They'd contacted me a year ago, said they'd always keep an executive position open for me.

I only turned it down because Smokey didn't want to live with my parents.

Now that I'd reached out, they agreed immediately.

After that, I filed for a mandatory divorce and asked the staff to mail our marriage certificates separately—mine and Smokey's—five days from now.

By then, I'd already be gone. Even if she got angry, I had no interest in watching.

Smokey didn't message until evening.

In the past, whenever we fought, I'd give her two hours max to come around. Maybe she sensed how serious I was this time, because her tone was much softer.

"Honey, I took Derek to see a psychologist today. The doctor said his condition has improved a lot. One more month of treatment and he'll basically be recovered."

"Don't worry. Once Derek's better, he'll go back to his hometown. Then I'll settle down and live properly with you."

"I brought you a gift when I came back."

I didn't reply. Just turned off my phone.

Before, she still had some value worth salvaging.

But now?

Someone already tainted—I don't want anymore.

When Smokey came home, I was taking down the wedding photo from the wall.

Burning all of them.

Looking at this home I'd traded everything for, my eyes stung.

They say getting drunk helps you stop being sad.

But I'd been drinking all day, and I still couldn't shake the weight in my chest.

Seeing this, Smokey rushed over and stomped out the fire. She grabbed what remained of a photo, eyes red, and demanded:

"Alex, are you insane? Why are you burning our photos!"

I shoved her away. "The home's already gone—what's the point of keeping them!"

She stumbled back, and anger flashed across her face.

"Alex, I told you—Derek and I are just friends. Why do you keep trapping yourself in your own head!"

"The moment he's better, even if he doesn't say anything, I'll make him leave this city myself. You won't have to see him again!"

"It's just one more month. We've been married three years—don't you trust me at all? You can't even wait that long!"

"And I told you not to drink at home. Not only did you drink yourself into this state, you pushed me. I even brought you a gift!"

She hurled the gift box at me.

It didn't miss—hit me right on the forehead.

Blood ran down instantly, and the impact knocked me backward.

The back of my head cracked against the table's edge. More blood.

Her expression shifted to panic. She rushed over to help me up.

"Honey, are you okay? Don't scare me!"

In all my memory, this was the first time she'd shown this much concern.

But I didn't need it anymore.

I pushed her away.

"Don't touch me. You disgust me..."

This time, the anger on her face flickered and faded, replaced by worry. She called an ambulance.

"Hold on. They'll be here soon. I'll take you to the hospital."

But moments later, her phone rang.

Derek's wounded voice came through:

"Smokey, I just went downstairs to buy something and a dog chased me. My body won't stop shaking. I feel like I want to die. Where... where are you?"

Smokey's face tensed immediately.

"Derek, don't panic. Stay home. I'm coming right now!"

After hanging up, she looked at me. Her eyes were full of conflict.

In the end, she made her choice.

"Alex, I already called you an ambulance. When they get here, they'll take you to the hospital."

"Derek is in a really bad place right now. I'll stay with him for a bit, then come to the hospital—I promise!"

She didn't wait for a response. Left me there, barely conscious, and rushed out.

When I woke up, a nurse was adjusting my IV.

"Finally. The doctor said if you didn't wake up today, there was a real chance you wouldn't wake up at all."

I winced at the throbbing in my skull. "How long was I out?"

"Full day and night."

Something twisted in my chest. "Did anyone... come by?"

She considered it, then shook her head. "Your room's right by the nurses' station. I've been on shift the whole time—didn't see a soul."

I nodded. And felt something I had no right to feel.

A full day and night. She'd been with Derek the whole time.

But I'd expected that.

I pushed the feeling down and focused on recovering.

It wasn't until the third evening—IV finished, discharge papers ready—that Smokey finally showed up.

"Babe, Derek had an acute episode. The doctor said someone needs to stay with him constantly..."

She wrung her hands.

"You know how depression is. If he's alone, he might do something stupid. He's already tried before—multiple times."

"I figured you had doctors and nurses here, so..."

