By the serene waters of Willow Lake, my wife, Jane Whitman, clad in a wedding dress, embraced Josh Grey, her childhood companion.

An impromptu pastor, a mere onlooker, cried out, "Radiant bride, do you pledge your hand in marriage to him?"

Josh gazed at Jane tenderly. With a coy flutter, Jane lowered her lashes.

The onlookers chanted in unison, "Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!"

I clutched my aching heart and turned away.

——

"Darling, I'm home. The business trip has left me utterly spent."

It had been three nights since Jane's return. As she entered, she dashed straight towards me, her steps light and eager.

Had I not witnessed her embrace Josh in bridal finery just three days prior in Cliffland, her rush towards me might have convinced me of her true love for me.

I sidestepped her with indifference.

Jane faltered, a flicker of displeasure crossing her features. "Honey, why the cold shoulder?

"I see. You must be miffed because my business kept me away too long, isn't it?"

She approached me like a petulant child, arms outstretched for a hug, but I evaded her touch once more.

In the past, her slightest pout would have me orbiting her whims, regardless of my own.

Jane lifted her head, a look of hurt etched on her face. Her eyes were reddening with tears when she stared at me.

"Honey, why treat me coldly?"

She felt wronged as if I had wronged her.

"I'm weary. I think I should sleep early."

I retreated to the study instead of the bedroom because I was unwilling to share her bed again.

Yet, no sooner had I lain down than she followed.

She perched on the bed, shaking my frame. "I brought you a gift, yet you greet me with a scowl?"

Then, she presented me with a beautifully wrapped box, jiggling it. "Ta-da! I got you a watch. Come see if it pleases you."

As she spoke, she unpacked the box.

The watch was a Patek Philippe 5270p, a piece I knew well, valued at around two million dollars.

Why did I recognize it? Because it was Josh's prized possession, and Jane had promised it to him as a birthday gift.

Just today, I had seen Josh's social media post: a photo of him sporting a Patek Philippe 6300a, boasting: [Jane said the Patek Philippe 5270p pales beside me; only the 6300a, a rarity, befits my stature.]

Another image showed the 5270p discarded in the trash, the very one Jane now offered me.

The auction price of the Patek Philippe 6300a was a staggering 31 million dollars.

"Is it fitting to gift me with what Josh cast aside?" I inquired coldly.

Jane was flustered and quickly retorted, "Don't be jealous. Josh is just a dear brother to me. I merely gifted him a watch; you truly don't mind that much, do you?"

"Jealousy no longer plagues me. I merely refuse to be a fool any longer, Jane. Let's divorce."

I stated impassively.

Jane stood stunned in disbelief.

Never before had the word "divorce" crossed my lips, even when her ire threatened to consume me.

This time, I was the one to broach the subject, and panic flitted across her features.

"Justin Carter, do you know what you're saying?

"You'd divorce me over such a trifle?

"I merely gifted Josh a watch. Though the one I gave you was trashed by him, he merely sought to boast on social media. This watch is still worth two million dollars.

"I'm willing to lavish two million dollars on you, yet you're still vexed. You're being utterly unreasonable!"

Jane was always the one to argue her point. She would blame me even when reason failed to sway her. Loving her too deeply to bear her anger, I would always capitulate.

I merely glanced at her, too weary to engage further.

I knew her too well; in this state of mind, nothing I said would penetrate.

"Reflect on your actions, and I'll address this with you tomorrow!"

She huffed coldly and hurled the watch at my head.

I sat up from the bed, my mind rewinding to the day I first met Jane.

That fateful day, I was donning a frog costume and handing out flyers on the bustling pedestrian street when Jane, out for a stroll, was accosted by a drunken ruffian.

With a swift slap, she attacked the drunkard, who retaliated with a knife.

Seeing this, I seized her hand. We fled, and the drunk was in hot pursuit.

Her heels snapped, and she stumbled, so I hoisted her onto my back and sprinted on.

I knew not how long we ran, but the drunk was eventually subdued by the police. Yet, I was hospitalized due to the exertion, and my heart was in agony.

She remained by my side throughout, murmuring, "Frog, please don't leave me. I beg you. Frog..."

In my eyes, she was a vision of beauty that I couldn't help but adore. Though I knew my love was humble, I gathered the courage to cherish her in secret. Even if it remained unspoken, the courage to love was mine.

But since that incident, my heart had never been the same, yet I harbored no regrets.

Later, when Whitman Group came to our school to recruit, she chose me, a choice that would weave our fates together.

In truth, I knew she had chosen me merely to settle an old debt.

To live up to her trust, I doubled my efforts.

Ostensibly, she was my employer.

In secret, she still addressed me as Frog, often requesting to be carried on my back, for she claimed that the day she was borne on my back was when she felt most secure.

Eventually, our relationship blossomed naturally.

Yet, the Whitman family disapproved. Jane threatened to take her own life, which led to our union.

The Whitman family's prized daughter marrying a humble boy was deemed a disgrace.

Thus, we had no grand wedding, merely a marriage certificate exchanged.

Even in public, I could not show affection for her because the Whitman family feared the loss of their face.

With my capabilities and accomplishments, I should have ascended to the position of design director long ago, but the Whitman family forbade it, keeping me as a mere clerk.

For Jane, I endured it all.

She felt guilty and professed that she was a formidable woman in public, but she was my wife at home.

I believed our happiness would endure forever.

It wasn't until three months ago that Josh returned.

