that just six years later, everything would fall apart like this.

Thankfully, my parents didn't hold it against me. They still wanted me to come home.

My nose stung, and I quickly finished going through the process with the lawyer.

Since I was in a rush, we agreed on a digital divorce agreement so I could sign it before boarding.

Just as I was about to put my phone down, Stephanie suddenly sent me a video.

In it, she wore a custom-made gown Terrance had arranged just for her, a crown resting on her head. Surrounded by people, she looked like a queen at the center of it all.

Claude sat in her arms. When the atmosphere peaked, he cupped her face and kissed her. Terrance stood beside them, watching with a soft, indulgent smile.

At a glance, they looked like a perfect family of three.

I watched Stephanie's smile and, for a moment, saw my old self. Back then, Claude would curl up in my arms, begging for bedtime stories, then give me a satisfied goodnight kiss.

And every time, Terrance would lean in, jealous, and ask me to kiss him on both cheeks, no exceptions.

I never imagined their love wasn't mine alone. Now, it belonged to someone else.

My chest tightened. With trembling fingers, I typed out "Wish you a happy life together" and sent it.

The next second, Terrance called. What greeted me was a sharp scolding.

"Vivian, are you done yet? So what if I didn't spend the anniversary with you? Did you really have to take it out on Stephanie? Missing one anniversary isn't going to kill you!"

So he did remember.

From the other end of the line came Stephanie's soft sobs, sounding as if she had suffered some terrible injustice.

"Terrance, don't yell at her. It's my fault. I shouldn't have sent her the video. I just felt so loved by you and Claude, and I wanted to share that happiness with her. I didn't think she'd be so petty, getting mad over something like this, and even calling me a shameless homewrecker…"

I laughed. I hadn't expected Stephanie to be this bold and calculating.

Terrance kept going, scolding me without caring what really happened. I hung up and started packing.

There were three hours left before my flight. I wasn't wasting another second on them.

Halfway through, the lawyer sent over the digital agreement, saying Terrance had received his copy as well.

Just as I finished signing my name, someone knocked on the door.

Terrance's anxious voice came through.

"Vivian, open the door!"

When I opened the door, Terrance and Claude were standing there, with Stephanie between them, holding a piece of cake.

"What took you so long? You left Stephanie standing out here forever." Terrance strode over and slammed into my shoulder.

I staggered back a couple of steps, catching myself against the shoe cabinet before I fell.

He didn't bring up the divorce. He probably hadn't seen the papers yet.

Claude led Stephanie inside and tossed the cake onto the table like he was doing me a favor.

"Stephanie felt bad that no one was with you on your anniversary, so she brought cake to celebrate with you. Hurry up and eat it."

The cake had clearly been dropped. It was cracked all over, with bits of grit and a few strands of hair stuck to it. It was disgusting to look at.

They wouldn't even touch it themselves, but they expected me to eat it. It was almost funny.

I was about to refuse when Terrance's cold voice cut in.

"Vivian, are you really going back home?"

So he had noticed the suitcase I had left by the bedroom door. For a split second, there was a hint of panic on his face.

Claude stepped forward and kicked the suitcase over. As if he had seen right through everything, he sneered, "Mom, you're getting better and better at putting on a show. Running away from home just to get Dad's attention? Fine, if you wanna play games, I'll go along with it."

Claude crouched down and yanked the zipper open, dumping everything out.

The things I had just packed spilled across the floor in a mess, including the gift Terrance had given me when we first got married.

It was a small teddy bear holding a ring box. It meant something to me, so I wanted to take it as a keepsake.

When Claude saw it, his eyes lit up, as if he had found proof of something. He picked up the bear and laughed.

"Dad, look! She's even taking the bear you gave her. Isn't this just for show so you'll comfort her?"

Terrance immediately gave me a look like he had expected this all along.

A sharp sense of humiliation crept up my chest. My hands curled into fists, trembling. I tried to speak, but Stephanie rushed in and cut me off.

"This ring is so pretty. It would look amazing on your hand. Are you not wearing it because you don't like it?"

Inside the little box the bear was holding was a large diamond ring. It stood for everything love was supposed to be. It was worth a fortune, limited edition. Back then, Terrance had spent over half a year getting it for me.

It was the best gift I had ever received, and I could never bring myself to wear it.

Terrance used to treasure it, too, never letting a speck of dust touch it.

But now, he pulled the ring out without a second thought and slid it onto Stephanie's finger.

