Chapter 1 Anniversary in Ruins

When Irene Weatherby chose Winston Montrose over me once more, I grabbed her sleeve. "Do you really have to go? It's our fifth wedding anniversary today."

"Keith, please be reasonable. Winston's raising a child on his own. You know how hard it is to be a single father. The kid has a high fever right now; he can't afford to wait." She sounded impatient as she pried my hand off.

I sneered. Funny how that kid always managed to fall sick at the most convenient times.

"The kid isn't even yours, so why is he always calling you instead of someone else? I swear, Irene, if you walk out that door today, we're getting divorced tomorrow!"

Irene snapped, "Do whatever you want! Don't use that to threaten me! You're a heartless monster! No one would want you, especially after we get that divorce!"

Fury surged through me. The moment she turned to open the door, I flipped the table over with a violent shove. The candlelit dinner I had prepared for the occasion crashed to the floor in a complete mess.

Irene froze. "Have you lost your mind? How did I ever end up marrying someone so emotionally unstable?"

I stormed out of the house, raising my voice. "Yeah! I've lost my mind! What kind of married woman runs to another man's house every single day?"

As I spoke, I strode straight to Winston's door and pounded on it hard. "Winston Montrose! If you've got the guts to steal someone else's wife, then come out here and face me!"

The noise drew the neighbors out. I could see heads pop out from doorways as they gathered to watch the scene unfold. Irene's face flushed red in an instant.

Winston slowly opened the door, keeping his head down. He only dared to show half his body as if he were afraid. "Keith… don't misunderstand. The child's really sick. I lack experience, so I don't know how to take care of him properly. Irene's the only one we can rely on."

I grabbed him and dragged him out of the doorway. "Your kid sure knows how to pick the perfect timing! Last month, he got sick on the one day Irene finally had time off to watch a movie with me. Last week, he got sick on my birthday. And now? He's sick on our wedding anniversary!

"Isn't it interesting that your child is always sick whenever Irene and I finally get a moment alone? Why don't you just have her move in with you? That way you can keep her by your side all day long!"

I was still burning with righteous fury as I marched back to my own door and shoved Irene, who stood there stunned and at a loss. "What are you standing there for? Weren't you in a hurry? Leave!"

I slammed the door shut behind me, leaving Irene and Winston facing each other awkwardly in the hallway. The neighbors whispered among themselves, each pair of eyes filled with open contempt toward the two of them.

Irene knocked, begging me to open the door. I ignored her. Only after she heard me slam the bedroom door did she grit her teeth, punch the door in frustration, and storm off.

I turned on the bedside lamp calmly and flipped open a magazine.

The reason I dared to make such a scene today was simple—I had been reborn.

In my previous life, a fire broke out when Irene had gone to be with Winston. My home became my pyre.

Now that I was given a second chance, I wasn't going to let them walk all over me again.

Since she wanted to run off to another man so desperately, I saw no reason to stand in her way. However, I'd make sure the whole neighborhood saw exactly what kind of people they were.

…

Irene didn't come home that night, but I didn't care where she had gone.

The next morning, I ran into Winston once I left my house. He looked utterly worn out. The resentment in his eyes was so thickened that it looked like he wanted to strangle me.

I didn't spare him a glance. Instead, I locked the door and headed straight to work.

When I got to the director's office, I handed in my application to study abroad.

The director looked surprised. "Keith, have you thought this through? It's true that you're the most suitable candidate here, but didn't you say that you didn't want to leave your family?"

"Don't worry, Director. I've thought it through carefully. I'm willing to put the greater good above my personal life for the sake of my country. I can only help our nation push forward by studying advanced techniques abroad. That's what matters most right now.

"Once you approve this form, I'll go right home and start packing."

The director frowned, stubbed out his cigarette, picked up his pen, and signed the application. "Go home and get ready. Say your goodbyes properly. You'll leave in a week."

I bowed deeply. "Thank you, Director."

When I returned home, I pulled out a suitcase that had long since gathered dust. It was one I had bought when Irene and I got married.

Back then, I had gone against my family's wishes to marry her because I believed she was kind. I had thought she was thoughtful and reliable. I thought she was someone I could place my trust in.

I hadn't expected that her kindness came with conditions.

For starters, it was reserved for one person alone.