On the day my grandmother passed away, my wife, Chloe Kade, was off climbing mountains for love. Every call I made throughout the day went unanswered except for one. Her voice was cold and distant. "When will you ever grow up? When will you learn to understand others' pain?" By the time she returned home, exhausted but content, all I could offer was a chilling, "Let's get a divorce. You're free."

"Osborne, where is Chloe? I'm afraid she won't hold on much longer."

Grandma lay in her hospital bed. Her face was pale, but her expression calm, her words tinged with regret.

She adored Chloe and had longed to help us raise our children, but now, that dream would never be realized.

"Don't worry, Grandma. She... she's on a business trip, rushing back. I'll call her again."

Though Chloe's previous response had left me feeling hopeless, I couldn't bear to disappoint Grandma. I got up and dialed Chloe's number once more.

I knew that even after three years of marriage, Chloe still couldn't forget her childhood sweetheart, Brad Watson.

I was willing to let her go, but why did it have to be this way?

Why must Grandma leave this world with regrets?

Desperately, I kept dialing.

But all I got was endless hang-ups.

In despair, I composed a text message: [Grandma is dying. Just come back, and we can get divorced; I'll set you free.]

Chloe's call came quickly. "Osborne," she said, "I never thought you were this kind of person. I told you that Brad's biggest wish in life is to watch the sunrise with me. It's a promise we made as kids. I'm just helping him fulfill that wish. You have everything, while Brad has nothing. Can't you be a little generous? Don't disappoint me. And to think you'd use Grandma's life as a bargaining chip, cursing her with such malice... It's truly disgusting."

"Grandma doesn't have much time left. Her last wish is to see you one more time. I'm begging you, please come back. If you do, I'll agree to a divorce!"

In my haste, I blurted out.

I had expected the thought of divorce to be unbearable, but it wasn't.

Instead of pain, I felt only calmness.

I felt a sense of relief, of liberation.

"You're insane! How could I not have noticed before that you're such a petty man, resorting to such a lousy tactic to threaten me? You want a divorce? Fine, you got it."

Chloe's voice on the phone was cold, heartless, filled with barely suppressed rage.

It was crazy.

She was the one who got angry!

What the hell did she have to be angry about?

Even in divorce, did she need to cast herself as the victim? How ridiculous.

But I was relieved.

As long as she agreed, even if it meant bearing the guilt of betraying our love, I accepted it.

"Fine, come back and let Grandma see you one last time, whether it's for a divorce or whatever, I agree!" I quickly said.

But the line was already dead, greeted only by a busy tone.

Damn it!

I clenched my fists in anger, nearly cursing out loud.

Only then did I realize that Chloe had been playing me all along, never believing a word I said.

I frantically dialed Chloe's number.

Unfortunately, no matter how many times I called, she never picked up.

"Family of the patient, come quickly, the patient's condition is critical, it might..."

The nurse rushed over, her urgency palpable.

Seeing my teary eyes, she couldn't help but feel a mix of pity and sympathy.

All this time, I had been alone, bustling about the hospital.

From the few words exchanged, she had learned about some of my predicaments.

I looked at the nurse, and my appearance disheveled.

But still, I gritted my teeth and said to the nurse, "Could you please call my wife? She won't answer my calls. She thinks I'm using the phone to trick her into coming back."

I spoke with self-mockery and helplessness.

The nurse's sympathy grew deepened.

She still pulled out her phone and dialed Chloe's number.

This time, it connected quickly. "Hello, I am a nurse from the Central Hospital nephrology department..."

"You're psycho, Osborne! You despicable jerk! You couldn't fool me alone, so you brought backup, didn't you? And you, young lady, how can you be so vile and malicious at such a young age? What, you gave up nursing to team up with Osborne to mess with me?"

Chloe was convinced I was lying to her. Her patience had run out, and without letting the nurse finish, she lashed out with harsh words.

I quickly grabbed the phone. "Chloe, I'm not lying to you, grandma is really in bad shape, please come back and see her one last time. I'm begging you, okay?"

