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The scalding coffee splashed onto my chest, the burning pain spreading across my body, and it felt like a knife had been plunged into my heart.

I stared at the icy face in front of me, which seemed to hold deep hatred, but soon turned panicked.

[Why didn't you dodge?]

Yang Xue dropped the cup and wanted to step forward, but she hesitated, remembering she was supposed to be angry. She stood stiffly in place, her face stern. [You deserved it. Who told you not to pick me up at the airport? Do you know how helpless I felt at that moment?]

I didn't respond. I unbuttoned my shirt, revealing the red, burned skin on my chest, and walked expressionlessly toward the guest room.

[Shen Qing!]

The sound of stomping feet came from behind. Yang Xue's voice was filled with dissatisfaction. [Is it so hard to apologize? Just say you're sorry, and I'll take you to the hospital right away.]

I still didn't answer. I closed the door, found some ointment, and applied it to the burn.

Outside, there was the sound of a door slamming shut.

Even though I knew Yang Xue didn't care about me, the fact that she had burned me and then stood on her moral high ground, demanding an apology before storming off in fake grievance, left me feeling utterly desolate.

How had I never realized how cold and heartless she was before?

Love had blinded me, showing me only the beautiful side of her.

Now, without that filter, there were no more ripples in my heart.

The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart, a place that had long been riddled with holes and was now completely rotten.

I was so weak. After having my stomach pumped, I hadn't gotten proper rest, and now Yang Xue's torment had left me completely drained.

In my drowsy state, I was awakened by laughter outside. I frowned and got up.

I opened the door and walked out, only to see a man and woman sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the sofa. My wife, Yang Xue, had her head resting unabashedly on the man's shoulder, her eyes closed, a blissful smile on her face.

It was a side of her I had never seen before.

Even though I had made my decision, seeing my wife, in my own home, leaning on another man, made my heart ache faintly. My body couldn't take it, and I collapsed to the floor, making a loud noise.

Yang Xue was startled and immediately pulled away from the man, glaring at me with annoyance.

The man turned his head, his gaze filled with arrogance and provocation.

The moment I saw his face, I knew who he was.

This wasn't the first time we had met.

But we looked so much alike, almost like two peas in a pod.

Yang Xue's best friend had once hinted that the reason she had agreed to marry me was because I was a stand-in for her first love.

Mu Chen, the man who had always stood between Yang Xue and me, showed no shame for being the mistress. Instead, he acted like the master of the house, giving me a provocative look.

No one came to help me up.

I struggled to stand up, feeling as if my head was splitting open. The aftereffects of the sleeping pill overdose kicked in, making it hard to breathe.

[A-Xue, it seems like he doesn't welcome me.]

Mu Chen put on a pitiful expression, standing up and heading toward the door. [I should go. I don't want to disturb your time together.]

[Don't go!]

Yang Xue, who had just started walking toward me, immediately changed direction and grabbed Mu Chen's arm, pleading. [This is your home too. There's a room for you here. You don't have to leave.]

Mu Chen bit his lip and pointed at me.

Yang Xue's face turned cold. [I'm the one who decides in this house. He has no say in it. Shen Qing, Mu Chen isn't feeling well. Go make him some ginger tea.]

I looked at Yang Xue, who was ordering me around, and suddenly felt the urge to laugh.

What kind of life had I been living these past three years?

Not only had I been trampled underfoot, but my自尊 had also been flipped over and stomped on repeatedly.

I probably wasn't even treated as well as a dog.

As I stared at Yang Xue's face, which was becoming increasingly blurry in front of me, the face I had once sworn to protect for a lifetime suddenly lost all its appeal.

The decision I had been brewing for three days in the hospital finally spilled out.

[Yang Xue, I'm tired. Let's get a divorce.]