“Thalia, don’t be angry. I already taught this rebellious son a lesson for you. He’ll be obedient from now on!”

I stared at the video, numb.

With a bang, every sweet memory I’d clung to shattered into dust.

The pain tore through my chest, crushing my insides.

Evander—who claimed to have mysophobia.

The man who never once held my hand, who recoiled when I leaned in for a hug.

The man who only got me pregnant because he was drunk that night with Althea.

When we returned home, the guests had gone, leaving bottles and trash scattered everywhere.

Evander lounged on the sofa, cigarette between his lips, legs lifted off the ground, unmoving.

“Clean it up. These bastards really know how to piss me off.”

Before, I would have done it without a word—his obedient babysitter.

But this time, I stayed still.

“Evander…” I forced the words out. “Let’s break up.”

He barely looked up from his phone.

“What? Say that again. I didn’t hear—Althea just threw ten kills in a row and ruined my game. Damn idiot. Nearly made my pants fall off.”

He cursed into the mic.

“Hey, give me another kill! You want your dad to spank you?”

I drew a deep breath. “I said, let’s break up.”

This time, he heard. His phone clattered against the floor.

“Are you insane?” His eyes narrowed. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

I sank onto the chair, pressing my aching stomach.

“I’m serious. I think… Althea might be better for you.”

From the broken phone came Althea’s shrill voice.

“Hey, don’t hang up! Mama’s about to win—it’s the qualifying round!”

His jaw tightened, anger flashing in his eyes.

“So this is my crime? Being close to Althea?”

“How many times must I tell you? There’s nothing between us—just pure friendship!”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“Pure friendship? The kind where you lick feet, hug, and fuck without condoms?”

His fury snapped. He grabbed me, shoving me onto the sofa. His breath burned against the tip of my nose.

“Jealous?”

“It’s just a kiss. I’ll compensate you.”

But in my mind, the image of him kissing Althea’s toes blazed like fire.

I shoved him away. “Don’t touch me!”

He crushed me tighter.

“Don’t pretend. Isn’t this what you’ve wanted?”

“You’re mad, but we already have a child. Why fight with that idiot over me?”

The ringtone cut through our struggle. Althea again.

“Where are you, you useless son of a bitch? The enemy’s already taken the high ground! If you don’t log in now, I’ll disown you!”

Evander shot me a look, then sneered.

“You’re breaking up? I’m the one who’s been robbed.”

He picked up the phone.

“Alright, alright. Women are trouble. Give me a minute.”

The moment the call ended, he grabbed his phone and dove back into the game.

“Stop being difficult. Tomorrow I’ll take you shopping—buy whatever you want.”

I didn’t answer. My body ached too much, my stomach cramping sharply.

I whispered his name, barely a breath.

No reply.

From the bathroom came bursts of laughter—his and Althea’s voices, tangled together, mixed with the shrill chaos of the game.

Each sound pierced through me, until I could no longer tell whether it was my stomach or my heart that hurt more.

I heard Althea’s voice through the headset.

“Did you coax him? His fighting power’s soaring. You really are my boy. Keep it up—Mommy’s going to be King tonight!”

Evander laughed.

“What’s there to coax? Just buy him a few gifts. Damn, dead again? Can’t you signal?”

I stayed up all night, listening. By dawn, Evander yanked me out of bed.

“I promised you a gift, didn’t I? I won’t break my word. My dear wife, I’m not angry anymore.”

Swallowing the bile rising in my throat, I followed him to the car.

The moment the navigation turned on, Althea’s voice echoed from the speakers.

“Boy, turn left ahead. Go straight. Damn it, you missed again! You’re getting hammered by mama!”

My stomach churned. He caught my expression and smirked.

“Relax. I lost a game to that idiot, so I have to use his voice pack for a month. Almost over. Be patient.”

At the mall, I spotted a Hermès bag. I reached for my wallet, but Evander darted ahead to pay.

Then a voice I knew all too well called out behind me.

“Hey, that bag’s nice. Suits me.”

Althea.

She strutted over, trying on bags, smiling wide.

“Well, well. You’re not carrying your ugly backpack anymore? So feminine—Mama almost doesn’t recognize you.”

She rolled her eyes dramatically.

“What’s wrong? Charmed by Mama? Get in line. There are ten thousand ahead of you.”

The bile rose higher. I forced myself to speak.

“Miss Ravenscroft, I came here first. I’ve already paid.”

Althea poked Evander’s chest with her manicured finger.

