Chapter 3

I couldn’t forgive her, nor could I just walk away right then. All I could do was use the most foolish, painful method of slowly wearing away all my feelings for her.

Day after day, I quietly gathered evidence of her betrayal with Joshua. Six months was more than enough time for me to grow completely numb and collect everything I needed.

I secretly recorded their phone calls. I took photographs and videos of their intimate moments. I gathered proof that Zoe was using company resources to pave the way for Joshua’s career. I even obtained detailed records of her secretly transferring our joint assets.

I was simply waiting for the right moment—an opportunity that would ruin both her and Joshua and give them zero chance at redemption.

I had thought I would wait until my grandmother recovered. Then, I would file for divorce, lay out all the evidence, and make Zoe pay the price she deserved, but I never expected the unexpected to strike so quickly and suddenly.

My grandmother’s condition suddenly deteriorated. The doctor said she needed surgery immediately, or she wouldn’t make it through the night.

I called Zoe right away so she could contact the hospital and arrange the necessary paperwork and logistics. Yet, no matter how many times I called, she didn’t pick up.

I dialed her number again and again. From dawn until dusk, I called her over a hundred times. I kept calling until my phone ran out of battery, but she never answered.

I was pacing like a cat on a hot tin roof. I rushed to Zoe’s company, only to be told by the employees that she had taken time off and gone on a trip with Joshua.

A trip? While my grandmother was in critical condition and desperately needed surgery, she had gone on vacation with Joshua?

I refused to accept it, so I borrowed someone else’s phone and kept calling her. After counting endless dials, the line finally connected. However, Zoe wasn’t the one who picked up.

“Hello? Who is this?” Joshua’s voice came through impatiently, and he sounded like he was suppressing a giggle.

“Where is Zoe? Put her on the phone!” I forced down the rage burning inside my chest, my voice so raspy it was barely recognizable.

Joshua chuckled and replied sarcastically, “Oh, it’s Connor. Zoe is taking a shower right now, so she can’t come to the phone.

"By the way, I forgot to mention. We’re in Soreno right now. The view here is amazing. The ocean breeze takes all your troubles away. Zoe is having the time of her life, so she doesn’t have time to deal with your pathetic problems.”

My brain went blank, and the phone slipped from my hand and landed on the floor. The screen shattered instantly, mirroring my shattered heart.

Vaguely, I heard Zoe’s voice through the speaker. “Joshua, who is that? What’s all that noise?”

Joshua replied with a dismissive, nonchalant tone, “It’s nothing. Just a spam caller. I hung up.”

With that, the call was cut off.

I crouched down and picked up the broken phone.

The glass shards sliced into my fingertips, drawing blood, but I felt no pain whatsoever. Instead, rage and despair consumed me.

For the next few hours, I went mad. I ran everywhere looking for help, asking anyone I could for money. I even begged the doctor to perform the surgery on my grandmother first. Moved by my sheer desperation, the doctor finally nodded and agreed.

I stood outside the operating room the entire night. Over and over again, I prayed that my grandmother would be safe and make it through this ordeal smoothly.

However, when the door to the operating room finally opened, the doctor walked out, shook his head, and said, “I’m so sorry. We did everything we could.”

At that moment, every last bit of hope crumbled. My grandmother passed away after all. Because the surgery had been delayed for too long, she had missed her critical window for treatment.