Chapter 1

My father-in-law, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law were all hit by a car and sent several feet away.

A second later, flames shot into the sky, and the sound of the explosion tore through my eardrums.

I stood frozen in place, my limbs numb and cold. It took a long moment before I could react.

Even my fingers trembled as I called the police.

Once I calmed down slightly, I immediately called Jennifer Novak, but she did not pick up.

It was not until the 80th call that she finally answered.

Before I could even speak, her impatient voice came through the phone.

"Didn't I tell you not to bother me today? It's Justin's first birthday after coming back to the country. I just want to spend it with him. Can you not ruin this for me?"

The mention of Justin Miller made my fingers clench instinctively.

When I was looking back at the blood-soaked bodies of my wife's family behind me, the words I wanted to shout were forced back down my throat.

My voice shook with urgency and desperation.

"Dad, Mom, and Sis were in a car accident. It's serious. They're being rushed to the hospital. You need to come. I'll send you the address—"

Before I could finish, Jennifer suddenly gave a cold, detached laugh.

"What does your family getting in a car crash have to do with me? I'm not their daughter. Whether they live or die, that's not my concern. Don't bother me with this."

With this, the line went dead.

I stared at my phone, stunned. For the first time, Jennifer felt like a complete stranger to me.

A nearby police officer saw my dazed look and gently patted my shoulder, telling me to follow the ambulance to the hospital.

As my in-laws were lifted onto stretchers, my hands trembled uncontrollably. I was still shaking from the lingering fear.

Just minutes before the crash, my father-in-law said he was thirsty, so I got out of the car to buy water from a nearby convenience store.

Who would have thought that by the time I came back, I would witness them being launched over 30 feet through the air; Their bodies an unrecognizable mess.

I did not know whether to feel lucky for avoiding the disaster or devastated by what happened to my in-laws.

As I tried to piece the accident together in my mind, a notification popped up on my phone: A purchase of 30 thousand dollars.

It was from a luxury tie store I frequented.

Jennifer made the purchase, and I knew it was not for me. She never even spared me a glance, let alone bought me anything.

This morning, to celebrate Justin's return and birthday, she got up early, did her makeup meticulously, and put on a dress she once thought was too precious to wear.

Even back when we were dating, she never treated me this attentively. All she used to do was mock me.

"We've been married for years. Seeing your face every day is tiring enough. Why should I waste time putting on makeup?"

Then another notification buzzed in—this time from a restaurant we used to frequent.

I tried calling her again, but now her phone was turned off.

All I could see was her freshly updated social media post.

[Spending a birthday with the one you love—even the cake tastes sweeter.]

In the picture, Jennifer was feeding Justin a bite of cake, their pose intimate and affectionate.

Rage surged through me, engulfing my whole body.

And just then, the light outside the operating room went out.

The doctor walked out, shook his head at me, and said, "I'm sorry for your loss."

My heart sank.

I prepared myself mentally, but these were still people I lived with for years. To say I was not heartbroken would be a lie.

I looked at my phone one more time—their daughter was still out enjoying herself.

I let out a cold laugh, then called the bank and had Jennifer's cards frozen.