The day my kidney stones flared up, Caleb left me stranded on the expressway. All because his childhood sweetheart called, crying about a broken pipe in her house. I begged him not to leave me there alone, but his face was a mask of cold indifference as he rolled up the window. “Call yourself a cab to the hospital.” By the time the ambulance got me there, I had already passed out from the pain three times. I was admitted, waiting for surgery. I called Caleb over a dozen times; he rejected every single one instantly. Then I saw a post on his sweetheart Anya’s Instagram story. “You mischievous boy… fixing a pipe and you got me all wet…” The picture showed Caleb’s strong, veined hands, gently dabbing a towel on the hem of Anya’s ridiculously short skirt. Later, after I recovered and was discharged, I took a solo trip to the old coastal town of Seacliff Harbor for a week. Suddenly, Caleb, who hadn't contacted me in over ten days, started blowing up my phone like a madman. “Lina, why haven’t you been checking up on me?!” 1 Returning from Seacliff Harbor, I finally answered Caleb’s twenty-eighth call. “Lina, you haven’t been home for days. Where the hell did you go?” The accusation hit me the second I picked up. I didn’t answer, just walked calmly out of the airport terminal. It was rush hour, impossible to get a ride, so I waited by the curb. Eventually, it was Caleb who pulled up to get me. He got out, took my suitcase, and his voice dripped with sarcasm. “You vanished for so long, I almost thought you’d run away for good. But look at you, crawling back like you always do.” He continued, his tone shifting to one of command. “Our IVF appointment is in a few days. The doctor said this cycle is critical. You need to get yourself ready and stop running around.” He said it all while opening the passenger-side door for me. A cloying wave of women's perfume hit me, so thick it made my stomach turn. I never wear perfume. “I’ll sit in the back,” I said, taking two steps back and pulling open the rear door myself. Caleb didn’t say anything. The car filled with a tense silence, so I put on my headphones and disappeared into my music. While we were stopped at a red light, he suddenly spoke. “Why are you sitting back there?” I couldn’t hear him over the music. “What?” Caleb turned to look at me, his eyes sharp. “I remember you used to insist on sitting in the passenger seat.” I remembered. Back then, I was trying to be one of those girls you see online, the cherished ones. I thought the passenger seat was the wife’s throne. I even bought one of those cutesy stickers and put it on the dashboard. Of course, that didn’t stop Caleb from letting his precious Anya sit there behind my back. Three months ago, I’d stumbled upon some dashcam footage Caleb hadn't deleted properly. It was from a night when I was crippled with stomach pain, begging him to take me to the ER. He’d refused me coldly, only to immediately race off to pick up Anya for a concert. In the footage, Anya was in my seat, cooing at him. “Caleb, I haven’t seen you in days. I missed you!” His voice was a soft murmur. “I’m driving, don’t mess around.” “Then pull over for a second!” Soon, the car was parked on the side of the road. I heard the click of unbuckling seatbelts, followed by the soft, breathless sounds of intimacy. Later, I found a used condom under the passenger seat. After that, the seat didn't seem so special anymore. “Lina?” Caleb’s voice pulled me from the memory. He’d parked the car and was staring at me. I took off my headphones and managed a small smile. “It’s nothing. I just realized how childish I was being before.” We arrived at our apartment building. I got out first and went straight to the trunk for my luggage. I’d barely taken a few steps when Caleb called my name, catching up to me. He tossed a wedding ring at me, the metal glinting under the streetlights. “Lina, can you stop being so careless all the time? If you can’t even keep track of a ring, how are you ever going to take care of our child?” I looked at the ring in his hand—a woman’s wedding band, identical to my own. “It’s not mine,” I said flatly. I held up my hand, showing him the ring already secure on my finger. Understanding dawned on Caleb’s face, followed by a flash of panic. He quickly shoved the ring into his pocket. “Oh, right. I gave a ride to someone the other day… a rideshare passenger must have dropped it. I’ll return it to her.” I watched the pathetic display, his acting skills as clumsy as ever. I knew exactly whose ring it was. Anya’s. It was an eight-year-old design, hard to find now. But to keep his little sweetheart happy, Caleb had a perfect replica made, a mirror image of mine. I didn't say another word, just pulled my suitcase and started walking. Caleb hurried after me. “Let me get that.” I glanced at my watch. “We’ve got time this afternoon. Let’s go to the clinic.” If I was going to cancel, I needed to do it in advance. 2 Hearing this, Caleb let out a short, mocking laugh. “The appointment is in three days. What’s the rush?” “Let’s just get it over with. I have things to do later.” He waited for me downstairs, then floored it to the fertility clinic. Walking inside, Caleb scanned the crowded waiting room and frowned. “Lina, can you try to pull it together this time? All these failed IVF rounds… isn’t it obvious the problem is with your body? The doctor said you need to relax. Stop walking around with that long face all the time, it’s not helping you get pregnant…” I looked up at his face, a perfect picture of self-righteous indignation. For eight years of marriage, Caleb had a low sperm count. We tried for years to conceive naturally, but couldn't. IVF was our only option. For me, the egg retrieval process was pure agony. But I endured it gladly, all for the dream of having a child that was ours. Now, none of that mattered anymore. I was about to speak when his phone rang. He answered without hesitation. A sickly-sweet voice purred through the speaker. “Caleeeeb~ My water heater’s broken again. I don’t suppose my favorite Mr. Fix-it has a moment to spare?” A smile touched Caleb’s lips, but it vanished the moment he looked back at me. He hung up, jangling his car keys. His voice was cold and final. “Something urgent came up. We’ll reschedule the IVF.” It wasn’t a discussion. It was a declaration. He was so sure I would just obey, just accept it. “Caleb,” I tried, “it’ll only take ten minutes. It won’t make you late.” He shook my hand off his arm. “The appointment was for three days from now. You’re the one who insisted on coming today. I don’t have time to indulge you!” I watched him walk away without a backward glance and drive off. