My husband, who I kept secret from the world, suddenly developed a split personality. His eighteen-year-old self raged at me: "I have a girlfriend! I'm going to find her!" He didn't know that his precious high school sweetheart had cheated on him. I played along, coaxing his teenage self into signing the divorce papers. But then, his twenty-eight-year-old self resurfaced, cold and ruthless: "He signed it, not me. It doesn't count." Later, I found a note he left for his younger self. "Rule 1: Win my wife back." "Rule 2: If you can't win her back, get lost." 1 On our first wedding anniversary, Caleb Vance didn't go to the office. Instead, he personally cooked a table full of dishes. I ignored him, opened the door, and grabbed my Uber Eats order. Steam rose from the home-cooked meal, fogging up Caleb's glasses. "Lily, do we have to do this?" "Are we expecting guests?" I put my takeout on the table and sat down, expressionless. Caleb took off his glasses with one hand. "Today is our anniversary. Don't be like this." He walked over and hugged me from behind. "I admit I was wrong back then, but it's been three years. What are you still unhappy about?" He was more mature and tempered than when we first met. But I couldn't stand how easily he tried to brush over the past. I stepped on his sore spot. "I think you're too old." Caleb didn't speak. He tilted my chin up with one hand and held the back of my head with the other, kissing me fiercely, almost cruelly. I bit his lip. The taste of rust spread in my mouth. He frowned in pain. "It's only five years," he murmured against my lips, loosening his grip. I insisted on provoking him. "When you were in college, I was still in middle school." Caleb couldn't take it anymore. He picked me up and walked towards the bedroom. "I like you more than college." 2 I woke up in the middle of the night. The sheets beside me were still warm, but he was gone. I grabbed a t-shirt, threw it on, and went to the kitchen for water. Caleb was eating with his back to me, his movements urgent. I leaned against the wall. "Hungry already? Need to recharge?" He spun around, looking like he'd seen a ghost, then whipped back around, howling. "You! Why are you awake?!" "Put some clothes on! You wicked woman!" What is wrong with him? I ignored his tantrum and went back to the bedroom. Just as I was drifting off, Caleb poked my cheek repeatedly. I slapped his hand away. "What?" "How much money do you want?" He looked around nervously, whispering, "Let me go, and I won't call the police." "If you're sick, go to the hospital. I don't have time for your drama." I yelled, burying myself under the covers, turning my back to him. Caleb pulled me back over. "This is false imprisonment!" Since when does this law-breaking CEO care about the law? He continued, "Call my grandfather. He'll give you money." Caleb's grandfather died two years ago. He respected his grandfather the most and hated when anyone mentioned him. I finally sat up and looked at him properly. His usually calm eyes were now full of boundless energy and curiosity. And a hint of pure stupidity. He smirked, a cocky, boyish grin. "I know I'm handsome, but I have a girlfriend." I vaguely remembered Caleb dating someone in his teens. She cheated on him, and I mocked him about it for ages. I asked tentatively, "How old are you?" He said, "Eighteen." What a coincidence. Exactly five years younger than me. 3 "You have amnesia. You're twenty-eight." "Back then, your dad didn't approve of your girlfriend and broke you up. You stayed faithful to her, but later, family pressure forced you into a fake marriage with me. We have no feelings for each other." I pulled out our marriage certificate. Neither of us was smiling in the photo. Teenage Caleb was stunned. "Without a girlfriend... does that mean I'm a billionaire CEO now?" I answered honestly, "You gave up your inheritance. Your dad's illegitimate son is running the company." His eyes widened. "Am I crazy?" I thought so too. Years ago, he was in the inner circle but suddenly gave it all up to start from scratch. But he was capable. In just one year, he made a name for himself. Caleb stared at the ceiling until dawn, finally accepting reality. He said, "I'm going to find my girlfriend. We're going to get back together." That was perfect. I dug under the mattress and pulled out the divorce papers I'd been hiding. "Sign this." Caleb stared at the papers, then looked straight at me. My heart pounded. Suddenly, he shook his head violently. "No way! You're the only person I know right now. If we have no feelings and I sign this, you'll just dump me on the street. Who will I cry to then?" Although that was my plan. "How about this," I negotiated. "I'll take you to your ex-girlfriend. Once I return you to her, we can part ways amicably." Caleb rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and nodded. 4 Despite not sleeping all night, Caleb was full of energy. He stood by the closet, picking through clothes with disdain. "Why are they all suits? So old-fashioned." He found a tracksuit from god knows where and changed into it. I switched tabs on my screen and looked at him. He was usually cold. Now, his eyes were smiling, round and bright, showing white teeth. He ran a hand through his messy black hair—wild, arrogant, undeniably boyish. "What are you doing?" He walked over, grabbed sunglasses from my desk, and put them on. "Cool, right?" Childish. I ignored him, but he squeezed in to look at my screen. A girl had just messaged me. [Master, I miss my ex so much. I can't live without him.] I didn't hide it from Caleb. I typed: [He will ruin your financial fortune.] A second later, she replied: [Thanks, Master. I'm suddenly over him :)] Caleb's expression went from curious to speechless. "Master?" I raised an eyebrow. "You wanted to know what I do? I solve emotional problems." "Is that your job?" I