Chapter 1

The fireworks burst in rapid succession outside the window, breaking the silence of the night.

Justine Payne blinked back to reality. She ran her fingers over the divorce agreement in her hand, then slowly picked up a pen and signed her name.

Tonight was Christmas Eve, but neither her husband nor her son had come home.

A message buzzed on her phone. It was from her husband, Noah Oliver. "Out with clients. I asked my assistant to watch Gavi for a bit. After dinner, I'll take him to see the fireworks. Don't wait up—get some rest."

Justine pulled the corners of her lips into a faint, mocking smile.

Noah wasn't with a client, and he hadn't taken their son, Gavin, to see fireworks just for fun.

Justine knew exactly where they were and who they were with. There was no need to ask, no need to investigate. Noah and Gavin were spending Christmas Eve with that woman, Hazel Gilbert.

Her gaze landed on the large family portrait hanging in the living room. Noah was holding Gavin in one arm while the other was wrapped around her waist. Noah kissed her cheek while Gavin pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Her face was glowing with happiness; Gavin was laughing freely; even Noah, who always wore a stoic expression, looked gentle.

To anyone else, they looked like the perfect family of three. But everything changed the moment Hazel came back.

Just as fireworks lit up the sky again, Justine's phone buzzed. She had been sent a video.

Hazel had filmed the backs of Noah and Gavin, the two of them walking side by side. The diamond ring on her finger sparkled blindingly as she held the camera. The three of them shouted together, "Merry Christmas!"

Then, Noah turned around, his eyes warm as he said softly to Hazel, "Starting this year, I'll never miss another Christmas with you."

That kind of tenderness… He had never shown it to Justine.

Even during the two most passionate years of their marriage, through anniversaries and holidays, all he had ever given her was a brief kiss on the forehead and a cold, mechanical "Thanks".

Justine had always thought Noah was like a statue—distant and unfeeling.

Now, she knew better. He wasn't cold; he just never warmed up to her. Hazel was the one who got his tenderness.

She closed the video.

As the last of the fireworks sizzled out in the distance, she typed a message to Noah. "Come home early. We're visiting your parents' grave tomorrow."

This was the last time she would fulfill her duty as a daughter-in-law. In one month, they would be strangers. This ridiculous, one-sided marriage was finally coming to an end.

She didn't know how long she sat there before the front door opened. Noah paused in the doorway, surprised to see Justine still in the living room. His gaze flicked to the dining table, where a full Christmas Eve dinner sat untouched. Still, his expression remained unreadable.

"Can't even get peace on Christmas. What a buzzkill."

A sharp, youthful voice echoed behind him.

Gavin stormed inside, kicking his shoes off in two opposing directions. His heavy steps thudded noisily against the hardwood floor.

Justine couldn't help but remind him, "It's late. Keep it down."

That only made Gavin angrier, and he shouted back, "You're not the boss of me! You're a freak!"

Then, his eyes dropped to her right hand, and his face twisted with disgust. "You've only got three fingers. Freak."

Justine instinctively pulled her right hand back. The hand, missing both her ring and pinky fingers, trembled slightly. No matter how determined she was to leave them behind, the cruelty in her son's words still cut deep. For a moment, she couldn't breathe.

Noah stood by silently, not saying a single word to stop Gavin. He let the son she carried for nine months, the child she nearly died giving birth to, humiliate her like this.

A door slammed upstairs. Gavin had stormed into his room, slamming it with so much force that it shook the walls.

Only then did Noah finally move. He stepped into the living room and spoke with a hint of irritation. "It's Christmas; everyone's celebrating. A little noise doesn't matter. You always make a big deal out of nothing. No wonder Gavi doesn't like you."

Justine gave a cold, mocking smile. "What if someone downstairs is spending Christmas alone, just like me? Maybe they just want a quiet night."

Her words seemed to catch Noah off guard. For a second, guilt flickered across his face as he glanced at the untouched table full of food.

Her tone stayed indifferent. "As for Gavin… Do you really think he hates me for no reason? Or could it be that someone's spouting poison in his ear, teaching him to resent me?"

Noah froze. Whatever guilt he had vanished instantly. His brows creased, and his voice turned sharp. "Are you talking about Hazel? I came home out of kindness to keep you company, and this is how you thank me?"

Justine looked at his angry expression, finding it pathetic and ridiculous. She said nothing. Instead, she turned and picked up the signed divorce agreement, then headed toward the walk-in closet that had become her bedroom.

Gavin had refused to let her sleep in any other room, and Noah let him have his way.

So, the walk-in closet—cramped and lined with nothing but her clothes—became her final refuge. As she shut the door behind her, the crash of plates hitting the floor echoed from the dining room. She locked the door with a blank expression, pretending she heard nothing. She wasn't going to indulge them anymore.

After all, she had no reason to keep forgiving strangers.