But I'd met Annabel when I was twenty, too. All those years together had become nothing but a joke.

I shook my head. "This has nothing to do with him. I just don't want to be with you anymore."

Annabel's fingers tightened around her water glass.

"I don't understand. We've made it through five years of this. Why do you have to stir things up now?"

"We're leaving the country tomorrow. Do you really have to pick a fight tonight?"

The glass hit the floor. I was just grateful it was acrylic.

Annabel pulled on her coat and walked out. "I'm going to get some air. Don't wait up."

The next time I saw her was at the airport. I had Tommy with me, and we ran into Antony.

He wore that same smug grin. "Hey, Mason. I was busy packing last night and couldn't keep Annabel company. She showed up at my place in the middle of the night, all clingy and sweet. You two have a fight or something?"

"Spend more time with her from now on." I nudged Tommy toward Antony, and the boy grabbed his hand, beaming.

"Annabel's too much sometimes. I told her we could just do something low-key for my birthday, but she went and booked a whole international trip."

I looked toward the check-in counter, where Annabel was handling the boarding passes.

"When you get back, I'll have her throw you a proper birthday party."

Antony's face glowed with smug satisfaction. I swallowed every word I wanted to say and buried them deep.

I couldn't compete with a younger man's body. So I stopped trying.

Annabel looped her arm through Antony's.

"Mason, we're heading out."

A rare flicker of guilt crossed her eyes.

"Send me your birthday wish. If I can make it happen, I will."

"Mom, hurry up! Stop wasting time with him. I wanna get on the big plane!" Tommy bounced between Annabel and Antony, tugging them toward security.

After I got home, a high fever hit me like a freight train. I was so delirious that all I could do was crawl under the covers. Somewhere in the haze, I dreamed of Annabel.

She was twenty again, holding my hand, grinning that carefree grin, calling me her husband.

"Honey, don't try to tough it out when you're sick. Your health matters most."

She held the freshly mixed medicine to her own lips first, testing the temperature.

"Perfect. Drink up."

When I woke, the only sound was the shrill ringing of my phone.

I answered with a raw, cracked voice.

"Mason, why didn't you pack the allergy medicine?"

"Don't you know how windy it is by the ocean? Tommy and I are both flaring up."

Annabel dragged me back to reality.

I opened my mouth, but my throat burned so badly that no words came out. I didn't even have the strength to get out of bed for a glass of water. She snapped impatiently.

"Fine. Just text me the name of the medicine. I'll buy it myself. Honestly, you're nothing but a hassle."

The line went dead. The tears I'd been holding back for so long finally broke free.

One thing became painfully clear: Annabel and I could never go back to what we were.

I tallied every dollar earned and every piece of property acquired since the day we married.

I decided not to fight for custody of Tommy. I had only one condition: Annabel could never have another child. That had been her promise from the start.

I handed everything over to my lawyer, and the divorce agreement was drafted within days.

Before I left for good, I went to see Annabel's mother. Back in college, she always had Annabel bring me home, piling food onto my plate until it overflowed.

"Eat more, sweetheart. I love having you here."

That single sentence gave an orphan like me something I'd never had: the warmth of a family.

That feeling kept me going. I threw myself into building my career, and the day I finally made it, I married Annabel.

So for the five years that followed, I swallowed my pride for the sake of our family, nearly losing myself in the process.

When I walked through the door, Sarah Cobb was on a video call. She stared at the screen, watching Annabel and Antony, a wide smile spread across her face that she couldn't contain.

"You brat, Antony's still young. Go easy on him."

Annabel ruffled Antony's hair. "He just looks young. He actually knows everything. Asks me every day when I'm getting the divorce."

Sarah's voice dripped with affection. "Antony, sweetie, if she ever bullies you again, just come to my place. I adore you."

I froze mid-step while changing my shoes. When Sarah glanced over, I quickly ducked my head to hide the redness burning around my eyes.

She put her phone away and called out, "Mason, come on in."

