Chapter 2

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Brad flashed a bright smile.

"When Ms. Jones saw this tie, she thought it suited me, so she bought it for me.

"But I didn't really like the style, so I asked Ms. Jones to return it."

This was the tie she had given me on our seventh wedding anniversary six months ago.

"School meetings kept me busy all day, but I found some time to stop by the mall and pick out a tie. I thought it suited you, so I bought it."

Looking at the thin striped design on the tie, I smiled and teased her.

"I'm almost thirty. Why are you still buying me things meant for younger guys?"

She had only leaned over and kissed my forehead.

"In my eyes, you'll always be the same young man you were ten years ago.

"I'm going to make dinner. Then we'll have a nice candlelit dinner to celebrate our anniversary."

Tears once again filled my swollen eyes, and I guessed I must look terrible at that moment.

I ripped the tie off my neck and threw it onto the floor, where it quickly became covered in dust.

Olivia sounded slightly displeased.

"Okay, calm down. I did forget the date that day.

"But it would've been awkward to go back and pick out something else for you, so I gave you that instead. Besides, you've been wearing it for the past six months. Don’t you like it?"

Finally, I snapped.

I grabbed the iced Americano in front of me and threw it in her face.

"I didn't keep wearing it because I liked it. I wore it because it was from you!

"Olivia, what am I to you?"

As soon as the last words left my mouth, a sharp pain twisted through my stomach, and I collapsed back into my chair.

However, the next second, a cup of sticky, warm milk was poured over my head.

"Drew! I've always respected you, but how could you throw coffee at Ms. Jones in public?

"If that's how you're going to act, then don't blame me for returning the favor."

Olivia immediately tried to calm him down.

"That's enough, Brad. We came here today for the divorce agreement. Let's not make a bigger scene out of this."

After Brad helped wipe the coffee off her face and clothes, Olivia extended her hand toward me.

"Just sign the divorce papers and hand them over. Let's not waste each other's time."

"I'm not signing. As long as we're not divorced, Brad will always be nothing more than a shameful homewrecker."

The moment I refused, her temper flared.

"Drew, you have a lover outside this marriage, too. Divorce would be the best outcome for both of us."

I gave her the same answer.

"I don't!

"Yesterday was April Fool's. I thought you were lying to me, so I played along and lied back! The only person who betrayed this marriage from beginning to end was you!"

But she simply said, "Believe whatever you want. This divorce is happening no matter what.

"Brad gave himself to me last night.

"Unlike you, he's pure. I need to take responsibility for him."

Her words stabbed directly into the most fragile and painful place in my heart.

Ten years ago, on a night I could never forget, a group of thugs drugged me because of my youthful appearance.

They recorded videos of me and stripped me of my dignity.

I was only eighteen years old.

It was Olivia who rushed in with the police like a beam of light, rescuing me from that nightmare.

I could still remember what she said.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here, and I’ll always be by your side.

"Go give your statement to the police first. They'll make sure justice is served."

We had been classmates back then, but after that night, we shared an unspoken secret.

We grew closer and closer, and eventually we were accepted into the same university.

After graduation, when we were twenty-two, we got married.

She was the one who said she didn't care about my past, only about me.

However, now she had turned that very thing into a knife and driven it straight into my heart.

The pain made it difficult to breathe.

After gathering my thoughts, I finally asked, "When did this start?"

She didn't hesitate.

"Yesterday was our one-year anniversary. Today is day three hundred and sixty-six."

She remembered it with perfect clarity.