Chapter 3

"Evan, I'm asking you one last time. I don't care how angry you are, how hurt you are, or how unfair you think this has been. If you still want this marriage, then swallow it.

"We can go back to how we were when we first got married. I already promised I won't see Julian anymore, so stop punishing me on purpose.

"Or do you want us to spend the rest of our lives tormenting each other?"

Her eyes were red. I stared at her for several seconds, unable to understand why she looked like the one in pain when I had been the victim from the beginning.

When I stayed silent, Vivian softened her voice, as if offering me a way out.

"Our anniversary is the day after tomorrow. You've always wanted to go to Milan. I'll take you."

I had always wanted to go. Every time I brought it up, Vivian would pull out the jar.

"Julian wants to go too. We should draw lots. That way my indecisiveness won't act up."

I looked at her and sighed.

"But now I'm torn. You want to go to Milan with me, and Lily wants to go too. I really don't know who to choose.

"Let's leave it to luck."

I pulled out the jar and drew Lily again.

"Oh no. Didn't get you again."

Vivian stared at me, her eyes rimmed red. After a long time she suddenly went calm, then laughed.

"If this is what you want, then you can have it. We'll torture each other like this for the rest of our lives. I don't care anymore."

After that, Vivian dropped the perfect-wife act. She stopped cooking, stopped doing laundry, and started staying out overnight again.

Natalie messaged me several times, telling me to stop being petty. I ignored her.

The next day, an old college friend, Rachel Doyle, was throwing a baby shower. She had helped me with the patent issue, so I went.

Julian was already sitting beside Vivian when I arrived.

"Evan, you made it," he said with a smile. "Want me to move?"

He didn't move an inch.

Vivian spoke without expression.

"Stay where you are. No one is making you leave."

Everyone knew the history between Vivian and Julian. They also knew she had supposedly returned to her marriage, and they all knew how possessive I used to be about her.

The whole room went quiet, waiting for me to make a scene.

I didn't give them one. I smiled, sat in a corner, and texted Lily.

Once people realized I wasn't angry, the room loosened up again. Someone got drunk and jokingly asked Vivian whether she'd regret watching Julian marry someone else.

"Some people are the great love you never forget, and some are the person you settle for. Marriage is groceries, bills, chores, and routine. It's not some grand romance every day.

"If you truly love someone, how could you bear to watch life grind them down?"

Julian flushed to the tips of his ears, and there was nostalgia in his eyes.

"Some relationships don't last long, but they're enough to remember forever."

Vivian smiled, then turned to me.

"Evan, what do you think?"

I nodded vaguely and didn't answer.

She gave a mocking laugh and looked back at Julian.

"I can't attend your wedding next week, but I prepared a gift. Thirty thousand dollars in cash, plus a few things."

Then she looked at me.

"Evan, you don't mind, do you? It's marital property. I should ask."

Julian blinked, a little reluctant.

"I know you're worried I might feel slighted, but thirty thousand is too much. You really don't have to-"

"Too little," I said seriously. "He's marrying into the Bennett family. Why would they care about thirty thousand dollars? You should sell our house and give him ninety thousand."

The more generous Vivian became, the more evidence Claire would have, and the cleaner my divorce case would be.

The table went awkward, and people started talking over each other.

"Don't joke about selling your home."

"Evan, don't say things you'll regret."

Vivian simply smiled.

"I'll consider it."

I nodded.

"I'm not angry."

It wasn't my event, and I had no interest in ruining someone else's celebration.

Then, after a few drinks, Julian looked at me with a smile.