Jane and I went to the airport to welcome him. Upon their reunion, Josh lifted Jane into the air, spinning her around.

They seemed like lovers reunited after a long separation.

Worried I might be jealous, Jane explained that they had grown up together and she viewed Josh as a younger brother.

Moreover, Josh was charming, constantly addressing me and even bringing me gifts.

I failed to see through his schemes then, so I didn't dwell on it.

Later, Josh joined the company. He knew nothing of design, yet he pleaded with Jane to make him the design director.

Jane clearly knew how much I coveted that position, yet she indulged Josh and granted his wish.

From then on, they appeared together in the company, flirting openly and scheming covertly.

No matter how uneasy it made me, as long as Jane explained, I believed her.

But when she wore a wedding dress and embraced Josh, she didn't rebuff when others chanted, "say yes." Should I endure this?

Of course not. I loved her, but I couldn't love her to the point of sacrificing my dignity.

Thus, I decided to divorce her because of my broken heart.

Having resolved my mind, I didn't ponder further and soon fell asleep.

I knew not how long I slept, but I felt a chill on my face. A faint fragrance wafted into my nostrils.

"Honey, I'm hungry. Could you prepare breakfast for me?"

Jane rubbed her dainty feet against my cheek.

I pushed her feet away. Those little feet I once adored now only filled me with disgust.

Jane nearly toppled. After regaining her balance, she frowned and said, "Have you had enough? You were in a foul mood yesterday, and I came here today to appease you and offer a solution. How dare you push me?"

Her capriciousness and domineering nature were on full display.

I merely glanced at her indifferently and rose to wash up.

But she persisted in following me, frowning and saying, "Justin, your behavior disappoints me. I can forgive you this time, but if you do this again in the future, I will..."

Setting down my toothbrush, I looked at her and asked, "What do you intend? Divorce? Sure, let's head to divorce right now."

"Are you out of your mind?

"When did I say I wanted a divorce?

"Justin, what got into you?"

Jane erupted her anger completely.

I glanced at her indifferently and said, "When you were in your wedding dress and embracing Josh, weren't you prepared to divorce me?"

Jane's face paled as she stammered, "You can't possibly know that. I've instructed the PR department to erase all traces of that day. You..."

"I was by Willow Lake that day, as I was gathering materials for a new project."

"So, you witnessed everything?"

"Yes. I saw you in your wedding dress, holding him. I saw you shyly avert your gaze when the crowd urged you to marry him. I saw it all."

"No, it's not what you see!

"Hear me out, Justin. This can all be explained!

"As children, Josh and I played house, and Josh always took the role of the younger brother. He always dreamt of being my husband. That day, he merely wanted to fulfill his childhood fantasy."

Jane cried out, desperate to justify herself.

"Alright. Jane, you needn't explain. If you truly held me in your heart, if I mattered more to you than Josh, how could you have agreed to such an absurd request?"

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips.

Jane turned cold. "I truly don't need to explain, for in my eyes, Josh is merely a younger brother, and I dare swear I've never betrayed you!"

"Is there a distinction between mental and physical infidelity?"

I replied calmly, "Fine. Jane, let's divorce. This is my stance. You should prepare yourself as well."

With that, I changed into my attire and departed.

Upon reaching the company, I delved straight into work.

The entire design department orbited around me, yet I was confined to a modest workstation.

I had signed a contract. Until the current project was concluded, I could not resign without consequence.

At that moment, a seductive woman in a black silk miniskirt approached. She was Josh's secretary, named Mona Smith.

Mona casually tossed a folder onto my desk and declared domineeringly, "Justin, your draft was rejected. You're highly compensated, yet you can't even produce a decent design? I truly wonder why the company retains a loser like you."

She was Josh's pawn, berating me daily, only for Josh to then play the savior, ultimately garnering credit with Jane by claiming he had helped me.

I was too numb to engage, not even sparing her a glance.

The design I had submitted to Josh was merely a placeholder. After all, the projects I handled were critical to the company and required final approval from the board. Josh had no authority to decide.

Mona seized my cup and drenched me, the water cascading over my head. She shouted, "Can't you hear me?"

No matter how composed I was, her actions incited my ire. Yet, as I rose, a piercing pain seized my heart.

My heart had been troubled lately due to Jane. Mona's provocation had triggered a sudden onset of illness.

I frantically searched my pockets for my medication, but it eluded me.

"What's with that look? Are you feigning illness just because I spoke to you? How despicable!"

Mona sneered.

My colleagues in the design department dared not intercede, for Mona was adept at making life difficult for others.

At that moment, Josh emerged. Mona promptly stepped forward. "Mr. Grey, look at Justin. I merely spoke a few words to him, but he splashed water on himself and pretended to be unwell."

Josh smiled and said, "Justin, though you are a technical cornerstone, you must also commit to your work. It's not right to feign illness."

Then, he leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "Are you having a heart attack? Justin, why don't you just die of anger? Once you're gone, I'll marry Jane."

"You..."

The pain in my heart intensified, and I collapsed into the chair.

Noticing my distress, a female colleague, Lily, rushed over to help me frantically search for my medication.

She retrieved the pills and hastily fed them to me.

But before I could swallow, Mona abruptly grabbed the back of Lily's head, forcing her to kiss me on the cheek and throw herself into my arms.

"What on earth are you doing?"

Jane's tone was bristling with fury, like a wife caught in the act of infidelity.