Chapter 2

The divorce was my idea.

On our wedding anniversary, Vivian showed up uninvited with all our friends to "celebrate" with us.

What was supposed to be my special day turned into a party for everyone else.

During the celebration, Vivian got tipsy and admitted in front of everyone that she had fallen in love with a friend's husband.

Everyone exchanged knowing glances at Derek.

He just smiled helplessly and said, "Cut it out."

I flipped the table right then and there.

Derek handled the situation smoothly, sending everyone away. Afterward, I screamed at him that I wanted a divorce.

He just stared at me coldly for a long time. Then he agreed.

I moved out of his house. He didn't try to stop me. He just smirked coldly: "Thirty days. That should be enough time for you to cool off."

My phone buzzed—my ride was almost here.

"Whatever you say."

I looked at my phone, not wanting to argue with him.

Derek's face darkened, but finally he spoke:

"Get in the car."

"It's Professor Williams's birthday party today. If she sees that we didn't arrive together, she'll start asking questions."

"No need. My ride's already here."

The car had pulled up beside us. I walked straight over and got in.

The moment I closed the door, Derek's car sped past, grazing the exact spot where I had just been standing. The driver jumped in his seat and cursed.

"What the hell is wrong with that guy!"

"Are you okay?"

I shook my head calmly, saying nothing. I just rolled down the window and let the breeze wash over my face.

Suddenly, I remembered—even back when he was too poor to afford a scooter, Derek was like this.

Even with no parents, his faded blue school uniform washed nearly white, his face full of world-weariness—

Nothing could stop him from being the most dazzling presence in any crowd.

Because before he became one of the city's most successful young entrepreneurs, he was a painting prodigy who had amazed countless people.

One year, he nearly missed an important competition because he couldn't afford the entry fee. I gritted my teeth and paid it with my living expenses, then stretched what was left to feed us both.

Until my mother found out.

She humiliated him in front of everyone on the crowded school grounds.

While I was still naively dreaming about his trophy—

He turned in a blank exam paper.

And never picked up a brush again.

He started skipping class, staying out overnight, starting a business with people I'd never met.

When I asked why, he only said he wanted to give me a better life.

He was still gentle and caring, but sometimes it all felt like a long, silent cold war.

Later, when I found out the truth, I had a huge fight with my family.

Out of guilt, I threw myself into supporting his plans for the future.

So when Vivian first promised to look after Derek for me outside of school, I was nothing but grateful.

They started having more and more in common.

At first, I stood between them, arms linked with both, smiling as I brought them closer.

Later, they were the ones with their arms around each other, joking like old buddies, while I stood off to the side, smiling.

Unable to get a word in.

Until that New Year's Eve, when Derek was depressed over a business setback.

I gathered all his friends for a party.

As the countdown began, I finally saw a hint of relief on his face.

"...Three, two, one—zero!"

The moment the fireworks exploded, my smiling eyes went wide with shock.

Vivian had grabbed his tie and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.

All the cheering and noise around me went silent. My racing heart stopped for a beat.

Then came the endless fall.

The woman met my gaze, winked playfully, then kissed my cheek too, completely unfazed.

"Emma, Happy New Year!"

My lips trembled. I didn't know what to say.

I suddenly remembered what a friend had joked about not long ago.

"Emma, I don't know what you're thinking, but honestly, it looks like your boyfriend's fallen in love again."

"I saw them at a bar the other day—they were practically making out."

...

The rumors never stopped. I never believed them.

But looking at Derek's smile, I wasn't sure anymore.

I became suspicious and paranoid.

I started showing up at their gatherings constantly, watching every little detail when they were together.

I'd probe our other friends for their opinions while trying every trick I'd learned from relationship advice accounts to figure out if there was really something between them.

Until one night, I got up and grabbed his phone to check all his social media.

The moment I turned off the screen, I saw his eyes—wide open in the darkness.

In my panic, I accidentally called Vivian.

The call was answered almost instantly. Her sultry voice came through:

"Derek? Did you really put a tracker in my brain or something? I was just lying here thinking about you and couldn't sleep, and then you called. What's up? Were you thinking about me too..."

"Vivian," I suddenly spoke. "Have you no shame?"

Silence on the other end. Before I could say another word—

Derek snatched the phone from my hand.

"Emma, enough is enough. Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough these past few weeks?"

Looking at Derek's furious face, my eyes welled up.

"I'm the one who's embarrassed?"

"One of you is my boyfriend, the other is my best friend—and you two are sneaking around behind my back. Isn't that embarrassing?"

A vein throbbed on Derek's forehead. "Don't you have any judgment of your own? I've been tolerating your nonsense because I thought you'd eventually see reason. But you're still being completely unreasonable!"

Vivian's voice came through the phone, choked with tears.

"Emma, I had no idea you thought of me this way. Maybe you don't realize it, but this is just how we talk to each other. It's all just jokes."

"I know our way of interacting bothers you, but Derek isn't just your boyfriend—he's my friend too. I can't just distance myself from him because of you. I hope you can understand."

"If it really upsets you, I can post something online to clarify that there's nothing between us."

Derek suddenly looked up at me.

"Emma, if you're going to keep making a scene, then let's just break up."