My Naomi.

I managed a bitter smile, collected the pieces of the grass necklace, and quietly walked away.

My departing figure must have looked like a stray dog, abandoned and forlorn.

Hector’s voice called out with a false note of concern. “Luke, where are you going? It was just a joke. Don’t take it personally.”

Naomi sneered, “Let him go! He’s a nobody!”

She lovingly touched the pendant around her neck.

Hector followed me, feigning worry.

“Luke, wait a minute!”

He grabbed my arm, his face showing faux remorse, but his voice was laced with venom. “Luke, you’re just a stray dog who got lucky Naomi ended up with you.”

“But don’t worry. Now that I’m back, I’ll be taking Naomi from you soon.”

“She was always meant to be mine!”

He whispered so only I could hear, then raised his voice. “Luke, I’ve known Naomi for over twenty years. Surely you can take a joke.”

“We used to sleep together. If all men were as petty as you, Naomi would have no freedom at all.”

“Why don’t you let off some steam? Yell at me or hit me if it helps.”

Hearing Hector’s taunts, Naomi snapped. She marched over in her high heels, pulled Hector behind her, and slapped me hard across the face.

The loud smack silenced the room, and everyone turned to watch with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

Naomi’s face was flushed with fury. “Luke! Have I really given you too much leeway?”

“You embarrassed me with a worthless grass necklace in front of my friends.”

“And now Hector offers such a generous gift, and you dare to hit him?”

“Let me be clear. You’re not even in his league!”

“If you touch him today, it’s over between us!”

Hector’s gaze was filled with both challenge and contempt. I looked back at him with cold eyes, seemingly indifferent to the pain on my face.

“There’s no need to fight over it. If you want it, take it!”

Turning to Naomi, I said with icy calm before she could say anything more, “Let’s get a divorce.”

“What did you say?!”

Naomi’s eyes widened in disbelief, and the shock was evident on everyone’s faces.

Everyone knew how fortunate I was to be with Naomi.

She was the daughter of the Collins Group, while I was just an ordinary man.

I lost my father young and had only my mother to rely on.

My job and income were nothing special; besides my unyielding devotion to Naomi, I had nothing that set me apart.

Naomi, however, was a young, brilliant CEO, beautiful, talented, and wealthy.

To everyone, she was a shining star, and I was just dust.

Now, with Hector, who had clearly achieved great success abroad, I felt even more like an out-of-place fool.

“I’m saying we should get a divorce.”

“Today.”

Naomi’s anger flared. She shouted, “Luke!! This isn’t a joke!”

She raised her hand to slap me once more.

This was the third time, but this time, I stopped her.

I grabbed her wrist before she could strike, holding it firmly in the air. With a self-deprecating smile, I said, “I’m not worthy of you. I never was.”

“Today is your birthday. We’ll sort everything out tomorrow. I’ll draft the divorce papers.”

“I’ll leave with nothing.”

I released her hand and took a step back.

She seemed stunned, either by my firm resolve or by the stark contrast to my previous weakness.

She lost her balance and stumbled slightly.

Hector was quick to react, catching her and pulling her into his arms.

“Naomi, are you okay?” he asked, his face filled with concern.

Naomi shook her head, steadied herself, and pointed a trembling finger at me.

“So, Luke, you’ve finally grown a backbone and dare to speak to me like this?”

“What did I ever do to you that makes you want a divorce?”

I looked at the two of them, wrapped in each other's arms without a hint of discretion, and let out a bitter laugh.

The love I had once begged for felt as worthless as dust.

Better to let it go.

Taking a deep breath, I looked at Naomi and spoke my final truth.

“You once brought light into my life.”

“I spent three years trying to burn myself out to brighten yours.”

“But you’ve cast me aside like a worn-out shoe. I… did my best.”