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. It didn’t matter. I could cancel the appointment on my own. “Excuse me,” I said to the receptionist. “I’d like to cancel the IVF appointment for three days from now. And you can go ahead and close my file, too.” This meant I was giving up on IVF entirely. The receptionist looked up, surprised. “Are you sure? If we close the file, all your previous cycles will have been for nothing.” I nodded. “I’m sure.” After leaving the clinic, I remembered the postnatal care suite I’d pre-booked. I canceled that too. Once all the loose ends were tied, I walked into a bustling hot pot restaurant. Surrounded by the fragrant steam, I started composing a new social media post. My week in Seacliff Harbor had been beautiful. The photos deserved to be shared. I chose nine of the best, arranging them in a grid, and added a single word as the caption: “Fulfilled.” Likes and comments started pouring in, including one from Anya. A few minutes later, she updated her own feed. It was a picture of Caleb’s profile, his face a mask of concentration as he worked. “My childhood hero is always so reliable. All it takes is one call, and he drops everything to come running!” A stream of "OMG goals!" and heart emojis flooded her comments. I casually liked her post, then put my phone down and focused on my meal. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was Caleb. 3 I declined the call. He called back immediately. After this happened several times, I finally answered. “Lina, you went to Seacliff Harbor alone?” His voice was laced with anger. In the background, I could hear the faint sound of running water, like a shower. “We were supposed to go together when I had time, remember? What’s the point of you going on a trip by yourself? We talked about this, we were going to take our first family portrait there after the baby was born…” He droned on and on, and a wave of weariness washed over me. “I just felt like going, so I went,” I said simply. For eight years, I had asked him to take me to Seacliff Harbor. It was my mother’s dying wish for me. But every single time, Caleb had an excuse. “Lina, I’m just too busy right now. We’ll go when things calm down.” “I can’t get away from the office. Maybe in a few weeks.” “Let’s wait until the baby is born, then we’ll all go together.” “I don’t have time!” … By last year, he didn’t even bother making excuses. Just a flat, impatient refusal. I was done waiting. “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up now.” I didn’t wait for a reply. I pressed the red icon and let out a long, slow breath. I felt… free. When I got home that night, the living room lights were on, filled with the sound of a man and a woman laughing. I pushed the door open. The two of them froze and turned to look at me. “Lina, what took you so long?” Caleb asked, standing up to take my coat. There was an edge of annoyance in his voice. My gaze drifted calmly to Anya. “Why did you bring her here?” Anya looked down, feigning shyness. “Oh, Lina, I’m so sorry. I was just in town for a business trip, and Caleb said I could crash here for a night. You don’t mind, do you?” Caleb glanced at her, then frowned at me. “Lina, if you mind, I’ll get her a hotel room.” “I don’t mind.” Their eyes both widened in disbelief. “Really?” I smiled. “You two are childhood sweethearts. You’ve been inseparable since you were kids. Why would I mind?” With that, I turned and walked toward the study. “Lina,” Caleb called from behind me. I didn’t stop. I just closed the study door behind me. I focused on my laptop, losing track of time until Caleb knocked for the fifth time. “Lina, are you really not angry?” Every other time he’d tried to have Anya stay over, it had ended in a massive fight. I’d accuse him of having no boundaries; he’d call me jealous and unreasonable. We’d go in circles, and it would end with us sleeping in separate rooms. My calm acceptance was clearly unnerving him. He kept asking, probing, making sure I wasn't upset. I couldn't help but laugh. "Caleb, I told you, I really don't mind. What are you so worried about? You two could sleep in the same bed, and I wouldn't think twice." He studied my face, searching for any sign of anger. Finding none, he finally let out a long sigh of relief. “Okay, good. She’s only staying one night. She’ll be gone tomorrow.” 