As soon as we arrived at the Laird residence, Tina instructed someone to clean the car.

She cast me a scornful glance and told me to wash up before coming inside.

It was only when I got to the bathroom that I noticed I was still wearing our wedding ring – a priceless antique worth millions.

Its brilliance, however, was dulled by dried blood and grime, and, in the end, it hadn’t been worth even a scrap of bread when I was starving.

Once I’d showered and dressed, I was led into the living room.

Tina, who had originally mentioned a welcome-home dinner for me, changed her plans after a brief exchange with Vincent. Instead, a maid brought me a meager plate of leftovers.

A few scraps and a watery soup – things that, before, would never have been allowed near my table.

But this time, I devoured it all as though I couldn’t taste a thing.

When I finished the last morsel, I looked up to find Tina standing over me, Vincent by her side, supporting Old Mrs. Laird.

The three of them stood together, the picture of a happy family, all wearing identical expressions of disdain as they looked down at me, the unwelcome intruder.

Old Mrs. Laird spoke first. “James, look at yourself – just look at what you’ve become.”

I clutched the empty plate in my hands, still feeling the faint warmth from the food.

In simpler times, they used to joke that I was the Laird family’s “little ward.”

I’d assumed then, so naturally, that I was being groomed to be the family’s future head.

But faced with life and death, I now understood just how insignificant I was.

My fate – my life, even – was at Tina’s mercy.

When she was in a good mood, she could hand over that priceless wedding ring to humor me.

When she wasn’t, she could cast me aside just as easily, into a living hell.

Old Mrs. Laird placed a set of papers on the table in front of me.

“I know you’ve loved Tina for years, and I know you’re recently married, but what happened this time is your fault, James. The Laird family head cannot have a history so… disgraceful.

“After the divorce, you’re welcome to continue living here. I’ll treat you like a son, and financially, you won’t want for anything.”

In a single month, all those who had once treated me like family now wore entirely new faces.

They all believed this accident was my doing – that I had endangered Tina and nearly got Vincent hurt.

No one mentioned that Tina had arranged the honeymoon.

No one blamed them for abandoning me.

Not one person had asked me what I’d endured over the past month.

I wanted to explain, but one look at Tina’s icy gaze set me trembling.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

With shaking hands, I reached for the divorce papers on the table.

Before I could touch them, though, Tina’s hand shot out, and instinctively, I flinched, closing my eyes and curling into myself.

“Please… don’t hit me!”

“James…”

Slowly, I opened my eyes and met Tina’s stunned expression.

She was holding the papers, and her voice was flat. “I don’t plan to divorce you.”

Not divorcing?

I knew Tina despised me; she’d gone to great lengths to shake me off, a burden who’d trailed her for a decade.

How could she possibly not want a divorce?

I looked up at her in surprise.

She spoke coolly, “Now isn’t the right time to divorce.

“Doing so would reflect poorly on Laird Corporation.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

They’d used my suffering to generate publicity, and now a divorce would make the Laird family look heartless.

It wasn’t me she was concerned about.

It was her reputation, her standing, and her future with Vincent.

Vincent exchanged a knowing smile with Old Mrs. Laird. “Mrs. Laird, there’s no rush for some things.”

He went over to Old Mrs. Laird and massaged her shoulders, casually showing off the family’s ancestral emerald ring on his finger – the ring that symbolized the Laird family head.

For a moment, a flicker of anger rose within me.

In the past, I would have demanded answers.

But now, I simply lowered my head, swallowing my heartache and frustration in silence.

Old Mrs. Laird said nothing more, only sighed and left the room.

I traced my fingers over the small cuts on my hands, retreating to pack up my things.

By now, I understood that it didn’t matter if I was married to Tina or not – this place was never my home.

A decade spent hoping, convincing myself otherwise, and it had all been one-sided.

I should have left a long time ago.

As I reached the doorway, Tina’s voice called me back. “What are you up to now?” she sneered. “Running away from home? Haven’t you humiliated yourself enough?”

I stayed silent.

Over the past month, I had been stranded, penniless, in a city torn by war and flames.

Every day was a new bombardment, a new struggle for food, a constant battle for survival.

I had watched people, some of them fleeing by my side, drop one by one, bodies mangled beyond recognition.

In a hellish place where death loomed at every corner, surviving no longer felt human.

Pride? It meant nothing.

Seeing my silence, Tina grew annoyed and tried to grab my suitcase.

“I told you – I’ll keep supporting you, no matter what. You don’t need to challenge Vincent for everything.

“After all that’s happened, have you learned nothing?

“Or do you actually want to go back to that place?”

