“My wife.”

Kelly pressed her hand on her forehead and smiled wryly, as if thinking I said that because I was trying to provoke her.

“You used to buy the same brand and style for me all the time, five years ago.”

"So?" I met her gaze calmly.

"You don't have to pretend in front of me. All these years, all I want is for you to be happy, not acting like this."

Huh? Like what?

The glass of the residential area gate showed my reflection.

A casual suit, plain flat shoes and a canvas bag full of groceries. The outfit of someone who was scrambling to make ends meet.

But for someone accustomed to high-end custom-made clothes like me, this look wasn't so bad at all.

I smiled and was not angry. “I think it's pretty good.”

For a brief moment, Kelly's expression softened.

"Mac, you're not the same as you used to be."

“Well, many people say that.”

After speaking, I turned around and left. Without ever looking back, I climbed the stairs to the fifth floor and opened the door.

The interior was still exactly the same as it had been a year ago.

Next to the old television sat my mother’s portrait; the candle before it had long since burned out.

I skillfully placed new candles, then put on an apron and headed into the kitchen.

Soon, three dishes and a soup were ready. Across the table, a bowl of mashed potatoes was left untouched. So, I ate it slowly.

"Mom, I met Kelly today."

“Don’t get angry, okay? She can’t hurt your son anymore. And besides, I'm not as foolish as I used to be.”

But only silence answered me.

Losing my appetite, I put down my fork, walked into the bedroom and pulled out an old photo album.

"Well, looking at your stunning beauty in black and white is so boring."

Before I could open the photo album, a photo fell out onto the floor.

When I bent to pick it up, I finally saw the faces in it. They were mine, Kelly's and Leo's.

Three young faces beaming with carefree smiles in front of the camera. I stood in the middle, arms linked with the other two. I was smiling the brightest, but a gap where my right canine tooth should have been made me look a bit silly.

It was the middle of summer when I was 13 years old.

Debt collectors stormed into Kelly’s home, shouting threats of violence. None of the neighbors dared to help her, including my own parents, except me.

The punch that was meant for her face, unexpectedly, landed on mine.

My teeth shattered instantly and my face swelled for over half a month.

Heartbroken, my mother forbade me from seeing the Jackson Family again.

But unexpectedly, Mrs. Jackson, Kelly's mother, dragged her crippled legs, knelt before my parents and bowed her head repeatedly in gratitude. And so my mother's heart softened.

For nearly ten years, through spring, summer, autumn and winter, Kelly's eating utensils frequently appeared on our dining table and during holidays, new girly clothes added to our wardrobe.

When my mother had free time, she would help Mrs. Jackson run the stall. If anyone dared bully them, she'd unleash a torrent of curses that scared them away for good.

They even called each other sisters.

But no one could have imagined that the timid, insecure younger sister—who even stuttered when speaking—would climb into her elder sister’s husband’s bed.

When I got home, everything was smashed to pieces.

My mother stood in the middle of the room, uncontrollably. A clear, gruesome five-finger marks were printed on her cheek. Meanwhile, my father was holding the woman tightly in his arms.

“Let’s divorce. You can have everything. I only want Emily.”

Kelly, who was standing next to me, panicked and tried to pull Emily Summer's hand.

But my mother slapped her twice.

So, I shoved my mother and watched her fall to the floor.

She stared at me in disbelief. At that time, while crying, I also said the cruelest words.

"Mom, why did you hit Kelly?"

The memories jumbled chaotically, frozen in a small photo in my hand.

That year, after divorcing Kelly, I burned all the things related to her, but I didn't expect there was still one left here.

Just as I was about to toss it into the trash, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

I thought it was Candice. She used to visit at this time of year, so I opened the door.

But instead, it was Leo with his arm around Kelly. He grinned widely.

“Mac, long time no see! You haven’t changed a bit after all these years.”

"Kelly could not say no to me. We hope our sudden visit won't bother you, right?"

I looked at the two calmly. “I won’t invite you in. What do you want?”

Met with a curt reply, Leo looked at the woman beside him with an aggrieved expression.

"Leo just wanted to see you and give you a gift, that's all."

Then she put the gift in her hand on the entryway cabinet.

Leo immediately began to introduce the product enthusiastically.

“This set of men's skin care products has become my favorite recently. It just so happens that there is one more set at home. We used to share our own things, so I wanted to give it to you.”

When I glanced at it, it seemed it was the same as the one Hans, the butler, used.

Leo looked at the photo I was holding and suddenly, his eyes welled with tears. "Mac, after so many years, you still can’t let go, huh?”

I crumpled the photo and tossed it into the trash casually. "Don't flatter yourself."

It seemed he was about to take my hand, but he stopped midway.