4 The sound of the shower started up in the bathroom. “Caleb, can you bring me a towel!” Anya’s syrupy voice called out. “Coming!” he answered, without a hint of irritation. He grabbed a spare towel and took it to her. “Be careful, the floor’s wet. I don’t want you to slip.” His voice was impossibly gentle. I thought about the times I’d forgotten a towel and asked for his help. He’d always snap, “Can’t you do one simple thing right? What are you good for?” I finally understood. It was never about what was done wrong. It was about who was doing it. At ten, Caleb knocked on the study door again. “When are you coming to bed?” I didn’t even look up from my screen. “You go ahead. I’m sleeping in here tonight.” The apartment soon fell silent. I don’t remember when I fell asleep. When I woke up again, it was three in the morning. I was about to get up for a glass of water when I heard hushed voices coming from the master bedroom. “Caleb, don’t you think this is… exciting?” A low grunt from Caleb, then his strained voice. “Don’t. My wife’s right in the study. It’ll be a mess if she finds out.” Anya persisted for a while longer. Finally, Caleb relented with a sigh. “Fine, fine. I’ll tell her I’m working late tomorrow night. I’ll spend the whole night with you then.” I let out a derisive snort and shut my laptop. The next morning, I went to the office early. By the time Caleb’s call came through, I had already submitted the resignation letter I’d written the night before. My boss was stunned. “Lina, you’re at a crucial point in your career. Why resign now? Is there a problem? Maybe I can help.” I thanked him for his kindness but just smiled. “I’m just ready to try living in a different city.” He sighed, but didn’t press. He approved my resignation quickly. Caleb, of course, knew none of this. He had just woken up, his voice thick with sleep when he called. “Hey, babe. Want me to get you some breakfast?” “I’ve already eaten,” I said coolly. In the first few years of our marriage, Caleb always bought me breakfast. Adorable bento boxes, things he’d clearly put a lot of thought into. But then came the day I took a bite of a crab roe bun he’d brought home. His face had instantly turned to stone. “Are you that greedy? That was for a client!” He’d screamed the ugliest things at me. But I knew it wasn't for a client. It was for Anya. She’d posted on Instagram about craving crab roe buns, and he, as always, had rushed to grant her every little wish. Caleb was silent on the phone for a long moment. “Okay… well, wait for me at home tonight. I’ll come back early and cook for you.” We had to get divorced sooner or later. I had just printed the divorce papers. “Okay,” I agreed easily. 5 So that’s why Caleb was so insistent on cooking dinner. He wanted something from me. “Honey, Anya’s been a huge help to the company lately. She doesn’t want much, just five percent of the company’s shares.” He said this as he placed the last dish on the table. A full, fragrant feast was spread before us. But his words left a bitter taste in my mouth, and my appetite vanished. I put down my chopsticks. “Alright,” I said with a small laugh. I went to the study to print out the share transfer agreement. When I came back, Caleb was still staring at me, dumbfounded. “Honey, you… you agreed?” He couldn’t believe it. In the past, anything involving Anya would have triggered a week-long war. But now, all I felt was a placid calm. I was leaving this city, leaving this life. None of it mattered anymore. It had nothing to do with me. “I’ve already signed my part. You’re the CEO, you just need to sign in three places.” He didn’t even bother to read it. He just grabbed a pen, scrawled his name, and handed the papers back to me. His whole demeanor softened. He even got up to ladle some soup into my bowl. “You know, you’ve been so much gentler lately. When we have our baby, our family is going to be so happy…” I didn’t reply. I just sipped my soup, thinking to myself: There is no ‘we’ anymore. Caleb left early the next morning. I’d seen his texts the night before; he wouldn’t be back for several days. Anya was dragging him on a trip, demanding his full attention to tour her new “office” and then get away for a bit. It would probably take a while. It was the perfect window. I called a real estate agent and listed the apartment for sale. This apartment, the one we lived in, was something I’d bought outright with five years of my own savings. It was meant to be my pre-marital asset, my safety net. But back then, Caleb was broke, couldn’t even afford his own rent. He just moved in with me. Over the years, as his company grew, he never mentioned moving. Whenever I brought it up, he’d just smile and say, “We’ve built so many memories here. Let’s just call it our marital home.” He promised to give me all the money he earned. And for the first few years, he did. Then it trickled down to just company dividends. Then I found out that when Anya moved to the city and needed a place to live, Caleb had bought her a two-story penthouse duplex. It was worth ten times what my apartment was. Since I was leaving, it was time to sell my property. The apartment was in a great location with excellent amenities. I priced it to sell, and it was gone in three days. After that, I sold off the rest of my shares in Caleb’s company and transferred half of our joint marital assets into my account. And then, I left the city for good. A week later, Caleb returned from his trip with Anya. On the way home, he stopped at a luxury mall and bought an expensive Chanel handbag. Anya beamed as he emerged with the box. “How did you know this was the exact one I’ve been wanting?” Caleb pulled the bag back protectively. “It’s not for you.” The smile froze on her face. A flicker of tenderness crossed Caleb’s features as he thought of me. “It’s for my wife. She’s been so gentle and understanding lately. No crying, no fighting… she’s given me everything I’ve asked for. She’s wanted this bag for ages. Think of it as a little reward.” But when he got home, swinging the shopping bag with a smug smile, his key wouldn’t turn in the lock. He frowned and knocked. “Lina?” The door swung open. Caleb lifted the bag, ready to present his surprise, but his expression soured in an instant. A burly man stood in the doorway, a cigarette dangling from his lips, looking him up and down. “Who the hell are you?”
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