After I register my marriage with Gabriella Archer behind everyone's backs, whenever she unlocks a new bedroom position with her childhood sweetheart, Nathaniel Taylor, she tells me that she'll throw a wedding to make it up to me.

In three years, Gabriella has brought the wedding up 33 times. Of course, she has broken her promise 33 times as well.

The first time she did, it was because Nathaniel's dog had died. In order to pay respects to it, Gabriella told me that she couldn't host any auspicious events for three months.

I was still clad in a tux as I kept apologizing and making amends to all of our family, friends, and relatives beneath the stage.

The second time Gabriella flaked out on me, it was thanks to Nathaniel's stomachache. She had the wedding car turned around so that she could buy medicine for Nathaniel and take care of him.

In every wedding after that, Nathaniel would get into all sorts of troubles and ailments.

I fought with Gabriella, and I lost my temper multiple times.

But Gabriella often hit me with, "Nate and I are just friends with benefits. You're my actual husband here, so don't be petty."

After Gabriella breaks her promise for the 33rd time, I'm finally done with her. So, I slide a divorce agreement in her direction.

"The cooling-off period is over, so let's just finalize the divorce."

Gabriella Archer missed our wedding ceremony for the 32nd time because of the celebration party for her 999th successful case. Nathaniel Taylor carefully organized the party for her.

At the party, everyone assumed that Nathaniel was her boyfriend.

"Ms. Archer, you and Mr. Taylor grew up together and make such a perfect pair. With the atmosphere tonight, why don't you make a toast to each other?"

"Yes! We want to see Ms. Archer and Mr. Taylor toast to each other!"

The crowd's cheers reached my ears.

I had been married to her for three years, yet she had never acknowledged our relationship publicly. I could only shrink into a corner, watching her look at Nathaniel affectionately as they raised a toast to one another.

After the party ended, fearing our relationship might get exposed, I went to the intersection near the hotel early and waited for Gabriella.

A black car slowly approached. When the window rolled down, I saw Nathaniel sleeping soundly in her car.

Gabriella looked at me, her tone as matter-of-fact as ever. "Go home by yourself. I need to drop Nate off."

I lowered my gaze and said nothing.

Gabriella was a total clean freak. She never let any strange smells linger in her car.

Once, she offended a client because of her stubbornness. To apologize on her behalf, I drank so much that I nearly made myself sick.

But when it was over, she frowned and looked at me with pure disgust. "You smell terrible. Find your own way back."

That day, she left me alone in the snowy outskirts, and it took me four hours to walk home. But now, a drunken Nathaniel slept peacefully in her car.

It turned out that her rules were only meant for me.

I gave a bitter smile and tried my best to keep my voice steady. "Are you still coming to the wedding tomorrow?"

Gabriella hesitated for a moment. "I have to look after Nate tonight, so I won't make it tomorrow. Let's just forget about it for now."

My heart sank, but I nodded gently. "Okay."

After a brief pause, I took a document from my bag and handed it to Gabriella. "Sign this."

Perhaps feeling guilty, Gabriella picked up the pen and signed the document without even glancing at it.

Then she looked at me and promised gently, "When I come home tomorrow, I'll bring you your favorite pancakes from the west side of the city."

After she finished speaking, she drove off.

…

Gabriella didn't return home until noon the next day. She stood before the mirror, her slender neck marked with hickeys left by Nathaniel.

Suddenly, she paused and tilted her head slightly. She looked at me through the mirror as I sat on the edge of the bed.

"What document did you have me sign yesterday?" Gabriella asked.

I looked up, a flicker of complex emotion flashing across my face before I regained my composure. "You didn't ask when you signed it, and now you want to know?"

Gabriella gave me an indifferent smile. "It just occurred to me. Besides, you're my husband—you wouldn't do anything to hurt me."

I lowered my gaze, hiding the mockery in my eyes. "Aren't you afraid that I made you sign our divorce agreement or a transfer of your assets?"

Gabriella's chest tightened at my words. She frowned, looking slightly panicked and annoyed. "Are you joking with me?"

She walked over to me and sat sideways on my lap. "You know that I would definitely lose my mind if you ever left me. If I had to choose between the two, I'd rather it was the transfer of my assets," she said, her tone soft but firm.

Gabriella looked at me, and I could see the deep affection in her eyes. I knew that she meant it when she said she couldn't leave me, and her feelings for me were real.

But my "joke" was real too. I had her sign the divorce agreement that would end our marriage.

I had pursued her for five years and had been married to her for three. My relationship with Gabriella was finally coming to an end.

…

That afternoon, once I arrived at the office, I went straight to the HR department to hand in my resignation. The HR manager, Serena Hale, looked up from her desk. When she realized it was me, a look of shock appeared on her face.

She said, "Mr. Carter, have you truly made up your mind? You have worked alongside Ms. Archer longer than anyone else. We always said among ourselves that even if the law firm went under, you would never leave. Why would you suddenly—"

Serena didn't finish her sentence.

