Chapter 1: The Fifth Wedding Anniversary

On our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband's first love came to me, claiming she was his true love and telling me to step aside for her.

I indeed obliged, swiftly divorcing my husband, thereby fulfilling their wish to be together.

Half a month later, they knelt before me, begging for my forgiveness.

1

Today is the fifth anniversary of my marriage to Ethan Blake. I specially prepared a table of his favorite dishes and arranged a candlelight dinner to celebrate this significant day for us.

Just as I set the red wine on the table, my phone chimed with a new message, revealing a photo.

The number was from an unknown sender.

My right eyelid twitched suddenly as I frowned and clicked open the image. After a long loading time, Ethan's cheerful smiling face appeared before me without warning, next to him stood a woman, intimately holding his arm; they looked quite in love.

Below the picture was a caption:

"I am your husband's true love, you're merely a placeholder between us, so just step aside obediently."

"Also, check my Weibo, it will help you understand who your husband's true love is."

The hand holding my phone began to tremble uncontrollably. No matter how foolish I might be, I could clearly comprehend that this photo was silently telling me Ethan had been unfaithful.

We dated for two years, married for five, throughout which he catered to my every need, never once raising his voice or arguing with me, our love resembling that of a model couple.

However, looking at this picture now, I still find it hard to believe such a reality.

Following the phone number, I found her Weibo.

Every post had traces of Ethan.

Though some photos captured his back or side profile, I could still recognize that the man was the same one who shared my bed every night.

So essentially, this was the case of appearances kept upright at home while flying flags in the wind outside?

And now, the mistress even chose our wedding anniversary to show up and provoke me.

Even knowing that looking through those photos and videos on Weibo would make me furious, I forced myself to overcome the discomfort and watched it all.

It turns out, the mistress is named Lily Walton, Ethan's new secretary.

They've been together for three years, even using business trips as an excuse to spend sweet, exclusive time together.

Lily even added a sentimental note to one photo: If life hadn't brought us together, I wouldn't have believed there's someone you never grow tired of seeing, someone who feels so warm upon first meeting.

Ha, warmth? Warmth in bed perhaps?

A warmth so disgusting I feel nauseous, and that so-called endless charm dedicated to destroying others' families.

After calming down for quite a while, I called Ethan. The phone only rang a few times before being hung up. When I called again, it was turned off.

I understood that Ethan wouldn't refuse my call, so at this point, the one holding the phone could only be that woman.

I tossed the phone onto the sofa but unexpectedly, it rang again after a while.

"Nina Smith, I assume you've seen those photos now?"

"Be wise about it. Before things get too ugly, do the sensible thing and leave Ethan. Hand over Mrs. Blake's position to me, it's your best option."

"You already know I'm Ethan's first love. The love we shared back then, you couldn't possibly understand."

She spoke with pride, as if the position I held was rightfully hers, yet in the photo beside Ethan, she looked so sweet and delicate.

Indeed, after all, a first love for a man is like an unattainable, eternally cherished ideal.

Leaning back against the sofa, I chuckled lightly, speaking as if nothing mattered.

"Did Ethan tell you that he would divorce me to marry you?"

She probably didn't expect my sudden question. After a moment of silence, she chuckled softly and spoke.

"Nina, do you think such reverse psychology will work on me? Think it through, if Ethan truly loved you so much, wouldn't let go, would he abandon you on your anniversary to be with me instead?"

"Moreover, what's the difference if he said it or not? A man's actions speak for themselves, don't they?"

The force with which I held the phone turned my fingertips white.

As soon as she finished, Ethan's voice suddenly came over the phone.

"Honey, where did I leave my glasses? Can you get them for me?"

Upon hearing that, the rationality I held against Lily Walton crumbled into ruins.

But I knew, now's not the time to get angry, even with rage boiling inside me, I must control it and figure out a way to deal with this pair of ungrateful people.

I took deep breaths, trying to expel the inner fire this way.

"As you said, Ethan loves you so much. How about this, let him personally tell me he wants a divorce, or you'll always remain the mistress in secrecy."

My words successfully irritated Lily Walton, who could no longer restrain her anger, and she started shouting insults at me.

"Nina, open your eyes and see clearly! Did you hear Ethan's voice just now? He's right here in my apartment, taking a shower. You're an adult, you should know what that means, right? How come you're so reluctant to let go of Ethan? Even after he slept with me, you still accept him back in your bed?"

"But really, it's ridiculous. You two have been married for five years and still have no kids. Who knows, maybe there's already a Blake descendant growing inside me at this point…"

The more Lily spoke, the more excited she became. I held the phone away and pressed the record button. Such vivid words shouldn't be heard by me alone.

I ought to let Ethan hear the true nature of the lover he adores.

2

I didn't immediately send the recording to Ethan; I wanted to see just how long Ethan would linger with Lily before coming back.

Finally, as the clock slowly pointed towards ten, Ethan opened the apartment door and came in. Seeing me still on the sofa, his face momentarily showed surprise, as if he didn't expect me to still be up at such an hour.

After changing into slippers at the entryway, he walked over, sitting down next to me, but I suddenly stood up, moving to sit on the other side of the sofa to keep a distance.

I ignored the awkward smile hanging on his lips and played the recording in front of him from my phone.

Finally, he shed his façade, and with a look of panic, he knelt before me, tightly clutching my leg.

"Nina... this… I can explain, it wasn't like that, Lily said her shower broke, so I just went after work to help check it, accidentally got my glasses wet and had her help wipe them off."

"We... nothing happened between us, believe me, I already have you, why would I be with her?"