"Osborne, do you really think I wouldn't divorce you for behaving so recklessly? Don't be so filthy-hearted. Brad and I are totally innocent. I'm just fulfilling Brad's wishes, you know? Also, don't assume that bringing someone random here will make me jealous or unhappy. You're overestimating yourself."

"Do you really think I'd joke about Grandma's life or use it as a bargaining chip?"

I knew this wasn't the time to argue with Chloe, so I tried to speak in a calm tone.

Chloe hesitated, seemingly persuaded by my words.

Seeing this, I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

From nearby, Brad's voice came. "Chloe, don't say that. I don't want you two fighting over me. Let's just go back. Even though it's my last wish, I won't regret not seeing the sunrise with you."

"No, I promised you, and I will keep that promise!"

Chloe was wavering, but after Brad's words, she ended the call abruptly.

I gave a bleak smile, ignoring the sympathetic looks from the nurses, and stumbled into the hospital room.

"Osborne, has Chloe come back yet?"

Grandma looked up at me with cloudy eyes filled with spirit and hope.

"Grandma, she's busy and can't come back for now, but she'll be back by tomorrow at the latest. Just hold on a little longer," I said, holding back tears.

Just then, the phone rang with a message.

It was from Brad's number.

The message showed Chloe and Brad snuggled together, deeply in love.

And a taunting message: [You're just a substitute while I'm away!]

Indeed, I was just a substitute.

Brad and Chloe had been childhood sweethearts, long blessed by others to be together for life.

However, during their freshman year of college, Brad suddenly went abroad without a word, leaving Chloe entirely in the dark.

He vanished abruptly from her life, leaving her heartbroken and devastated.

Meanwhile, I, having been Chloe's devoted admirer since high school, remained steadfast by her side. I offered unwavering support throughout her college years, and it wasn't until after graduation that we finally started dating.

Years passed, and after confirming that Brad had disappeared for good, Chloe, in her despair, agreed to marry me.

The first year of our marriage was relatively harmonious.

I cared for her wholeheartedly, and it seemed our affection was quite strong.

It looked like she had forgotten Brad entirely.

However, she always found excuses to avoid having a child that was indeed ours.

I thought it was just pressure, that she wasn't ready.

But when Brad suddenly returned, Chloe left everything behind to be with him.

I had just realized, after all these years of emotional investment, that I was nothing but a substitute.

How could someone who suddenly appeared in her life compare to her first love? Especially when I had always been the pathetic one, chasing after her affections.

[Congratulations. I'm out, making room for you.]

I texted Brad emotionlessly.

My heart felt like ashes now. I didn't have the time or energy to think about anything else, only wanting to take care of Grandma's funeral arrangements.

"We're so sorry, Osborne. We didn't raise our daughter well."

Chloe's parents were actually very kind to me.

Her mother, Samantha Kade, wore a look of embarrassed shame.

Her father, Oscar Kade's face was grim, clearly suppressing his anger.

At the funeral, they apologized to me in hoarse voices.

Chloe still hadn't returned. It was apparent she had hung up on their calls, too.

She was determined to be with her first love.

"It's not your fault; it's just that she and I weren't meant to be."

I managed a strained smile as I said this.

I struggled through my grandmother's funeral.

Returning to the home I shared with Chloe, I lay on the sofa motionless.

It took a while before I forced myself up.

I packed up all my belongings.

This home, once familiar, now feels alien.

When Chloe agreed to marry me, I was thrilled; I designed and decorated every corner of this place.

I was so busy, day and night, but utterly invigorated, vowing to create a nest of love that Chloe would adore.

Looking at this house now made me feel utterly unfamiliar.

There was not a trace of warmth left.

The love has dissipated.

It had lost its reason to exist.

Leaving the divorce papers, I took my pitifully few possessions and left.

[Sign the papers as you wish. I'll handle the formalities in a month.]

After sending the text to Chloe, I left our former home without a backward glance.