"No, it's okay, Mom. I didn't change my shoes. I won't come in."

I opened my umbrella and walked to the park where Annabel and I used to stroll back in college.

Under the most lush tree there, we'd buried a hamster we'd raised together for three years.

Annabel had cried until snot and tears ran together. "Mason, will you leave me someday too?"

I'd patted down the last handful of dirt, then pulled her into my arms. "You're all I have in this world. Nothing short of death could make me leave you."

She knew better than anyone. My parents died when I was young. I'd spent over a decade completely alone. She had become my entire world.

But her entire world didn't belong to me alone.

I sat on a wooden bench in the park, watching the clock. The moment it struck midnight, I sent her the divorce agreement.

"Annabel, this is my birthday wish."

A second later, my phone rang. I had never heard Annabel this furious.

"Mason, why the hell would you send me a message right now? Because I was reading your stupid message, I lost my grip on Antony. He nearly drowned and he's in the hospital!"

"I don't care what you're doing. Get over here right now and take care of Antony until he's out of danger!"

After she hung up, I received flight information. A 2 a.m. departure with two connections.

It was the fastest way to reach the Philippines.

By the time I arrived, Antony was already awake. Tommy was the first to rush at me.

"Bad Daddy! It's all your fault Daddy Antony ended up like this!"

"I hate you!"

I let his small fists pound against me, but my eyes were on Annabel.

She clearly hadn't slept all night. She was carefully tipping a cup of water to Antony's lips.

"There you go, drink up. You'll get better faster."

Antony looked at me. "Mason, you actually came. I don't blame you. It's my own fault for being a slow learner."

"Three days of diving lessons, and I still didn't dare let go of Annabel's hand. I'm so dumb."

"Dumb or not, I'm keeping you. I'm never letting go again." The tenderness in Annabel's eyes was almost overflowing.

"I'm still shaking just thinking about it. I almost lost you forever. If anything had happened to you, I wouldn't want to live either, Antony."

Annabel pressed her forehead against his cheek.

Even though I was long used to it, my eyes still stung. Moved by their love for each other, and gutted by my own loneliness.

A doctor walked in holding a lab report. "Ms. Cobb, when you donated blood for Mr. Gilbert earlier, we ran a panel on your bloodwork. You're pregnant. Approximately six weeks along."

The news hit like a bomb. My mind went completely blank.

"That's amazing!"

"Babe, we're going to have our own baby!"

"No!" I lunged forward. "Annabel, what did you promise me?"

I looked at Tommy. He was too young to understand what any of this meant.

"Mason, did anyone ask for your opinion?"

"Get over here."

Annabel dragged me out into the hallway.

"Annabel, you promised me you would never have a child with someone else!"

Annabel let out a cold laugh. "You got a kid with me. Why shouldn't Antony get one too?"

"What about Tommy? You won't just be his mother anymore."

"Can you really treat them both equally?"

"I can."

Annabel's voice faltered, and I let out a breath.

"Annabel, I don't want Tommy to end up like me. Get rid of the baby."

The words barely left my mouth before her palm cracked across my face.

"Nobody touches my child with Antony! Nobody!"

My ears rang. I watched her thrust her arm toward the door. "Get out! Get the hell out!"

"Annabel." I looked at her. "Today is my birthday."

"You promised you'd grant every wish I ever made."

"The only birthday I care about today is Antony's!" Disgust filled her eyes. "I don't have time for whatever pathetic wish you've sent me. Get out. I never want to see you again!"

Tommy heard the commotion and came running. He mimicked his mother, screaming at me. "Get out! Get out!"

I laughed. "Fine."

"Annabel, remember what you said."

I walked out of the hospital and took care of the last thing I'd ever do for Annabel in the Philippines.

Two weeks later, she received a phone call.

"Hello, is this Mrs. Cobb? This is the Chinese Community Hospital in the Philippines. We've confirmed that a deceased individual here is your husband, Mason Stephens."