Under the harsh light, her shadow loomed over me, swallowing me whole.

That familiar terror crawled over my skin, filling my mind until I couldn’t even process her words.

Without thinking, I clutched the suitcase closer and sank my teeth into her hand, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face.

“This is mine!”

She gasped in pain and shoved me hard.

Tina probably didn’t realize how fragile I was, despite my height.

A single push sent me tumbling down the staircase.

My head struck the railing as I landed, reopening old wounds and tearing fresh ones open.

Blood soaked my shirt in heavy patches.

“James!”

She rushed over, reaching out as if to examine my injuries, but I pulled back, keeping a firm grip on my suitcase, recoiling from her touch.

Annoyance crept into her expression, and the concern in her eyes hardened.

“That ratty suitcase matters that much to you?” she scoffed. “You really can’t wait to leave the Laird family, can you? You’re just an ungrateful stray!”

My legs trembled too much to even try to stand.

The memories I’d worked so hard to bury rose again, taunting me.

Time after time, in the depths of despair, I’d imagined Tina breaking down doors, saving me from hell.

With the Lairds’ influence, with her connections, I’d believed it would be easy for her to come to my rescue.

But as the days bled into weeks, as the agony stretched on without end, I stopped hoping. Stopped dreaming.

All I could do was fight like hell to survive.

“James,” she said, exasperated, gripping my wrist tightly, “I’m giving you one last chance. Come back with me.”

Her touch, skin against my skin, sent a chill through my bones, pulling me back to the day my father had fallen gravely ill ten years ago.

I remembered him, in his final moments, entrusting everything we had to the Laird family.

I remembered Tina kneeling by his bedside, holding my hand, vowing to protect me.

“I, Tina Laird, will never betray James.”

But on a foreign street, under the assault of chaos, these same hands had chosen another’s, leaving me to sink into a dark and endless abyss.

A flood of memories overwhelmed me, a swirl of warmth and fear merging until I could no longer tell illusion from reality.

Panic set in, and I lashed out wildly at the person in front of me.

“Don’t touch me! I just want to go home!”

“Why did you leave me there…

“Tina, I don’t love you anymore. I don’t want to marry you. Don’t leave me here.

“I know I messed up…

Tina looked stunned, staring at me with wide eyes. There was a faint scratch on her cheek where my ring had grazed her skin.

“James, what’s wrong with you? Who’s been messing with you? What’s got you acting like this?

“Didn’t the embassy staff take care of you the whole time?”

Something in her gaze shifted as she took in my state, finally seeming to realize what had happened.

Her movements softened, and her voice turned gentle.

“I never meant to hurt you,” she murmured. “We’re married now; we have a life together.

“This is the Laird home. As long as I’m here, you don’t have to be afraid.

“Just calm down and tell me what’s wrong, okay?”

She crouched down, slowly reaching a hand toward me.

But just as her fingers brushed the air between us, a crisp voice shattered the moment, yanking me back to the present.

Vincent stepped out of Tina’s bedroom, wrapped in a robe. “Tina, the shower’s acting up again. Mind taking a look?”

I stared numbly at the door I knew all too well.

Every time I’d tried to step inside, Tina had reprimanded me, saying she needed her privacy, insisting on separate rooms after our wedding.

She wasn’t opposed to others in her room. She just didn’t want me.

Tears slid down my face, unbidden.

Tina hesitated, glancing between me and Vincent.

Vincent caught her look, then shot me a smirk. “James, you’re a grown man, not some kid. Stop throwing fits every time you see me and Tina together.

“We’re working, that’s all. The honeymoon? I was just there on business.

“No one owes you anything, you know. You’ve been fine at the embassy. Those bruises? That’s on you for sneaking out to take photos.

“We all have to own our choices. It’s time you learned that.”

Tina’s face shifted, her tenderness vanishing as she straightened up, shoulders back. “Apparently, you still haven’t learned your lesson.”

She turned to Vincent. “Let’s go. Don’t pay him any mind. Let’s see how long he can keep up this little act.”

Their figures began to fade down the corridor.

I opened my mouth, wanting to speak, but the bitter taste of blood pooled on my tongue.

“Tina!” I called after her.

She glanced back, and I tried to speak, but every word stuck in my throat.

In the end, all that escaped was a gasp, followed by a sudden rush of blood.

She paused, frowned briefly, then scoffed and walked away without a second look.

Only when they’d disappeared down the hall did I manage to stand, legs shaky. Watching where they’d vanished, I whispered softly, “Tina, don’t worry. I won’t follow you anymore.”

I was done loving her.