I clenched the numbered slip in my hand, letting the sharp edge scrape my palm.

The faint sting gnawed at me like swarming ants.

“Nothing, just passing by.”

Hank seemed satisfied with my tact, his tone softening.

“Alright, wait for me. I’ll bring back your favorite crispy pork.”

I stood still, watching until the two figures vanished before I turned and walked into the hall.

The paperwork was quickly finished, and two green divorce certificates were handed to me.

The staff asked casually, “Did something happen with your husband? Why hasn’t he come to collect these?”

“He’s with his mistress, taking photos for their marriage certificate.”

My eyes drifted across the hall, where Lily was clinging to Hank, demanding retakes of their picture.

The two sat against a red backdrop, the image of a blissful couple.

And I was the one who didn’t belong.

After years of staking everything on Hank, I was left empty-handed.

I returned home, placed the divorce papers and my child’s ashes neatly on the dining table.

The room brimmed with memories.

From kindergarten snapshots to graduation photos, our lives have always been side by side.

I thought quietly: I’ll give Hank one last chance—to talk face-to-face.

But when the food had been reheated for the third time, my phone rang.

“Alex, something urgent came up at the hospital. I can’t come home tonight.”

On the screen, his chat box kept flashing: “Typing in progress.”

“I ordered the crispy pork I promised. It’ll be delivered. Don’t wait up—sleep early. I’ll make it up to you someday.”

I had grown numb to excuses. Calmly, I switched to Lily’s alternate account.

Her latest post appeared.

“The baby’s fussy, but with Daddy around, everything’s fine~”

The photo showed their intertwined hands.

I stared for a long moment, then dumped the untouched food into the trash.

When the driver dropped off the takeout, he apologized as he handed me a flattened box.

After he left, I sat alone, opening the crushed pork.

The soggy, misshapen meat steamed weakly.

I took a bite; it tasted bitter, tinged with salt.

Only when my cheeks were wet did I realize I was crying.

Hank, loving you hurts too much. I have no choice but to let go.

The next day, I gathered everything that belonged to me and tossed it into the trash. Only one small suitcase remained.

My mother’s ashes were still at the hospital—I wanted to take her with me.

When I was small, her warm palm always rested on my head. Later, she seemed to shrink.

Until I could see the crown of her head. Until she became nothing but a light, floating jar.

I tucked the jar into my bag and went to one of her favorite restaurants.

Unexpectedly, I ran into Hank and Lily there.

Both dressed formally, they looked slightly nervous.

The moment our eyes met, Hank frowned and whispered, “Alex, why are you here?”

He lowered his voice sharply. “Your little scenes are fine, but today’s important—I’m meeting investors. Don’t be so ignorant!”

Lily added sweetly, “Sister, it’s fine if you control Hank at home, but following us here? Do you not care about his career?”

Their barbs reminded me. Today was indeed the meeting.

Because I never wanted to reveal myself as an investor, I always sent my assistant in my place.

Watching their expressions, I suddenly lost the urge to keep silent. “I recommended this restaurant to you. Why can’t I come?”

I walked over, sat opposite them, and unzipped my bag slightly.

Lily recoiled. “Why are you carrying an urn?”

Hank’s face darkened, and just as he was about to speak, his assistant arrived.

He looked at me strangely. “What’s going on here?”

Before I could answer, Lily cut in impatiently. “She forced herself to sit with us, but she’s carrying ashes. I was just about to tell her to leave—bad luck, you know.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Hank’s eyes, but his voice quickly cooled.

“She’s right. We don’t know her.”

Hank quickly stood and asked the assistant to take a seat. “I’m sorry, I’ll call the waiter.”

The assistant’s face paled slightly. He had never expected Hank to show such deference.

“It’s fine, let’s sit together.”

Even with ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare ask his boss to leave.

Hank’s smile stiffened, but in the end, he allowed me to sit beside him.

In truth, the assistant had already begun the divestment process, though he hadn’t yet told Hank of my request.

He casually changed the subject. “This boiled fish is excellent.”

Hank said warmly, “My wife loves fish but hates bones. I always pick them out before putting them on her plate.”

In the past, whenever he mentioned his wife, the assistant’s expression softened.

So Hank deliberately showed affection, hoping to ease the tension.

“Really?”

I suddenly asked, “If you love your wife so much, why bring another woman?”

Hank shot me a dark look, then forced a smile as he explained to the assistant, “My wife is shy and dislikes these occasions. Lily is only my sister, nothing more.”

Lily hadn’t expected him to distance himself at that moment, and she bit her lip resentfully.

Then she suddenly gagged a few times.

Hank looked at her anxiously. Lily feigned embarrassment. “Sorry, the smell of fish makes me nauseous.”

She stroked her belly. “The baby is young and restless. Hank, could you get me some vegetables to soothe it?”

His face filled with tenderness, and he instinctively placed the whole dish in front of her.

The assistant’s expression darkened, and she regretted not seeing through this man sooner.

I sneered, “She’s not just a sister—she’s a mistress.”

Hank slammed the table, glaring at me with furious eyes.

He leaned close, teeth clenched. “Alex, go home. This isn’t the place for you.”

Seeing my indifference, his expression shifted again and again.

“Alex, our daughter is still in the incubator. You should return to her.”

I suddenly laughed aloud.

He had only mentioned his daughter twice. Once, to threaten me to write a letter to clear Lily.

The other, to protect his company’s investment.

Those gentle eyes I once loved now held only suspicion and irritation.

“I thought you only cared about what’s in Lily’s belly. So you do remember you have a daughter.”

I added softly, “But seeing her reaction, I doubt the baby will survive.”

At once, Lily stood, clutching her stomach, her eyes red as she glared at me.

She suddenly lunged, snatched the urn, and hurled it toward the flowerbed outside the window.

“No—!”

My heart stopped.

I rushed forward, catching only a handful of drifting ashes.

Lily smiled coldly. “You cursed my child, so I scattered your mother’s ashes. Now we’re even.”

Even?

I could hardly believe it. Instinctively, I grabbed a chair and smashed it down.

Her shrieks, Hank’s rebukes, and the assistant’s alarmed voice soon blurred.

All I heard was thunder splitting the sky.

I staggered outside, kneeling in the flowerbed, picking up ashes bit by bit.

Rain poured, soaking the soil, and my sobs broke free.

Soon, I collapsed.

…

When I awoke, I was in the airport’s VIP lounge.

Fresh clothes covered me, and the urn rested safely nearby.

The assistant’s face showed guilt. “I’m sorry, Ms. Quinn, I couldn’t stop it.”

"Also, the divestment process is nearing completion. Do you think we should notify your ex-husband?"

I shook my head. "No, I want to catch him off guard."

I opened my phone and sent a text message to my lawyer: "Now you can make public the evidence that Lily poisoned me. I want you to personally help me put her in jail!"

"Understood. Everything will be done in five minutes!"

The assistant handed me my belongings. “I changed your clothes and rushed you here. Your flight boards in thirty minutes.”

I turned on my phone, but no messages appeared.

I blocked all contact with him and Lily, then erased every trace of myself.

Goodbye, Hank, Lily.

I hope you two enjoy this "parting gift" from me.