Chapter 1

Three years into marriage, I discovered my husband was keeping a "golden bird" outside our home.

The first time I saw their photo together was on social media.

Looking at the intimate picture of my husband with another woman,

I didn't feel angry.

I was filled with fear.

The face next to my husband's

nightmare that haunted me five years ago.

I had just barely clawed my way out of the shadow of bullying,

only to be plunged back into hell.

How could the man who patiently helped me out of that darkness

fall in love with the person who cast that shadow over me?

Fate seems to love playing tricks on me.

This time, I refuse to be at its mercy anymore. the shadow of bullying,

only to be plunged back into hell.

How could the man who patiently helped me out of that darkness

fall in love with the person who cast that shadow over me?

Fate seems to love playing tricks on me.

This time, I refuse to be at its mercy anymore.

***

The photo shows two people acting intimately. The boy looks at the girl with tenderness, and the girl's face is filled with unspoken sweetness. The caption reads: "I think I will always be happy."

I stared at Troy's post on his social media, and a self-deprecating smile appeared at the corner of my mouth.

Who would have thought that my husband would post intimate photos with another woman?

I refreshed the page, and within a second, the post disappeared.

Looking at my phone, I recalled Troy's earlier phone call:

"Lane, there's some work at the company tonight, I'll be home later."

The food on the table was steaming hot, and as the sky darkened, I sat on the sofa, my expression unclear due to the lack of lighting.

The woman in the photo was Cloe, a person I once despised years ago.

Back then, Cloe was always trying to outdo me. I joined the choir, and she joined the solo dance. I made friends, and she spread rumors about me. I came first in exams, and she couldn't even pass.

In the end, Cloe gathered a group of girls to isolate me, but I never cared much about it.

My constant submission only made her more reckless.

"Look at our university genius, such a pitiful sight."

A group of girls led by Cloe sneered at me when they saw my distressed state.

"The sky's almost dark, the genius can just stay here."

The sound of the warehouse lock echoed, and I was drenched in water. My clothes stuck to me, and I curled up, trying to preserve my body heat.

Luckily, Troy passed by and rescued me not long after.

I watched his back, just as he would often stand in front of me in the future, providing me with a sense of security.

"Lane, if Cloe bullies you again, just tell me. I’ll protect you."

The image of that refreshing young man slowly faded as time passed, replaced by the man who seemed like a different person after marriage.

Snapping back to reality, I called my lawyer to draft a divorce agreement.

"Ding."

It was a message from Troy:

"Lane, tomorrow I’m bringing some friends over for dinner. Remember to cook."

The lawyer worked quickly, and I had the agreement ready before Troy arrived.

"Lane, have you made the food? My friends love your cooking."

Troy entered the door with three or four people.

"Yeah, Laneter-in-law, especially the sweet and sour ribs you make. They're amazing. We all envy Troy for marrying such a capable wife."

The person speaking was Patton, the closest of Troy’s friends.

If this were any other time, I would have happily served the food and continued cleaning up afterward. After all, my domesticity satisfied Troy’s vanity.

But this time, I sat on the sofa, holding the divorce agreement and carefully inspecting it, with no intention of getting up.

"Bang."

The divorce agreement was thrown onto the table, making a sound neither too loud nor too soft.

"Sign it."

Troy picked up the agreement, his pupils shrinking slightly, his eyes showing confusion and surprise.

"Lane, why suddenly divorce?"

"What did I do to upset you? Tell me, I’ll pay more attention next time and avoid getting angry, okay?"

Even at this point, he was still pretending.

I stared coldly at Troy:

"What did you do last night?"

Troy’s face changed, and his gaze shifted uneasily:

"You already know, I cheated, but do you have no responsibility at all?"

It was the familiar taste.

For years, whenever a problem arose, Troy’s first thought was to find a reason in me.

If I was bullied by Cloe, it was because I was too outstanding and attracted jealousy.

In our three years of marriage, it was because of my health that we didn’t have children.

Even when the company’s project went wrong, it was because I didn’t build a good relationship with the investors' wives.

I once thought that if I did better, perhaps Troy would return to the way he loved me before, but reality slapped me hard in the face.