Chapter 3

In three years of marriage, Logan had never once seen Vivian smile like that—not truly, not with her whole heart shining through.

His sharp eyes caught the glint of silver on her finger—a new ring that didn't match their wedding set.

She hadn't just moved on; she'd leapt into another man's arms without hesitation. It seemed she couldn't bear to waste another second on him.

Logan's vision tinted red as his grip tightened around the wine glass, watching Vivian and Julian bask in the crowd's admiration like storybook lovers.

"Julian, you're finally back!" Vivian's best friend teased, deliberately blocking Julian's path. "Do you know how many years Vivian's been pining for you? If you disappear again, none of us will forgive you!"

"Absolutely," another friend chimed in. "You kept her waiting all these years overseas. Aren't you going to make it up to her?"

Julian's lips curled in amusement. "Isn't Viv married?" he taunted.

"You're terrible!" Vivian flushed crimson, looking every bit the smitten schoolgirl as she clutched Julian's sleeve. Her lashes fluttered, eyes glistening. "He only resembled you—I never cared for him. Three years married, and I never let him touch me. My body... my heart... they've always been yours."

Her voice grew softer with every word, her face flushed a lovely shade of pink.

Then, with mock indignation, she added, "If you keep teasing me, I'll get angry."

Julian chuckled, tweaking her nose affectionately. "All right, I won't say another word."

Their playful banter continued as friends egged them on. "Kiss! Kiss!"

Logan's world blurred at the edges.

They weren't even divorced yet. This was Grace's birthday celebration. And here he stood—her legal husband - being publicly humiliated.

The stem of the wine glass snapped in his hand.

Only when the metallic scent of blood filled his nose did Logan slowly come back to himself.

Just then, his phone vibrated. It was a message from his lawyer.

The updated divorce agreement had been finalized. All the revisions were in place. It only needed to be delivered to the Brooks Corporation at the agreed time.

After tonight, he'd be gone. By the time Vivian received the documents, he and his mother would already be in Marlon City...

A server rushed over with a first aid kit. As his hand was being bandaged, Vivian finally noticed him.

Logan hoped for even a flicker of remorse. Instead, she approached with practiced poise. "Can't you be more careful?" she chided lightly. "Bleeding at Grandma's birthday… How tasteless."

There was no worry in her voice. Just criticism.

Julian followed behind her, and upon seeing Logan—the stand-in—he suddenly burst into laughter.

Julian followed, bursting into laughter when he saw Logan. "Viv, your grandmother has quite the imagination," he mocked. "She found someone who vaguely resembles me… Though the height, the posture... it's all wrong. I expected better likeness. The eyes? Not even close."

Each word pierced like a blade. Julian wasn't just dismissing Logan's feelings - he was demeaning his very manhood.

Logan drew a steadying breath. "Hello," he said evenly. "I'm Logan Phillips. Vivian's husband."

Vivian's face changed instantly, but he ignored her fury and said the word anyway.

Husband.

Since everything was ending, he at least wanted to walk away with dignity.

"What's your problem?" Vivian snapped. "You know what Julian means to me. Are you trying to cause a scene?"

"What does he mean to you?" Logan countered—the first time in three years he'd ever raised his voice to her. "Until those papers are signed, I'm still your husband. Even if Grace approves, have some decency."

Her mouth fell open at his uncharacteristic defiance. Flushing with embarrassment, she stepped protectively in front of Julian.

"We're getting divorced," she hissed. "I gave you the papers, didn't I? If we're ending it, there's no love left! What happens between Julian and me is none of your concern."

Vivian's expression turned cold, her voice sharp and cutting, afraid that Logan's words might upset Julian again.

She had always carried herself with elegance and restraint, and Logan never imagined that a woman like her…could lose her composure like this, saying such cruel things without a second thought, all for the sake of her first love.

How deeply must she love Julian, to twist herself into someone even her husband of three years no longer recognized?

Just as Logan opened his mouth to speak again, the banquet officially began.

"Let's go. Ignore this lunatic." Vivian tugged Julian's arm and walked away without hesitation, leaving Logan standing alone like a joke.

As he watched them disappear into the crowd, a strange calm washed over him.

Perhaps it was better this way.

Everyone else would be happy.

Only he would be left behind to endure the pain.

But maybe—just maybe—if he left for good, erased this place from memory, and started over…

She could finally be truly happy.

And if divorcing her could give the woman he had loved for so long even a sliver of joy, then letting go was something he could bear.

'Vivian, let this be the end. From this day forward, let us be strangers,' he thought inwardly.

After saying his final goodbye to Grandma and leaving behind the birthday gift, Logan picked up his suitcase and walked out.

Just as he stepped through the gates of the old estate, he ran into Vivian's younger sister.

The girl was sixteen or seventeen at most, but her tongue was sharp and merciless.

"Well, if it isn't my brother-in-law. What's with the suitcase? Where are you off to? Now that Julian's back, are you actually packing up for real this time? Or is this just another drama?

"If you're trying to get my sister's attention, give it up. She never cared about you. You only got her because you were shameless enough to cling on like a stray mutt!"

To her, her sister's marriage had always been wasted potential—a rose planted in quicksand. And stacked up against Julian? Logan wasn't just inferior—he was garbage.

Logan froze mid-step.

Then he slowly turned, his voice calm but deliberate.

"I'm leaving. Please tell her something for me. Congratulations. I hope they have beautiful children together—soon."

His composure caught her off guard. For a moment, Vivian's sister faltered. She stole an uncertain glance toward the banquet hall before recovering her sneer.

"Whatever. Viv never wanted you anyway. Julian's all she's ever needed."

Logan walked away and didn't glance back. Not once.

For the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of anticipation.

He wondered what Vivian's reaction would be when she finally discovered that the man she tried so hard to humiliate with money… had taken nothing at all. Not a cent.

Three years together, through days and nights, through everything. Logan had once believed that if he couldn't have her love, he would at least command her respect.

But in this final moment, he understood. To Vivian, he'd never been anything but a temporary substitute. A well-trained stand-in, jumping at her every command—convenient when needed, disposable when replaced.

And walking away without a dime? That was his final act of defiance.