“I know you still have grudges. If you and Kelly were still together, it so happened that today would be your wedding anniversary.”

“What happened back then … was beyond my control.  If you really don’t care anymore, let us treat you to dinner. If there’s anything you need help with, tell us. After all, we're old friends."

I hardly needed to think and was ready to refuse … but suddenly, the candles in front of the shrine flickered. So I smiled faintly and changed my mind.

“Okay.”

Leo was more talkative than before. His small movements also became more frequent.

While talking about a romantic trip with Kelly in Turkey last month, he used his fingers to apply her own lip balm to her lips while waiting for the traffic light.

“Every fall and winter, I have to remind you to use this. Last time, when I kissed you a bit too hard, it bled. When will you learn?”

Kelly swatted his hand away, as if a bit irritated. “Stop fooling around.”

"Ah, Honey. I completely forgot about it. Mac, you don't mind it, right? Kelly and I always act like this."

I interrupted him with extreme patience. “Of course not.”

“I've already seen the two of you rolling in bed back then. Why would I mind something this mild now?”

Silence filled the car.

Finally ... it’s quiet.

I looked at the scenery along the way and remembered that if my mother were still there, she would be amazed by the changes now.

Back then, when my father insisted on divorcing my mother for Emily, it almost drove her insane.

And the fact that I married Kelly behind her back—killed her.

At first, I hated my father and Emily because they betrayed my mother and forced her to change from an invincible woman to a resentful woman who made a fuss about a trivial matter in a short period of time.

Time seemed to pass on her with extra force, taking away her vitality bit by bit.

Later, I hated myself.

After a heartbreaking funeral for my mother, I went south alone during what should have been my honeymoon and stayed for a month.

During that time, I never once resented Kelly. After all, she was a pearl that had been covered with dust. A child who was burdened by a tragic fate but powerless to change it.

Before leaving, I entrusted Leo to care for her.

And he did an excellent job. In our newlywed apartment we shared, he cooked with practiced efficiency. He prepared five dishes and a soup that looked absolutely exquisite.

I was sincerely grateful to him.

That year, the bond between the three of us grew stronger than ever.

Kelly treated me even better. She spent all the company’s first major profit on buying me the gemstone cufflinks I had admired. She lit fireworks across the entire city to celebrate my birthday. She always took a few days off every month, pushed off all offline meetings and accompanied me to work from home.

So, I never doubted that she truly loved me.

Until one day, by chance, I went to her office alone.

From the half-open, hidden door inside the office came the sound of rapid, labored breathing.

When I pushed the door, the scene before me stabbed into my eyes like a knife.

I screamed uncontrollably.

Her protective move toward the man was swift and decisive.

“Who let you in!”

“Get out!”

Like a madman, I grabbed everything within reach and hurled it at them.

Blood flowed from Kelly's forehead, but he still remembered to protect the man in his arms.

I smashed everything in the room. But I didn't dare to approach them. After all, the two of them were the people I loved the most in my life.

Fear penetrated my bones and my teeth chattered as I tried to calm myself.

"Leo, look at me."

With face red from crying, the man knelt toward me from beneath the tangled blanket.

"Mac, I'm sorry. Kelly and I shouldn't have done this, but our love has grown beyond control.”

“Please, just let us be together.”

His groveling posture mirrored the posture he had made at the first year we met, when he'd been cornered by thugs at the alley entrance.

It was also in the same year that, to protect him, I—a model student—had completely offended that gang. For a long time afterward, I dared not take shortcuts.

I once had Kelly personally hand him the wedding bouquet, wishing him the happiness he deserved.

And now he was lying in my wife's arms, begging me to give them a blessing.

Tears streamed down my face as I murmured, "When did it start?”

His lips trembled, unable to speak.

But someone answered for him.

“Does it matter? Are you done making a scene? This is the company, not your home.”

“Does it not matter?  Kelly! Does it not matter?” I asked her hysterically.

She stood there naked, but her gaze was unflinching.

“Fine! I'll tell you!”

“Last March, when you abandoned me and fled to the south, we were together.”

“I didn't mean to hide it from you. You'd just lost your mother and I didn't want to hurt you further. So I let you have your way and kept up this marriage.”

“Leo has suffered enough. I didn't want to see him worry about me anymore. I planned to ask you for a divorce after your mother's death anniversary.”

“Since you've found out, I might as well tell you.”

“Let's divorce. You can have whatever you want. I only want Leo.”

Only then did I fully comprehend. How heavy the slap I delivered to my mother when I sided with Kelly.

Before I divorced her, I still made a scene.

I photographed their disheveled forms in bed with my phone, printed countless flyers with captions and distributed them to every employee at her company.