I learned my son wasn't biologically mine, yet everyone was convinced I wouldn't leave. After all, I'd willingly given up my status as the scion of a powerful capital family to move in with her, becoming, in everyone's eyes, a kept man for seven long years. On our wedding day, my wife abandoned me yet again, choosing instead to join her childhood sweetheart in celebrating our son's full-month banquet. Amidst the mocking stares of every guest, I didn't raise a fuss, didn't scream. I simply, quietly, bought a plane ticket out of the country. 1 It took a full three days for Seraphina's call to finally come through. Before I could even speak, a man's voice, smooth and apologetic, cut in. "Arthur, my friend, I'm truly sorry. The past few days marked the anniversary of my late wife and child. I haven't been in the best state of mind." His voice dipped with feigned sorrow. "Sera was just too worried about me, so much so that she missed the wedding. I’ve already had a word with her about it." He paused, a theatrical sigh. "And that social media post? Sera put it up to comfort me. It's already deleted. Please, don't take it to heart." Then, his voice softened, directed at Sera. "Sera, darling, you too. A wedding is such a monumental occasion, how could you just leave? You're a mother now; you can't be throwing childish tantrums like when we were kids. I can spoil you rotten forever, but can Arthur?" A pause, a hint of false benevolence. "Be a good girl. Let's pick a new date to re-do the wedding. I'm much better now. I'll be fine alone." His words, seemingly reproachful, were as soft and sickeningly sweet as treacle. My stomach churned. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Seraphina's voice, laced with a coyness I'd never heard her use for me, purred, "William, if you send me away again, I truly won't come back! Your mood's only just improved a little; how could I possibly leave you alone at a time like this?" I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat. In front of me, she was always the distant queen, her words like royal decrees. "Seraphina," I cut in, my voice tight. "Since your William needs your care so much, you don't need to come back. I'll prepare the divorce papers and mail them to you." I couldn't bear another second of their saccharine flirtation. "Arthur Sterling!" Seraphina's voice exploded. "How long are you going to blow things out of proportion? Are you never going to stop? Are you really threatening me with divorce again?" Her words tumbled out in a furious torrent. "Didn't you hear William? The past few days were the anniversary of his wife and child's death! What's wrong with me taking our son to comfort him? Can't you have a little perspective? I'm not some caged bird you can control!" I pressed my lips together. I was used to this. "I'm not your caged bird!" – that was Seraphina's favorite line. My concern was limiting her freedom. My cautiously offered suggestions were binding her hands and feet. In the past, when she uttered those words, I would immediately begin to reflect. Had I been too controlling? Then, I would humbly apologize, promising to give her all the freedom she desired. But we were husband and wife, living together for seven years. How had concern become a restriction on her freedom? "Seraphina, this time, I'm serious." This time, on a wedding day I had meticulously planned and eagerly anticipated for so long, the bride had simply vanished. When my son was held in another man's arms, and my wife nestled happily by his side, I was truly, irrevocably tired. Perhaps sensing the chill in my voice, Seraphina faltered, her tone softening almost imperceptibly. "Arthur, you're truly overthinking this. The past few days were a difficult time for William. I was worried he might do something drastic, so I took our son to cheer him up. The wedding can be rescheduled anytime. This time, I'll let you decide everything, okay? And as for that social media post, I've already deleted it. It was just a few photos. William is, after all, the baby's godfather; it's perfectly natural to take some family photos. Arthur, why do you have so little empathy?" William Vance. Seraphina's childhood sweetheart. And her first love at sixteen. William's voice, dripping with false humility, drifted from the phone. "Arthur, every mistake, every fault, is mine. Seraphina was only trying to help me. If only you could forgive us, I would crawl on my knees to your house, prostrate myself every three steps, whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness." Crawl on his knees? Prostrate himself every three steps? He had the nerve to say that. I scoffed. "Go on, then. I won't ask for both. Just pick one." My voice was laced with an icy challenge. "You'd better hurry with that apology. The divorce papers will be ready by this afternoon." My words hung in the air, and silence descended on the other end of the line. William had merely been speaking out of habit, never expecting me to take him up on it. He stammered for a moment before Seraphina snatched the phone. "Arthur Sterling! How can you, a grown man, be so petty and shrewish? William only said that to try and smooth things over, and you're wicked enough to demand he actually kneel and apologize? Besides, you should be apologizing! I haven't even brought up your nasty comments under that social