Chapter 1

My wife’s first love was critically ill and posted a single word on his Instagram Story: “Goodbye.”

Claire, who was always so composed, completely lost her mind. She abandoned me while I was burning with a high fever and ran straight to his bedside.

I was shivering violently, coughing until my lungs burned, spitting up streaks of blood.

She didn't care. Instead, with tear-stained eyes, she begged me:

"Ethan, Julian is dying. His final wish is to marry me. Can we just get a fake divorce for a little while? Please?"

"I swear, as soon as he passes away, we’ll remarry immediately. We’ll spend the rest of our lives together, okay?"

Looking at her, every ounce of warmth in my heart turned to ash. I gave a slow nod.

What she didn't know was that my mentor had been urging me for months to join a top-secret Antarctic deep-research expedition.

The moment our divorce was finalized, I officially signed the classified contract.

Once I left, I wouldn’t return for twenty years.

Stepping out of City Hall, Claire held our freshly stamped divorce decree with a trembling grip.

"Ethan, the doctors gave Julian only one month to live."

"Just let me stay by his side for this final month. The second it's over, I'll come back and remarry you, alright?"

As she spoke, she pushed a thick folder into my hands.

"I bought this luxury villa for you. Stay there for this month, okay?"

I stared at the deed. My heart didn't even ripple.

She was giving me this villa simply because she was bringing Julian into our home. She didn't want him to feel insecure or jealous if he ran into me.

"No need. I'll find somewhere to crash. It’s only a month anyway."

I shook my head and pushed the deed back toward her.

Claire froze, her eyes brimming with guilt and affection.

"No, Ethan. Even if it’s just for one month, I won’t let the man I love live like that."

"Julian won’t be discharged until tomorrow. Tonight, let me come with you to the villa. Let me make it up to you, please?"

Ignoring my refusal, Claire forced the deed back into my hands.

Her eyes were so soft, almost melting into tears. She reached out, trying to hug me like she always did, but I stepped back, dodging her touch.

Shock washed over her face, and tears welled in her eyes.

"Ethan, you..."

I simply pointed behind her. "Julian is here. If he sees you hugging me, he’s going to get jealous, isn’t he?"

Claire breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Turning around, she frowned at Julian.

"Julian? What are you doing here?"

Julian was wearing a hospital gown, looking frail. But right in front of me, he leaned in and kissed Claire on the cheek.

"Because I couldn’t wait another second to marry you."

Julian cast a mocking, triumphant glance at me, but his voice sounded so humble and sweet:

"Ethan, thank you. Thank you for letting me spend my final days with Claire."

When Claire first demanded a divorce for Julian’s sake, I had already asked a friend at the hospital to pull his medical charts.

His scans were clean. He was never sick.

That was the moment I realized—his illness was just a convenient excuse for Claire to let me go.

A bitter smile touched my lips, while the sorrow in my chest threatened to drown me.

Claire, determined to play her part, shoved Julian back with genuine annoyance.

"Didn't I tell you to wait for me at home? We were supposed to file our papers tomorrow!"

"You know today is the day Ethan and I divorced. I promised to spend it with him!"

Julian’s eyes flashed with resentment. He clutched his chest, putting on a pitiful, wounded act.

"I tried to wait... but the pain was unbearable. I was terrified I’d die before I got to call you my wife."

Tears trickled down his cheeks as he turned to me. "If Ethan has a problem with it, I’ll just leave. Don’t worry about me. I can handle dying alone."

Claire immediately shot me an uncomfortable, hesitant look. Her lips parted, wanting to say something, but holding back.

I knew that look. She was waiting for me to step aside.

In the past, giving in had been second nature. Now, it felt like swallowing glass.

I drew in a deep breath, burying the agony deep within me. "Go ahead."

Relief instantly washed over Claire's face, replaced by a radiant smile.

As if to compensate for her guilt, she grabbed my arm.

"Ethan, haven't you always wanted that Rolex Daytona?"

"I just wired two million dollars into your account. Buy whatever you want. I’m so sorry, baby. Just wait for me for one month, okay? Just one month."

With that, she turned and walked into City Hall hand-in-hand with Julian.

I watched her retreating back, the divorce papers heavy in my hands. A cold ache spread through my chest.

Claire, is it really just one month?

After this month, won't there be another?

This wasn't the first time she had lied to me.

A month ago, on our seventh wedding anniversary, she swore she would clear her schedule to celebrate with me.

I woke up at three in the morning to hit the local market for the freshest ingredients.

I spent months of my hard-earned savings to buy her a custom diamond-pendant necklace.

Just as I finished setting up our candlelit dinner, she texted me claiming she was stuck working late at the office.

An hour later, I saw Julian’s Instagram Story. Claire was at a VIP club, raising a champagne glass to celebrate his birthday.

So this time was just another lie.

Except I wasn't going to give her the chance to lie to me ever again.

I lowered my head and texted my mentor.

I accept the classified Antarctic expedition starting in one month.

Even if it means I won't return for twenty years.

The woman I loved had already abandoned me. It was time to go somewhere she could never find me.

As I turned to leave, Claire suddenly ran out from the building and threw her arms around me.

My instinct was to push her away, but I held back.

"Ethan, please wait for me at the villa tonight, okay? I have so much to tell you."

"I know I’ve hurt you. When this month is over, I promise I’ll give you the grandest surprise of your life."

I masked the sorrow in my eyes, giving a faint nod. "Alright. I'll wait."

I went back to our penthouse to pack my belongings for Antarctica. Over the years, she had given me plenty of gifts, and I had cherished every single one.

Yet, the moment I reached the front door, I ran straight into Claire and Julian.

Claire was wearing a pristine white wedding gown, smiling brightly as she held Julian’s hand like a radiant newlywed.

In Julian's hand was their brand-new marriage certificate.

"Are you two... heading out for wedding photos?"

I remembered the day we got married. She had sworn that I would be the only man she ever wore white for.

Now, that vow was shattered. She was wearing that white dress for Julian.

My heart stung sharply.

The smile on Claire's face froze the moment she saw me.

Afraid of making Julian jealous, she stammered, "E-Ethan? Why are you here?"

Right. This was their home now. Why was I here?

I looked down with a self-deprecating smirk. "Just grabbing my things."

I walked inside.

In the hallway, I froze. My prestigious Rising Star in Science trophy—the highest honor of my early career—had been tossed callously into the trash can.

My hands shook as I pulled it out.

She knew better than anyone how much this meant to me. It was the award I had poured blood, sweat, and sleepless nights into winning.

And she threw it away like garbage?

Claire walked in behind me, her voice impatient.

"Ethan, didn't I send you money? Just buy new stuff. It was time to toss out all that old junk anyway. Julian and I have a photo shoot booked, so can you please..."

Before she could finish, I cut her off.

"It's not junk."

Claire seemed to have forgotten.

This trophy was the witness of our love.

The night I won it was the night I proposed to her.

Without this academic prestige, her elite family would have never allowed her to marry a "nobody" like me.

She knew what this trophy represented. She used to dust it off personally every single morning.

And now, she had tossed it into the trash. Just like our marriage.

Every remaining spark of love in my chest died. Without looking back, I offered a hollow blessing: "Congratulations on your wedding."

Then, I walked away.