Chapter 1

My wife casually gave the keepsake I had worn for ten full years after my father’s death to her male best friend, who had just returned from overseas.

She said, “It’s just a cheap little peach-wood charm. Ryan’s been having terrible luck lately. What’s wrong with letting him wear it for a few days to ward off evil?”

My son applauded beside her. “Dad’s the cheapest-looking one anyway. It looks much better on Uncle Ryan!”

My mother-in-law rolled her eyes. “It belonged to a dead man. Giving it away is practically inviting bad luck.”

As I looked at the provocative smile on her male best friend’s face, I did not endure it silently as I usually did.

I grabbed the red cord around his neck and tore it apart, then looked coldly at Chloe.

“We’re getting divorced. You’re leaving with nothing.”

The red cord had cut into my palm until it bled.

My father’s name was still carved into the peach-wood charm.

Chloe frowned and reached out to snatch it from me.

“Ethan, what the hell is wrong with you?”

“Ryan just got discharged after a car accident. What’s wrong with him wearing a peach-wood charm to ward off evil?”

Her voice was filled with impatience.

Ryan coughed weakly twice beside her.

“Chloe, forget it. Ethan probably thinks I’m not worthy of wearing this charm.”

“I should leave. I don’t want to affect your marriage.”

He pretended to stand, but his body went limp and fell toward Chloe.

She hurriedly caught him, then turned and glared fiercely at me.

“Ethan, look at how petty you’re being!”

“It’s just a cheap trinket from a street stall. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?”

I looked at their bodies pressed tightly together.

At that moment, the part of me blinded by love finally died for good.

“Chloe, this belonged to my father.”

My voice held no warmth.

“I know.”

Chloe answered as if it were perfectly obvious.

“But is something that belonged to a dead person more important than a living person’s life?”

“If something happens to Ryan, can you afford to take responsibility?”

I laughed so hard that tears nearly came to my eyes.

My son, Tommy, ran over and threw an Ultraman card at me.

“Bad Daddy! You’re not allowed to take Uncle Ryan’s things!”

“Uncle Ryan is my real dad. You’re a horrible person!”

I looked at the child I had personally raised for five years.

Every piece of clothing he wore and everything he used had been bought with money I earned from working side jobs.

Yet Ryan was the only person he could see.

My mother-in-law, Diane, sat on the sofa cracking sunflower seeds and let out a cold snort.

“Tommy’s right. You’re stingy every single day. You can’t even bear to give up a wooden charm.”

“I honestly don’t know what Chloe ever saw in a penniless loser like you.”

I took a deep breath and put the protective wooden charm into my pocket.

“Chloe, I’ll send you the divorce papers tomorrow.”

The entire living room instantly fell silent.

Chloe froze for a moment, then sneered.

“Ethan, are you trying that trick again?”

“You’ve played hard-to-get so many times that you’ve turned yourself into a clown.”

She did not believe me at all.

For the past five years, I had given up my right to inherit the Hart Group and willingly become a househusband for her.

In her eyes, I would starve to death on the street the moment I left her.

“I’m serious.”

I turned and walked into the bedroom to pack my things.

I actually owned very little.

A few clothes washed pale from years of wear, and the old watch my father had given me when I got married.

I did not know when Ryan had entered the room.

He leaned against the doorframe, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand.

“Ethan, stop pretending.”

“You really think you can leave?”

“Chloe is now the general manager of the Bennett Group. Once you leave, you won’t even have a hot meal to eat.”

His face was full of smug satisfaction.

I ignored him and continued pulling the zipper on my suitcase closed.

Ryan moved closer and lowered his voice.

“To tell you the truth, Chloe slept at my place last night.”

“She said you’re as dull as a piece of wood and have absolutely no sense of romance.”

“You’ve lived like a widower for five years. How does it feel?”

I stopped what I was doing and looked at him coldly.

“Ryan, do you know how to spell the word ‘idiot’?”

His expression changed.

I punched him directly in the face.

“Bang!”

Ryan fell to the floor, spilling red wine all over himself.

“Ah! Murder!”

He clutched his face and screamed.

Chloe and her mother immediately rushed in.

“Ethan! Have you lost your mind?”

Chloe screamed as she threw herself toward Ryan, her eyes full of concern.

“Ryan, are you okay?”

Ryan covered his face and began to sob.

“Chloe, don’t blame Ethan. I just lost my balance.”

“He’s probably only jealous of me.”

Diane pointed at my nose and launched into a furious tirade.

“You good-for-nothing piece of trash! How dare you hit someone in our home!”

“Get out! We don’t have a violent maniac like you in this family!”

I picked up my suitcase and walked around them.

“You don’t need to rush me. I’m leaving right now.”