When I came out, Irina frowned at me and said, "Pretending to be sick again. How childish are you? You're just a lazy, good-for-nothing bum, why are you always so melodramatic? It's because you're so useless that you killed our baby!"

I clenched my sleeves, a sharp pain piercing through my heart like needles. Years ago, I had downed drinks to shield Irina from social obligations, which led to a stomach hemorrhage and left me with a serious gastric condition.

After our startup succeeded, Irina took charge of managing the company, while I, due to my poor health, stayed home to care for our baby and handle the household. I became the 'kept man' in the eyes of others.

Once, Irina brought the baby and me to a company retreat, where Chris accidentally pushed our child into the river. I immediately jumped in after them, severely injuring myself, but I still couldn't save the baby's life.

I considered holding Chris responsible, but Irina just laughed at me, "How dare you blame others for your incompetence? If you hadn't wrecked your body fooling around when you were younger, maybe you could've saved a child."

She knew I drank at social events to help her business. She knew it was Chris's fault that our baby died. Yet she still used the cruelest words to insult and belittle me.

Over the years, her constant brainwashing had made me insecure and fearful. It was only today that I finally understood, endless tolerance doesn't bring love, it only encourages the other person to trample over you.

I didn't want to argue with Irina anymore, so I went to the bedroom to pack my things. She thought I was doing my usual housework.

Lounging on the sofa with her legs crossed, she casually chatted with Chris, waiting for me to serve her. Their conversation was accompanied by a close-up selfie of the two of them.

Irina was so engrossed in the chat that she didn't even notice when I came out with my suitcase.

"Chris wants to treat you to dinner as an apology," she said. "See how generous he is? You made such a fuss over a small issue, embarrassing him in front of everyone. Tomorrow, you're going to the office to apologize to Chris publicly and we can put this matter behind us. Then we can get back to living our lives."

I didn't say a word, just lowered my head and glanced at the message from my lawyer. It would take about ten days to settle the assets and gather evidence of her infidelity. I had already waited ten years, so what were ten more days?

I kept my thoughts to myself, but Irina misinterpreted my silence as another surrender. She grabbed my arm and forcefully dragged me out the door.

In the underground garage, I habitually opened the passenger-side door, but she quickly shoved me aside. My forehead hit the door and the pain brought tears to my eyes.

"Are you okay?" Irina seemed flustered.

She pretended to be concerned about my injury, but her body was deliberately blocking the leopard-print underwear Chris had left in the passenger seat.

She pretended while asked, "The passenger seat is a little dirty. Why don't you sit in the back? Are you seriously hurt? Should we stop by a pharmacy first?"

It was indeed dirty. I avoided her touch and sat in the back, pretending not to notice the label that read 'Chris's Special Seat' stuck to the front seat.

Feeling guilty, Irina tried to make small talk with me on the way, her tone noticeably softer, "Adrien, we've been married for so many years. Don't you know me well enough? There's nothing between me and Chris. He's just a naive young man. I only look after him because he's younger."

I nodded and turned my gaze out the window.

As we passed through a grove of red maple trees, Irina spoke again, "Look, the maple leaves are red again. I remember we took a picture here once. You were smiling so beautifully back then."

Outside, the maple leaves were as vivid as flames, but inside, my heart felt like it had plunged into an icy abyss.

I looked at her and spoke slowly, "We have been together for ten years and apart from the wedding photo that was destroyed, we have never had a photo together."

I used to think that Irina wasn't into romance. She was different from most women, she never liked taking pictures.

Once, during a business trip, I saw some beautiful scenery along the way and suggested we take a picture together as a memento. But she pushed me away and scolded me in public, "Why do you have to follow every trend? Do you think you're still young?"

"People like you, living in the illusion of beauty filters, are destined to achieve nothing in life! What's the point of taking pictures? Stay away from me. Walking next to you is embarrassing enough!" After that, I never dared to suggest taking a photo together again.

In fact, I became so self-conscious that I'd lower my head whenever I faced a camera.

So, Chris was right, love and indifference are obvious.

Feeling awkward, Irina fell silent. The car became quiet, except for the soft clicking sound of the photo keychain of her and Chris.

We finally arrived at our destination. As soon as we got out of the car, Chris rushed into Irina's arms and said, "Irina, you're finally here. I've been waiting so long my legs are sore."

Irina immediately squatted down, took off his shoes and smilingly massaged his feet. I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture of them, capturing this 'beautiful' moment.

It was only then that Irina remembered my presence. She said casually, "I'm just … showing normal concern for a subordinate."

"I understand. Let's go eat," I replied.

When we entered the restaurant, the waiter greeted us warmly, "Mrs. Middleton, are you here again with your husband for dinner? The usual?"

