Chapter 2

Back then, when my parents tried to stop me from marrying Ines, they gave me a final warning.

"If you dare marry her, we will cut ties with you. We will not acknowledge you as our son."

At the time, I was blinded by love.

I believed love could overcome anything. I was willing to abandon the whole world to be with her.

So I followed Ines to her hometown and moved into her family's orbit.

For the first two years, Ines really was good to me. She put me first in everything.

But a year ago, her older sister died in a car accident, leaving behind Marcus and his young son.

Ines's mother suggested that Ines take responsibility for Marcus too. She wanted Ines to divide her life between Marcus's home and mine.

I strongly rejected the idea on the spot.

Only after I threatened divorce did Ines promise she would never make that arrangement. She said she would merely help Marcus a little in daily life.

But that help gradually lost all boundaries.

On New Year's Eve, she stayed in Marcus's room to keep him company and did not come home all night.

At his son's parent-teacher meeting, she and Marcus attended together like a loving couple.

Even when she traveled for work, she forgot to buy me a gift but remembered Marcus's measurements and bought him a suit.

Whenever I questioned her even slightly, she accused me of having a dirty mind and insisted she was only taking normal care of him.

A few days ago, I saw the purchase record for that fifty-two-thousand-dollar watch. I thought she had finally thought of me.

Instead, reality slapped me hard across the face.

From the moment she took out that Rolex and gave it to Marcus, our marriage was already over.

On the phone, my parents burst into tears when they heard my decision.

"There is no feud between father and son that lasts overnight. You have been away all these years, and we have worried so much we could not sleep.

"But you were stubborn. When you said you would not contact us, you really never called."

I sniffed and choked out, "Dad, Mom, I am sorry. I was an unfilial son.

"Once Ines and I finish the divorce, I will come back and stay with you. I will never leave again."

My parents repeated "good" several times, as if afraid I might change my mind. Hearing them made my chest ache even more.

After hanging up, I saw that Marcus had updated his social media.

"On Valentine's Day, she said she would be my support from now on."

The photo was taken in a restaurant, with a romantic candlelit dinner in the background. A man and woman held hands across the table.

My eyes locked on the matching rings on their fingers. Then I looked at my own bare hand and laughed at myself.

After three years of marriage, the wedding band Ines had once promised me had ended up on Marcus's hand.

That night, Ines did not come home. Instead, Marcus posted another photo of a hotel check-in.

By then, I had no illusions left about her. I calmly sent her a text.

"Come back tomorrow and sign the divorce papers."

Early the next morning, I was woken by my phone ringing violently.

My mother-in-law's anxious voice came through the line.

"Ines went into the woods last night to catch fireflies to cheer you up. She was bitten by a snake and fainted on the hill behind the park.

"Hurry over!"

I woke up completely in an instant. I grabbed a jacket and rushed toward the hill. I was in such a panic that I lost one shoe on the way.

But when I arrived, I saw Ines, Marcus, his son, and my mother-in-law leisurely having a picnic.

Marcus covered his mouth and laughed when he saw my bare foot.

"Ines, look how worried Arthur was. You cannot play this kind of joke next time."

Ines came over and directly tied an apron around me.

"The weather is nice today. Marcus suggested a picnic. Make a few dishes and apologize to him. Then I will not hold yesterday against you."

Behind her, my mother-in-law said sternly, "Arthur, for Ines's sake, I will give you one last six-month chance. If Ines still is not pregnant with a grandson by then, no one can stop the arrangement with Marcus."

I stood there like a clown, mocked and warned by all of them.

I took off the apron and threw it hard onto the ground.