"I know," I said flatly. "You don't have to explain."

Relief washed over her face. She actually smiled.

Then she pulled out the watch—the same one she'd used to crack my skull.

My hand was still numb from the IV, so I let her fasten it around my wrist.

Silence stretched between us.

I stared out the window. Memories flickered past—our first date, our wedding, all those years together.

It was almost over now.

The sadness surprised me.

Smokey didn't notice. She was hunched over her phone, thumbs flying across the screen.

When the bleeding on my hand finally stopped, I got up to handle the discharge paperwork. Only then did she put the phone away.

"Hey," she said suddenly. "There's a lantern festival at Downtown Plaza tonight. You write wishes on them and release them into the sky."

She tucked her phone into her pocket.

"I've been so busy lately. This could be nice—just the two of us?"

I almost said no. But the train station was near the plaza anyway.

"Sure."

She beamed and took my arm as we headed downstairs.

For a moment, it felt like the old days. Back when we first met.

But we weren't those people anymore.

Outside, her car was parked right at the entrance. The one I'd bought her.

I reached for the passenger door—but the window rolled down first.

Derek grinned at me from my seat.

"Hey, bro. Sorry about this. Smokey wanted me up front, so..." He shrugged. "Back seat's all yours."

Smokey's face tightened. "The doctor said Derek needs to get out more. Fresh air helps with—"

"Fine."

I walked around to the back without another word.

But when I opened the door, there they were: a torn black stocking and a pair of men's underwear, crumpled together on the seat.

"Oh—don't get the wrong idea!" Smokey twisted around. "Derek spilled milk during an episode. I just forgot to clean it up."

Milk. On underwear. While wearing how many layers, exactly?

I didn't ask.

"Just drive. The festival's starting."

She exhaled, relieved I hadn't exploded, and pulled away from the curb.

At the plaza, Smokey left us behind the crowd while she went to grab lanterns.

The second she was gone, Derek's eyes dropped to my wrist.

"Nice watch." His smile widened. "Wait—isn't that the one Smokey got me? Pretty sure I threw that in the trash." He laughed. "You really go digging for my garbage? That's dedication, bro. Tell you what—she's given me tons of stuff. I'll hook you up."

I ignored him, but he kept pushing.

"Alex, I heard you and Smokey have been married three years and still no kids?"

I couldn't hold back. "What are you getting at?"

"Nothing. Just seems like a waste—a woman that beautiful not passing on her genes."

Then he smirked and shoved his phone in my face.

A hotel room. King bed. Him and Smokey tangled together, her face flushed with satisfaction.

"I've always wondered," he said, leaning closer, "does she look at you like that too?"

I punched him.

Smokey had just walked back. She saw everything.

She ran straight to Derek and pulled him behind her.

"Smokey, I only said I envied him for having such a gentle wife." Derek's voice dripped with wounded innocence. "And he hit me."

Her palm cracked across my face.

"Alex, what is wrong with you? Why do you have a problem with Derek everywhere we go!" Her voice shook with fury. "From the second we got in the car, you've been giving him attitude. I told you—I'm just helping him with his treatment. Why can't you get that through your head? I never should have brought you here!"

She hurled a lantern at me, grabbed Derek's hand, and disappeared into the crowd.

I didn't follow.

I picked up the lantern. Wrote six words: Never see Smokey again.

Then I walked out of the square, flagged a cab, and headed for the airport.

Smokey was writing wishes with Derek when unease prickled at her chest. She glanced at his lantern: Smokey, I want to be with you forever.

She frowned. "Derek, I'm only helping you because you used to stand up for me when we were kids. Once you're better, you're leaving."

The uneasiness wouldn't fade. She turned toward the crowd, then pulled out her phone and opened her chat with Alex.

The last message was days old.

Guilt crept in. She thought of everything he'd done for her—and how badly she'd treated him lately. How often she'd hurt him.

She was about to put her phone away, already planning how to make it up to him, when a notification popped up.

Reminder: Pick up express delivery—Divorce Certificate.