I looked down. Until yesterday, I had always believed that I would never leave. Gabriella and I built this law firm from the ground up, working hard side by side and fighting every step of the way.

When the firm landed its first case, Gabriella took me out for a lavish dinner with the legal fee.

That day, we watched the flow of traffic from a restaurant on the 54th floor. Gabriella leaned against my chest and said she was glad that I was the one by her side in this life.

I smiled faintly and replied to Serena, "People change. I've already made up my mind."

Serena looked at me, her eyes full of regret. "Since you're firm in your decision, I wish you the best in the future."

I thanked her quietly and walked out of the HR office. The moment I got back to my desk, my phone chimed.

I picked it up and saw that Nathaniel had posted something on social media. The photo showed Gabriella lying in bed, looking peaceful as she slept.

The caption read, "I had too much to drink last night. Fortunately, someone was there to look after me personally. I gave her a little hickey as a reward."

Nathaniel tagged me directly, probably to make sure that I wouldn't miss it. This wasn't the first time he had done something like this. Out of every ten stories he posted, three usually mentioned me, while the other seven were visible only to me.

In the past, these petty tricks easily provoked me. Gabriella and I used to argue and fight because of them.

Every time, she simply brushed it off and told me, "Nate and I are just friends with benefits. You're the one who's my husband. Don't be so petty."

Gabriella was certain that I loved her and would never leave, so she hurt me without holding back.

I smiled, though my heart remained heavy with a mix of complicated feelings.

Suddenly, a coworker nearby gasped. "Look! Ms. Archer's boyfriend is here."

I followed her gaze. Nathaniel, dressed in a tailored suit, walked into Gabriella's office as if no one else existed. Soon, someone lowered the blinds, blocking the view from outside.

I lowered my gaze, and my thoughts drifted back to the past.

Back then, Gabriella had me pinned against the desk in her office. A mischievous glint flickered in her eyes as she smiled and asked, "Doesn't this feel like an affair? Isn't it exciting?"

Her sweat dripped onto my chest. Once we calmed down, she held me and said softly, "Once we have the wedding, I'll definitely make our relationship public."

I laughed at my past self for being so stupid. I had fallen for her sweet words over and over, letting her deceive me 32 times.

I placed my hand on the divorce agreement and the resignation letter beside me. I wasn't going to let her fool me again.

…

Two hours later, while I was in the middle of handing off my work to a coworker, Gabriella sent me a message. "Bring me a cup of coffee."

She was extremely picky about the sugar and bitterness in her coffee. Across the entire firm, only I could make it just the way she liked.

I let out a sigh and stood up to prepare the drink. What I didn't expect was to find Nathaniel in the break room.

When Nathaniel saw me walk in, his lips curled into a disdainful smirk. "Samuel, your temper is getting better and better. I thought you would've rushed into Gabriella's office to catch us in the act just now."

As he spoke, he deliberately lifted his chin, revealing the glaring scratch marks on his neck.

I looked down and picked up the coffee beans. "Is that so? Do you want a cup? These coffee beans from Silverpeak taste really good."

My calm demeanor caught Nathaniel off guard. He looked me up and down as if I were a stranger.

"What are you so smug about? Do you really think Gabriella won't divorce you? To be honest, the only reason Gabriella married you back then was because of something I said as a joke. Why else would she be legally married to you but refuse to hold a wedding?"

Gabriella stepped into the break room. Panic flickered across her face as she looked at Nathaniel reprimandingly. "Nate, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Instead of getting angry, Nathaniel playfully wrapped his arms around her waist. "Did I say anything wrong? Gabriella, you clearly agreed to marry Samuel back then just to make me happy."

Gabriella's expression grew extremely complicated. She seemed ready to explain something, yet when she opened her mouth, no words came out for a long moment.

Her gaze darted around, and she didn't dare meet my eyes. Her face was full of guilt and panic.

I stood there in a daze while Nathaniel's words echoed in my ears.

In my relationship with Gabriella, I was always the one taking the initiative. I had chased her for five years. From the first innocent confession to later summoning the courage to propose, she had always maintained an ambiguous attitude, neither refusing nor agreeing.

On the day Gabriella suggested we apply for a marriage license, I was so happy that I couldn't sleep all night. I was full of joy, thinking I had finally won her over and that she truly cared for me.

But now, the harsh reality shattered all my previous fantasies.

I forced a bitter, self-deprecating smile and slid the brewed coffee toward Gabriella. "Ms. Archer, your coffee is ready. I'll be heading out now."

As soon as I finished speaking, I ignored Gabriella's panicked expression and turned to leave in silence.

…

That night, just as I was getting ready for bed, my phone suddenly rang.

It was a call from Gabriella. "Samuel, everything Nate said this afternoon was just nonsense. Don't take it to heart."