media post! Because of your comments, how many people have called me and William these past two days? William was already emotionally fragile, and you just made it worse! And now you have the nerve to bring up divorce? Fine! Divorced it is! Just don't come crying to me later!" A torrent of accusations, and before I could respond, she hung up. 2 Listening to the cold, impersonal "beep… beep…" from the phone, my heart ached with a dull, throbbing pain. Seven years, over two thousand days and nights. All that devotion, so utterly misplaced. How could it not tear me apart? In truth, the sense of superiority Seraphina wielded over me was entirely my own doing. I met her at a university freshman orientation. She was just a freshman, vibrant and beautiful. Countless young men fell at her feet, and I was no exception. I fell in love at first sight and embarked on three years of relentless, almost pathetic pursuit. Rain or shine, I delivered her breakfast every morning. I did everything in my power to solve her problems, big or small. I painstakingly managed to enroll in the same elective courses as her. For three years, Seraphina's string of admirers changed countless times, but I, and only I, remained constant. Yet, she was always hot and cold, making it impossible to decipher her true feelings. As university graduation loomed, I finally decided to end my fervent pursuit. The very next morning, the day after I stopped delivering her breakfast, Seraphina appeared below my dorm window for the first time. In her hand, she held a steaming bag of buns and soy milk. "Arthur, I never said it was over. What right do you have to give up?" That day marked the beginning of our relationship. It also completely derailed the life my family had meticulously planned for me. I didn't return to the capital to take over my father's company. Instead, I willingly stayed in her sleepy, provincial hometown with her. And because she said she couldn't bear to leave her parents, I, without a single complaint, moved in with them, becoming a live-in partner. For seven years, the four of us lived in a cramped, rundown apartment. My family pleaded with me countless times. Born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I could have enjoyed a life of immense privilege without lifting a finger. Why choose such hardship? But she was Seraphina. The girl I had fallen in love with at first sight. The woman I wanted to protect with my very life. Because Seraphina claimed to suffer from severe commitment anxiety, we never formally had a wedding. "Arthur, I'm so sorry. I truly want to build a home with you, but I'm just so afraid of marriage. I can't get past that hurdle in my heart." Her voice would be soft, filled with remorse. "I'm sorry, I know this isn't fair to you." Seraphina had uttered these words to me countless times over those seven years. And each time, I would simply hold her tightly, my heart filled with nothing but tender pity. "It's alright," I would reassure her. "As long as we're together, what does a wedding matter, even if we never have one?" Back then, I naively believed I was the happiest man on earth. Until William Vance returned from abroad. His wife and child had tragically died in an accident, and he had spent six months recovering in the hospital. After his discharge, he chose to return home, leaving behind the painful memories. That's when Seraphina and he reconnected. Initially, I didn't pay it much mind. But slowly, things began to shift. • "William isn't feeling well these past few days. I'm worried about him, so I won't be coming home tonight." • "It's William's birthday today, and he doesn't have many friends here. I'm going to have dinner with him, so I won't be home for supper." • "William has to travel for work. He's a man, he can't possibly take care of himself properly, so I'm going with him for a few days." Seraphina's visits home became increasingly rare, and her attitude toward me grew colder with each passing day. William's name was constantly on her lips. I wasn't immune to the bitterness. I argued with her, wanting her to keep her distance from him. But the moment I uttered William's name, Seraphina would flare up, pointing a finger at me and screaming: "William and I have been friends since childhood! He's been through so much; what's wrong with me taking care of him a little more now? Arthur, I'm a human being, I have the right to choose my friends! I'm not some caged bird!" And my mother-in-law was always there to chime in. "Arthur, you're just too suspicious. I've watched William grow up; he and Seraphina are like siblings! Besides, William's career is doing so well now; he can truly help Seraphina. Unlike you – worthless and petty-minded! Honestly, if Seraphina had married William back then, her life would be so much better now!" Worthless? Petty-minded? The words cut like ice. Seraphina, for you, I gave up everything. I left my family, rejected a formidable inheritance. If it weren't for you, I would have already taken over my family's company, a multi-millionaire. How could I have ended up like this, serving you and your parents like a mere servant every day? To be ridiculed as worthless just for speaking a few words about another man? What was it all for? It was all because I loved you. Because I loved you, your needs always came first in my heart, surpassing