"Vivian doesn't wear it anyway. If you like it, it's yours."

Something in my head snapped. I stared at Terrance in utter disbelief.

He acted as if I weren't even there, his gaze fixed on Stephanie, admiration written all over his face.

"Everything looks good on you."

Fine. We were done, anyway. I didn't need that teddy bear.

That was what I told myself, over and over.

Stephanie curled her lips in satisfaction. When she looked at me, her eyes were full of mockery, her voice soft and sweet in that deliberate way.

"Vivian, Terrance gave me your ring. You're not upset, are you?"

"Why would she be? She doesn't even wear it," Terrance said flatly.

Then he pulled out his phone, getting ready to take pictures of Stephanie.

"Wait, I haven't taken photos of you yet. You look amazing today. Can't miss this."

Claude rushed over to stand beside her, taking her hand for the photo like they were mother and son. I stood off to the side, like I didn't belong there at all.

I wanted to tell them to get out, but my flight was coming up fast. I didn't have time to waste. I forced it down and bent to gather my clothes, putting them back into the suitcase.

Stephanie suddenly seemed to remember something. She turned, cut off the worst part of the cake, and held it out to me.

"Look at me. I got so carried away taking pictures that I almost forgot you haven't had any cake yet. I heard you like grapes, so I had them add grape jam just for you."

I let out a quiet laugh. She was the one who liked grapes. Just last month, Terrance bought the largest vineyard nearby just so she could have some.

And because she complained that peeling grapes was too much work, he made me peel them for three straight days. Now even the sight of grapes made my head throb.

This was just an excuse to make me eat that ruined cake.

I frowned and refused without holding back. "I'm not eating it. I'm allergic to cream."

Claude was young. It made sense if he didn't remember.

But Terrance knew. I told him on the very first day we were together.

And after that, there had never been anything with cream around me.

I thought that would be enough for them to drop it.

Instead, Terrance let out a cold laugh.

"We've been together this long, and I've never actually seen you have an allergic reaction. Stop being dramatic. Stephanie's not asking you to eat the whole thing. One bite won't kill you."

But it would.

When I was a kid, I once snuck a bite of cream. That same night, I ended up in the ER.

After that, my parents cut everything with cream out of my life. They said they never wanted to go through that kind of fear again.

I didn't want to give my parents another reason to worry. I turned to leave, but Terrance grabbed me and yanked me back.

"Can you stop making a scene? Stephanie came all this way to bring you cake. You think she has nothing better to do? She's just being kind because you're alone. You have to eat it."

He gripped my chin hard, forcing my mouth open, then shoved a spoonful of cream inside. I choked, coughing nonstop, my face burning red.

"What the hell, Terrance?" I glared at him, bent over, and spat the cream into the trash.

But some of it had already gone down. I could only hope nothing would happen.

He looked at me coldly, not a trace of guilt on his face. "I've never heard of anyone dying from eating cream. You're the only one who makes a big deal out of everything."

I didn't want to argue. I was leaving anyway.

But the way he looked at me made my anger flare.

Just as I was about to stand up and say something, Claude suddenly ran over with a grin.

The next second, he smashed a piece of cake straight into my face.

For a moment, everything went quiet. When I came back to myself, my vision was blurred with cream.

Laughter filled my ears.

"Mom, you look hilarious like this! I've got to record it and post it," Claude laughed, holding up his phone.

I wiped the cream off my face, caught sight of Terrance and Stephanie smiling, and turned, stumbling into the bathroom.

The tears came before I could stop them. I thought I could leave calmly. But facing their humiliation, I broke anyway.

I had just finished washing my face when something felt wrong. The skin that had touched the cream started to itch and burn. When I looked closer, small bumps had already broken out. It looked bad.

Then pain spread through my throat and lower abdomen, and even breathing began to feel strained.

I didn't expect the reaction to hit this fast. I tried to call an ambulance, only to realize my phone was gone.

My breathing got worse. I tried to walk out, but my strength drained away, and I collapsed onto the floor.

I felt awful.

"Terrance… Help me… Claude…"

Outside, the three of them were smearing cream on each other, laughing and jumping around the living room. Cream was everywhere, the whole place a mess.

I shouted for help with everything I had, but it was like they couldn't hear me.

No one came.

In my haze, I even caught Claude's dismissive voice.

"Mom's probably pretending again. Just ignore her."

Just as the air was slipping away and everything started to go dark, the bathroom door was pushed open.