"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."

Gabriella's voice carried a hint of anxiety, as though she was afraid that I might actually believe what Nathaniel had said.

I held the phone to my ear, my tone flat. "Yeah, I know."

My calmness seemed to catch her off guard. There was a brief silence on her end before she spoke again. "The 18th of next month is an auspicious day. Let's have our wedding then."

I gripped my phone, my fingers tightening without me realizing it. After hesitating for a moment, I decided to tell Gabriella about the divorce. "Are you free tomorrow? The divorce agreement—"

Before I could finish speaking, Nathaniel's voice came through the phone. "Gabriella, are you going to pack your bags or not? Get over here."

Gabriella's voice dropped, carrying a hint of anxiety. "Samuel, what did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly. I have to fly abroad with Nate tomorrow to see an exhibition. Whatever it is, let's talk when I get back."

The call disconnected, leaving a continuous busy tone on the line.

I chuckled. I had wanted to talk to her in person, but she never gave me that chance.

In the following days, I successfully resigned from the firm. I packed up all my belongings in the house and moved to my new home.

Every so often, Gabriella would send me photos of wedding venue setups. "I didn't realize there were so many styles for weddings. Which one do you like? I think a beach setting would be lovely. What do you think?"

As I looked at the exquisite designs, a bitter irony stirred in my heart. During our three years of marriage, she kept giving me hope again and again, only to let me down each time. Now that I was leaving, she suddenly seemed to care about the wedding.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel updated his story on social media every day. It was either photos of the two of them or videos of the surprises Gabriella had carefully planned for him.

The day before the wedding Gabriella had promised, which was also the last day of the divorce cooling-off period, a proposal video appeared on social media.

In the video, Nathaniel stood in a blooming garden, wearing a well-tailored suit. Gabriella stood before him, holding out a sparkling diamond ring.

The people around them chanted, "Kiss her!"

The final frame froze on Gabriella, smiling as she threw herself into Nathaniel's arms.

I watched the clip calmly, left a comment congratulating them, and then blocked Nathaniel.

Shortly after, Gabriella called me. She sounded cheerful. "Samuel, I'll be back in the country tomorrow. I've already sorted everything out with the wedding planners. Once I'm home, we can hold the wedding right away."

The next morning, I didn't go to the beach for the wedding. By noon, Gabriella still hadn't called to ask why I wasn't there.

It wasn't until evening that she finally came home, looking worn out. She looked at me as I sat on the couch, guilt and unease flashing in her eyes.

"Nate wasn't feeling well, so our return was delayed. But it's fine. I promise the next wedding will definitely happen," she said.

When I heard those words, I felt nothing. As expected, she still hadn't shown up for the 33rd wedding.

I looked at her quietly and slid the divorce agreement I had prepared toward her. "There's no need. The cooling-off period is over. Let's finalize the divorce."