everything else. But time, it seems, truly makes everything fade. Seven years, and Seraphina had forgotten it all, leaving only endless disappointment and relentless criticism for me. But I, too, grew tired. Gradually, I began to accept it all. Between arguing and avoiding, I started choosing the latter. I retreated step by step, enduring in silence. At the beginning of the year, Seraphina became pregnant, and her attitude seemed to shift. She finally suggested we have a wedding. I was overjoyed, ecstatic. Perhaps, I thought, if I just ignored everything, if I was obedient enough, this woman would still be mine. And soon, we would even have our own child. It was only now that I finally realized how wrong I had been. My obedience only made William more brazen, and my standing in Seraphina's heart diminished further and further. So much so that on our wedding day, she abandoned me for William. And then she took our son to pose for "family photos" with another man. I will never forget the helplessness of standing alone in that hotel lobby, the pitying glances of passersby, the shock of seeing Seraphina's social media post. Seraphina, this time, I'm truly letting go. 3 Having decided on divorce, I made a long-overdue call to my parents. "Son, if you've finally come to your senses, come home." My father had his secretary book a flight for me to the capital. I returned home to pack my belongings. As I opened the door, I saw Seraphina sitting on the sofa, holding the baby. "Where have you been? You didn't answer your phone. If you're out of credit, top it up! Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?" Her voice was loud, as if she had come to accuse me. The baby, startled, began to wail. "Weren't you supposed to be with your William? What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice calm. "Arthur Sterling, don't think I don't know what you're thinking!" she retorted. "I explained it to you! The past few days were the anniversary of William's wife and child's death, and he has no family or friends here. What's wrong with me spending a little extra time with him?" She paused, pushing the crying child into my arms. "I'm back to give you the baby. William's not feeling well; I need to take him to the hospital. I don't have time to look after the baby!" Her words were a command. She thrust the wailing child into my arms. I was utterly speechless. Once blinded by love, I now saw her for what she was: utterly shameless. To care for another man, she abandoned her own child, her own family. Seeing my silence, she furrowed her brows, a hint of impatience in her voice. "Hurry up! Can't you see the baby's crying? Go check if he's wet! After you change his diaper, make a pork rib soup for William. He likes it tender, so remember to simmer it for a long time. I'll take it to the hospital with me later!" Despite my extreme disappointment in Seraphina, hearing those words from her lips still brought a pang of bitterness to my heart. For seven years, I had pampered her like a queen. I handled all the housework; she never stepped foot in the kitchen. Even just a few days ago, when I fell down the stairs and injured my leg, she had demanded, "Arthur, I want braised pork hock! Go make it for me now!" And when I tried to explain my injury, "You hurt your leg, not your hand! Hurry, hurry, I want it now!" With my leg in a cast, I was still cooking for her. Back then, I was so naive. I thought Seraphina was simply spoiled by me, incapable of caring for others. But now, I knew. It wasn't that she couldn't care; it was that I simply wasn't the one she wanted to care for. My eyes welled up, tears threatening to spill. Seeing my emotional state, Seraphina, who had been so arrogant moments ago, panicked slightly, her tone softening unconsciously. "Arthur, I know I stood you up on our wedding day, and that was wrong. If you're upset about it, I apologize." She sighed, feigning helplessness. "But you know, I truly had an unavoidable reason that day. Look, to make it up to you, for the rescheduled wedding, I'll let you decide everything. Didn't you want a destination wedding on an island? Then we'll go! We have a child now, how can we keep talking about breaking up? Alright, let's just move past this. Now, go make that pork rib soup." Seeing my lack of response, Seraphina was about to continue when her phone rang. "William? What? You're having an allergic reaction?" Her voice was laced with urgent concern. "Don't worry, I'm coming right away. Ten minutes. Just wait for me, okay?" After hanging up, her expression clearly showed her distress, and her voice became impatient. "Arthur, this is the last time I'm going to humor you. Don't be ungrateful! Are you really faultless? What exactly were you trying to achieve with that comment on my social media post? Don't think I don't know! I haven't even brought up your fault, and you're already throwing a tantrum?" Seeing my continued silence, a truly agitated Seraphina finally couldn't hold back, pointing a furious finger at me and yelling. I looked at the woman before me, a veritable shrew, and calmly stated, "I don't need you to humor me. We're done." Then, holding the baby, I calmly closed the bedroom door. Seraphina was left outside, shouting desperately, "Arthur! You'll regret this!"
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