Irina glanced at me and cleared her throat, "This is my actual husband," she corrected.

I didn't respond, just walked over to the table and sat down. Compared to the brand-name clothes Chris was wearing, my plain attire didn't make me look like Irina's husband at all.

Once we were seated, Chris scooted his chair closer to Irina and took out an old watch from his designer bag and said, "Adrien, Irina gave me a new watch, so this old, secondhand one is for you. Consider it a peace offering. Don't be so petty about the wedding photo incident."

Irina looked a bit displeased and said, "I gave that to you."

She said again, "Adrien, if you like, I can buy you a new one. There's no need to compete with Chris over it. Besides, you stay at home washing clothes and cooking, you don't deserve such an expensive watch."

Chris smiled as he held Irina's hand and playfully whined, "Irina has given me so many gifts. One watch is nothing."

If this had been in the past, I would've demanded answers upon hearing such things. But now, I just calmly glanced at Chris and then lowered my head to send a message to my lawyer.

[I want to reclaim every penny Irina spent on her love], I typed. After receiving the lawyer's confirmation, I picked up my fork, feeling at ease.

When all the dishes were served, Irina, who usually refused to get her hands dirty with food, patiently peeled shrimp and deboned fish for Chris.

Chris gave me a smug look and said sarcastically, "Oh, Irina always takes care of me like this. Adrien, aren't you jealous? Irina, you should eat, too," he added, naturally handing her a shrimp he had already bitten into.

Without hesitation, Irina ate it, completely different from the woman who had once smashed her bowl in disgust when I offered her food, claiming it was unsanitary.

The sight of it made me too nauseous to eat. I slammed my fork down on the table in disgust.

"What's wrong with you now?" Irina's face was full of impatience. "I shouldn't have brought you along. You're just an embarrassing freeloader who's never seen the world!"

Chris glanced at me and then tugged on Irina's hand, whining about wanting to play tennis.

I frowned and refused. Every time I joined Irina for group activities, it left me with bad memories.

Chris said coldly, "You're such a buzz-kill. No wonder Irina doesn't like you. You should learn to engage with the outside world. You're a grown man. You can't spend your whole life at home doing nothing, living off a woman."

I took a napkin and wiped my mouth and said, "I was young once too. At your age, I was out running the market, bringing in clients and building my own company. Unlike you, who spends your time clinging to someone else's wife."

As soon as I finished speaking, a glass of water was splashed in my face.

Irina quickly stood in front of Chris, shielding him, her finger angrily pointing at me and shouted, "Adrien, don't you dare push your luck. Look at yourself! What right do you have to compare yourself to Chris?"

"He graduated from a prestigious school. And you? You're a worthless parasite! What gives you the right to speak to him that way?"

I picked up my coffee, ready to throw it back at her when my phone buzzed.

It was a message from the lawyer, confirming that they had gathered enough evidence of Irina's infidelity, which could help me get a larger share of the assets.

"Aren't you listening to me? What are you looking at now?" Irina tried to grab my phone, but I spoke first, "Let's go play tennis."

Irina looked at Chris and when he nodded, she didn't ask any further questions.

On the way, Chris glanced at me disdainfully, "You sure know how to endure. Do you think this will save your marriage? Her heart hasn't been with you for a long time!"

Seeing his smug expression, I calmly replied, "You've got lipstick smudged on your face."

They had been fine during dinner, but after a trip to the bathroom, one of them had an open button on their shirt and the other had lipstick smeared on their face. Such a childish and clumsy trick.

I couldn't be bothered to argue. Once we reached the tennis court, I grabbed a racket and sat off to the side. I didn't know how to play tennis and frankly, I wasn't in the mood.

I kept my head down, chatting with the lawyer about the divorce. Irina never cared about how I felt, nor did she pay attention to what I was doing.

She and Chris played enthusiastically, wiping each other's sweat and handing each other water like a couple deeply in love. I looked up and snapped a few pictures of them, capturing their 'happiness.'

Just as I was starting to feel drowsy, a tennis ball flew straight toward me, hitting me square on the back of my head.

The world spun and I collapsed from my seat, landing on my knees.

"Adrien!" Irina dropped her racket and ran toward me.

When she saw her hands covered in my blood, her eyes were filled with panic, "I'll take you to the hospital."

"Irina, are you going to leave me behind again?" Chris looked at Irina pitifully.

I could already imagine it. Year after year, on birthdays, Valentine's Day, anniversaries, Chris had always managed to take Irina away from me, over and over again.

Seeing her hesitate, I pushed her away, "You two keep playing. I'm fine."

In the ten years we had been together, Irina had never once chosen me with certainty.

So this time, I wouldn't be the one left behind or ignored anymore. I made my own choice, to leave this humiliating marriage. To let go of this worthless woman.