"She... she just can't get over me…"

Such a clumsy excuse left me increasingly disheartened. If only he were a bit more honest, I wouldn't have been so disappointed in him.

Yes, Ethan already has me, so why did he want to be with her?

In the end, all men are despicable; what's unattainable is always the best.

Even if they are caught cheating, they have great excuses to absolve themselves.

The weariness in my heart makes me not want to say anything more to him. The words he speaks reveal his true nature to me.

Disappointment makes me no longer want to continue with him.

I interrupted him and amidst his panic-stricken face, I made up my mind.

"Ethan Blake, let's get a divorce."

3

I entrusted my best friend to help me find a divorce lawyer. The lawyer told me that Ethan Blake is at fault in this marriage, so no matter what requests I make, as long as they are reasonable, they can basically be met.

I sighed slightly.

"I want Ethan Blake to leave the marriage with nothing."

The lawyer quickly drafted the divorce agreement, and after I signed it, he sent the agreement to Ethan Blake.

Ethan Blake refused to sign, sending me daily texts saying that if I wanted the house or the car, he could give them to me, but he didn't want a divorce; he said he still loves me.

Loves me, yet sleeps with another woman?

Even if his infidelity is emotional, it's still infidelity.

Not to mention, I've already caught him unable to sever ties with his first love.

Now is the best time to sign the divorce agreement because he knows he owes me, so no matter what kind of demands I make, he will meet them.

I admit I still have feelings for Ethan Blake, but when I think of him traveling with his "white moonlight" behind my back, even when I meticulously prepare each meal for him while he sneaks around outside.

I just feel disgusted.

I no longer want to give him a chance; there's a saying that cheating only happens zero times or countless times.

Seeing how determined I was, Ethan Blake seemed to want to push back against me. He sent a message through his lawyer, saying he resolutely refused to divorce, but this time, it was no longer up to him.

Because I still had a card up my sleeve — his "white moonlight" — to play.

I secretly informed Lily Walton that Ethan Blake didn't want a divorce from me. As expected, Lily Walton had a big fight with Ethan after learning this, questioning why he changed, and since he didn't love her or think about marrying her, why did he provoke her in the first place.

Watching the video of the two of them embracing tightly and kissing again, I just felt that some people are doomed to be blind in this lifetime.

I sent this video to Ethan Blake, telling him that if he didn't sign the divorce agreement by today, I would post this video on his company's official website. By then, his scandals wouldn't just be gossip but also affect his career path.

He said, "You hate," and then hung up the phone, gritting his teeth.

I never liked to drag things out, and this time, he forced me.

Soon, the lawyer brought me the divorce agreement signed by both sides.

Now, all it takes is a trip to the civil affairs bureau, and there would be nothing left between us.

The phone rang, and I picked it up expressionless.

"Nina Smith, see? With just a few words, I can make Ethan Blake divorce you. By now, you should understand, right? In Ethan Blake's heart, I have always been the most important one."

"Ethan Blake could never bear to see me upset."

I let out a cold laugh, then hung up the phone.

Yes, you will certainly be the most important one, but soon you will be just the most important person in the heart of poor Ethan Blake.

Love without material is like a pile of scattered sand.

Lily Walton, you better enjoy this last supper well.

4

I quickly sold our marital house, and after getting a good price, I bought a small apartment in full cash in the neighborhood I had my eye on earlier.

I called a moving company, and aside from my dowry, I sold off all of Ethan Blake's belongings.

Since we're already divorced, it means no more ties to the past, and these things mean nothing to me anymore.

Because the apartment was fully furnished, there was no need for further renovation. After moving all my luggage to the new home, I pulled out my phone and saw that a certain user had just posted a new Weibo post.

Upon opening it, I found that Lily Walton had posted a picture, showing her and Ethan Blake holding hands tightly.

As if afraid of not disgusting me enough, she also captioned the photo: "It's wonderful, you're still by my side, not leaving nor forsaking."

I saved the photo because, who knows, maybe it will become a weapon of protection for me in the future.

A week later, Ethan Blake called me. I didn't answer and repeatedly hung up his calls.

Seeing that calls were useless, he started texting me.

Without exception, saying he somewhat regretted it and begged me to give him another chance, promising he'd do well this time and would not let me down again.

But what can I do? I have already lost hope in him.

Besides, I think no one would be interested in the cooling feces on the roadside, right?

That's right, in my heart, Ethan Blake is just that piece of feces.

It's just that he always has a good opinion of himself, thinking that as long as he sincerely admits his mistakes, I will forgive him without reason and without bounds.

How laughable.

I still ignored him. Later on, he directly sent me a video, with him in it.

"Nina, I know you're angry that's why you're not answering my calls or texts, and I can understand and accept that. As long as it calms you down, I don't oppose anything you do to me. But now I really know I was wrong, I've realized how good you are, so could you give me another chance to make it up to you and love you, please?"

I couldn't help it and burst into laughter.

Lily Walton claimed how important she was to Ethan Blake, but apparently, that's not the case.

I rhythmically tapped my fingers on the table and then made a decision in my heart. After all, given the marriage we had, I'm also curious to see what Ethan Blake wants to say to me.

And indeed, for him to be more pained and regretful in the future, I should properly say goodbye to this ex-husband.

Unusually, I put on some makeup today, drawing an eyeliner flick at the tail of my eyes and choosing a bold red lipstick.

When Ethan Blake came to the café and saw me, there was a trace of amazement in his eyes, seemingly about to rush forward and embrace me.

I picked up the small knife I was playing with and held it up in front of him. His actions froze, and he had no choice but to sit down obediently across from me.

"Nina."