“But I like it too. My boy, you decide—sisters or women? Don’t you dare put a woman before me.”

Evander burst out laughing.

“Alright, alright. It’s rare for you to want something. How could I resist you?"

My breath hitched, pain stabbing through my abdomen.

“Honey, don’t be angry,” Evander soothed quickly. “Althea hasn’t bought a bag in eight hundred years. Let her have this one. We’ll get you another. Any style you like—I’ll buy it for you.”

But I didn’t want leftovers. Not anymore.

I curved my lips into a smile that tasted of blood.

“Evander, let’s talk.”

He ignored the edge in my tone, pulling out his phone.

“That restaurant you mentioned last time—it’s perfect. I’ll book it. Tonight, just you and me. Nothing is more important than my wife.”

But that night, I waited three hours alone at the restaurant.

A message finally came. Working overtime. Need money for the baby’s formula.

My phone buzzed again. Althea’s status update.

A photo of the Hermès bag.

My boy is so sensible and filial to her mama I’m so happy! Drinks on me tonight to celebrate.

The comments flooded in:

“Oh my god, isn’t this the new limited edition? Three hundred thousand? Evander is too generous!”

“Althea, careful—your sister-in-law might beat you up. She’s stingy as hell.”

“Don’t remind me. Thalia ruined the last party. Couldn’t even drink. If Evander hadn’t kicked her out, I’d have made her kneel and apologize.”

Althea replied with a bomb emoji.

“Can a sister be the same as a wife? Don’t marry, or you’ll end up with someone like Thalia—nothing but trouble, can’t even hold her liquor.”

Evander didn’t reply—but he liked Althea’s comment.

My fingertips trembled. Pain spread from my chest, crawling into every vein.

The waiter approached for the eighth time.

“Miss, the guests who reserved the next table have arrived. Would you like to…eat?”

I forced a smile.

“No. Please throw it away for me.”

I would never wait for someone who wouldn’t come.

Loyalty that had to be begged was never mine to begin with.

I stumbled out, the pounding bass from the bar rattling my bones, each beat stabbing into my abdomen. Still, I pushed forward. I had to see.

To see what filth lay beneath the skin of the man I had loved for five years.

Because sometimes, only betrayal witnessed with your own eyes can finally kill a love.

Through the glass of the private room, I saw her.

Althea lounged half-naked, only a lace bra sliding down her shoulders. Evander’s brother whistled.

“Didn’t know you were hiding such talent!”

Althea shot back, smirking.

“Go to hell. Don’t eat grass near your own burrow. You looking for death? I’ll have my boy beat you bloody.”

Laughter erupted.

“Yes, yes, that grass belongs to Evander. I wouldn’t dare. Last time someone teased you, Evander nearly broke their legs!”

My chest constricted. I remembered the night Evander claimed he’d defended a stranger at the police station. The “stranger” had been her all along.

Cold drenched me from head to toe, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over me.

Inside, the game continued, more vulgar with every round.

“Evander lost again! Kiss! Kiss! Last time was only five minutes, not enough. Double this time!”

“Kissing? Too tame. These two have already slept together. Let’s up the stakes!”

“Have Evander take Althea’s bra off—with his mouth!”

Althea flushed and flung a pillow.

“Bastards! If you want to see, just say it!”

Evander chuckled, eyes gleaming.

“My baby’s shy? Come on, let mama take a picture for your wedding keepsake.”

“Shy? You’re the one who’ll beg for mercy.”

The crowd roared. Amid their jeers, Althea lay back on the sofa. Evander leaned in, lips brushing hers.

The room quieted.

With a snap, one button popped.

Althea panicked, scrambling to cover herself. Evander threw his coat over her, but not before I noticed someone raising a phone, grinning.

Evander’s face twisted.

“You took a picture? Delete it.”

The man laughed.

“Come on, Evander, just a joke. Don’t you trust me?”

“I said delete it!”

“Hahaha, no way. Althea, you’re finished—”

The laughter cut short.

By the time anyone reacted, the man lay bleeding on the floor.

“Evander!”

Althea clutched his arm, pressing against his chest.

“Don’t be rash! Calm down!”

And unbelievably—he did.

His voice softened in her embrace.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have agreed to this game.”

She smiled, stroking his back.

“I don’t blame you. You’re my boy, after all.”

The tension eased. Laughter returned.

Before the ambulance arrived, I turned and fled the bar—stomach cramping, heart already ashes.