nodded. He leaned against the desk, looking down at me with a hint of rebellion. "So you're unemployed? How did I end up with someone like you?" It was all his fault anyway. I rolled my eyes internally and packed up. "Stop dawdling. Let's go find your ex." 5 I confirmed the address and knocked. The door opened. A little girl leaned out, saw Caleb, and screamed in delight: "Daddy! You're back!" She ran out and hugged Caleb's leg. "Huh?" Caleb's eyes popped out. He pointed at himself. "Me?" I stepped back, frowning. "You have a secret daughter?" Caleb waved his hands frantically. "No, no, I don't! We must have the wrong house." He squatted down, trying to be patient. "Kid, I'm not your..." A beautiful woman's voice came from inside: "Caleb?" Caleb looked up, his voice trembling with fear. "Sophie?" Sophie, wearing loungewear, leaned against the doorframe and glanced at me. "Caleb, why did you bring her?" Before Caleb could speak, she covered her mouth, sniffled, and squeezed out a few tears. "You're finally going to tell her clearly and give me and Sweetie a title, right?" She threw herself at him, hugging him tight. The three of them embraced, leaving me standing there like an outsider. Caleb pointed at the girl, disbelief filling his eyes. "She... is ours?" Sophie glared at him with resentment and pain. "I hid away and followed you for ten years, and now you doubt me?" The little girl blinked, looking between them, pouting. "Daddy, yesterday you promised to take me to Disneyland. Did Sweetie do something wrong?" It was obvious what was happening. I glared at Caleb, my eyes tearing up. "Caleb Vance! Cheating on me wasn't enough? You have a child?!" "Working late? Busy at the company? All lies!" My scolding made Caleb turn red, his voice weak. "Wait... I shouldn't be that much of a scumbag, right?" "Is there some misunderstanding?" I cut him off, throwing the divorce papers and a pen at him. "The facts are right here. Stop talking and sign." 6 Teenage Caleb hadn't learned to hide his emotions. He looked devastated. He looked at me pitifully, as if blaming me for dumping him so quickly. I touched my nose, avoiding eye contact. He picked up the pen with grief. Sophie and I watched him intently. Just as the pen tip touched the paper. Caleb suddenly looked up. He stared at Sophie's eyes, then at Sweetie's face. He stared for a long time, then jumped up, ran to me, and pointed at his own eyes. "Single eyelids are a recessive trait! I have single eyelids, Sophie has single eyelids. How could we produce a double-lidded kid?! That child is absolutely not mine!" Caleb patted his chest, letting out a huge sigh of relief, then lifted his chin proudly. "Ha! I knew I wasn't that trashy." My heart skipped a beat. I locked eyes with Sophie. Neither of us spoke. Caleb kept rambling in my ear: "See? There must be a misunderstanding. Don't be so quick to divorce me." He tried to take my hand, but I dodged. Sophie gave Caleb a strange look, then turned to the child. "Sweetie, go to your room, okay? Mommy and Daddy need to talk." Sweetie nodded obediently. Sophie smiled until the door closed, then her face changed instantly. She walked over and slapped Caleb hard. Slap! The red mark bloomed on his face. He was stunned. I was stunned. Sophie's voice dropped, vicious and raw: "Caleb Vance, what is the meaning of this? We agreed! That mistress would have the baby, take the money, and leave! I would be Sweetie's mother!" "Are you in contact with that woman again? How could you do this to me? I already treat Sweetie like my own daughter. Are you trying to take her away from me?" She choked up, leaning against the wall, hugging her knees and sobbing. Caleb's smile froze. He stood there like a statue, brain short-circuiting. After a long time, he turned his stiff neck to look at me, voice hoarse like a kicked puppy. "Is that true?" I lowered my eyes and didn't answer. Silence was taken as confirmation. Caleb's posture collapsed. He closed his eyes and laughed bitterly. "So I turn into such a terrible person." A child who can't accept reality runs away. He stepped back, bumped into someone, muttered an apology without looking, and ran out stumbling. The man he bumped into brushed his suit, his deep eyes landing on the crying Sophie. He pulled her into his arms. "What happened? Why are you crying?" "Did Caleb bully you?" Sophie glanced around like a thief, her sad face instantly replaced with a sweet smile as she snuggled into him. "It's nothing, honey. Just playing around." She walked over, linking arms with me, beaming. "Lily, how was that? Oscar-worthy, right?" "Best Actress." I gave her a sincere thumbs up, patted her hand, and said, "I'm going to check on Caleb. See you later." Sophie's husband, Dr. Julian, nodded at me and led Sophie inside. 7 I chased Caleb to the roof. Is he going to jump? I huffed and puffed my way up. Pushing open the door, I saw Caleb sitting against the low wall, head hanging. Hearing me, he glanced over with red eyes, then looked away awkwardly. I felt guilty, like I was bullying a child. I dragged my tired body over, intending to sit next to him, but he stopped me. He took off his jacket, spread it on the dirty floor, and patted it. "Sit." The wind blew, blurring Caleb's voice. He said: "My biggest dream was to get into college and marry someone I loved deeply." "Why did I become like this?" An eighteen-year-old boy, full of hope for the future, crushed by the reality we forced on him. I felt shame. I used to be like him, longing for a career I loved and a person I adored. Then Caleb destroyed it all. Did he feel guilty then? I didn't know. The Caleb who did it had forgotten everything. His eyes were full of confusion, like a student asking a difficult question. "Did I marry the person I love deeply?" "Does twenty-eight-year-old me love you?"
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