[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260313F01E2B-60":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},60,1,"Chapter 1: The Final Straw","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">On our anniversary, my husband took his little assistant to get her dog fixed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I'd just had a miscarriage, and he never picked up when I called him, not even once.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Later, his assistant sent me a pair of red heels as an apology.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Seeing those shoes, I sent him the divorce papers.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The assistant called, sobbing, \"Mrs. Walker, it's all my fault for acting on my own. Please don't be mad at Mr. Walker.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My husband, ever the gentleman, just told me, \"If you keep throwing these tantrums, I'll actually sign them.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He had no idea I was dead serious this time.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Why isn't my treatment ready?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian barged in, annoyed to find me sprawled on the sofa, glued to my phone.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian has an eye condition. No matter how bad our fights got, I always had his treatment supplies ready when he got home.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Not this time. I ignored him, scrolling away.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian's brow twitched, but he bit back whatever he was going to say. He pulled a gift box from his bag, opened it, and set it in front of me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"This watch is for you, a special anniversary gift!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Just like always, he had a present to smooth things over.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But I didn't reach for it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Still, I couldn't help but peek. It was totally my style.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The exact same watch he'd given me for my birthday three months ago.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I wasn't mad, just… over it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I casually swiped away the Instagram feed where Sebastian's assistant, Valentina, had been flaunting the gift he’d gotten her. I said, barely looking up,\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Make sure to find the time to file the divorce papers.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian's so swamped, he has other people buy his gifts. If I didn't prompt him, he'd probably have someone else file the divorce for him too.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Stop making a scene. Valentina didn't know you hated red heels. I already chewed her out.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He assumed I was still having a hissy fit and brushed me off. He tossed his phone on the coffee table and disappeared into the bathroom.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Just then, Sebastian's phone pinged. A message from Valentina popped up. Her profile pic? A selfie of her and Sebastian.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Don't forget to use the eye mask I got you!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian and Valentina's families have been tight for generations. Valentina’s five years younger, always looked up to him, totally had a crush. His family adored her. Straight out of college, she joined the family firm as Sebastian's personal assistant.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Valentina practically lives attached to Sebastian's hip, and he’s always been super protective of his childhood friend.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They used to hang out, play games. Now they work together, travel for business together.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I don't really blame Valentina for her feelings for Sebastian.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Where there's smoke, there's usually fire.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It's Sebastian's own indulgence that gave her hope, that fueled her delusions.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian emerged, towel-clad, tapped his phone, and sent Valentina a reply with a gaze full of pure affection.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Noticing I still hadn't prepped his treatment, he shot me a sidelong glance, a flicker of contempt in his eyes.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">An eye mask was all it took to earn his affection and tenderness.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eight years of marriage. Even recovering from childbirth, I'd binge-watch tutorials on treatment and massage techniques.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When effort becomes a habit, the habit morphs into an obligation. And an eye mask could erase eight years of dedication.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In his eyes, I was just being a petulant child now.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I pretended not to notice his look and rolled over, burying my face in my phone.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I didn't want him to see the tears welling up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Valentina will pick up Selena tomorrow.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My finger froze mid-scroll.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Selena is our daughter. From the day she was born, Sebastian's family whisked her away.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They claimed she needed the exclusive tutelage of an elite household. They also forbade me from picking her up or dropping her off as I pleased.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Two weeks ago, Valentina casually mentioned Sebastian's family had enrolled Selena in a holiday boot camp.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She's my daughter, yet his family micromanaged my access to her. Valentina, an outsider, faced zero restrictions.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maybe, in their eyes, Valentina's family background made her inherently more qualified to raise my own daughter.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272924630]