Chapter 1

Just because my best friend’s ginger cat was hopelessly clingy toward my husband, I decided to divorce him.

That cat only ever let my husband get close.

Because of that cat, he missed our ninety-ninth date.

Even when I passed out from the excruciating pain of IVF hormone injections, he was still by that ginger cat's side.

Until one afternoon, while cleaning out an old phone of his,

I stumbled upon an album containing over three thousand photos.

Not a single one was of a ginger cat.

Instead, they were all of a child.

A photo for every single month, from birth to the present.

One hundred days old, first birthday, taking his first steps, saying "Daddy" for the first time.

And the geotag on every single picture pointed straight to my best friend Rachel’s apartment.

He hadn’t been taking care of a sick cat.

He had been playing daddy to his biological son.

Swallowing the rising nausea, I backed up every single file and immediately dialed my attorney.

"Please draft a divorce agreement for me. As soon as possible."

I turned around and saw the "Conception Diet Plan" that Rachel had dropped off just last week sitting on the counter.

I still remembered what she’d said back then: "I tested this routine myself, Grace! It’s guaranteed to get you pregnant."

Turns out, she and my husband, Brandon, had already put that routine to the test together.

Sickened to my core, I swept the notebook straight into the trash can.

Then, I called Brandon. "If you’re not back home in thirty minutes, we’re getting a divorce."

When Brandon pushed the front door open, he found me sitting alone on the couch, staring into space.

"Why are the lights off? And what was that crazy talk on the phone?"

"You know I just ran over to Rachel's."

"Her cat has diarrhea, and she couldn't handle him on her own. I just helped her feed him some medicine."

I placed his old phone face down on the coffee table, forcing my raging emotions down.

He walked closer, his eyes still brimming with what looked like pure, earnest devotion.

"That little orange ball is way too clingy. He wouldn't stop wrapping himself around my leg."

"On my way back, I made a detour downtown and grabbed your favorite dumplings from that spot you love."

I stared at the steaming thermal container on the table, not making a move.

"Is it really just a ginger cat?"

"What does that cat even look like, Brandon?"

Brandon turned to face me, his gaze entirely open and innocent, yet completely empty of any proof.

"Just an ordinary ginger cat. Chubby, super greedy."

"I'll snap a picture for you next time. You'll think he's adorable."

"Are you seriously getting jealous over a cat?"

He stepped closer and reached out habitually to ruffle my hair.

I tilted my head, pulling away from his touch.

His hand froze in midair before he smoothly pulled it back.

"What’s wrong? Bad mood today?"

He asked softly, his brows knitting together in slight concern.

Chattering away with gentle nagging, he popped open the thermal container.

The savory aroma of pan-fried dumplings wafted through the room—my absolute favorite from the old days.

Yet the realization that this man, who showered me with endless tenderness, kept an entire family on the side...

That he hid behind every pitiful excuse imaginable... made my stomach violently churn.

He handed me a fork.

"Eat up while it's hot. I stood in line for half an hour to get these."

I took the fork and prodded the dumpling, leaving it untouched.

"Brandon, do you remember where you were on our third wedding anniversary?"

He blinked, clearly not expecting the question.

"There was an emergency board meeting at the office. I explained that to you, didn't I?"

"I made it up to you that weekend anyway, and I even bought you that designer necklace."

On that very day, Rachel had posted an update on her Ins.

"Celebrating my little ginger kitten's first birthday all by myself."

"It’s exhausting, but life always deserves a little celebration."

Back then, I had even left a comment underneath.

"Take good care of yourself! If you ever need a hand, just let me and Brandon know."

Looking back now, a wave of sickening dread washed over me.

"Never mind," I said, putting down the fork and locking eyes with him.

"I just remembered... Rachel's ginger cat celebrated his first birthday that exact same day. What a crazy coincidence."

A flicker of guilt flashed through Brandon’s eyes. He quickly masked it by picking up a dumpling, his smile effortlessly nonchalant.

"Really? Wow, that is a coincidence."

"I want a divorce, Brandon."

With that, I turned on my heel, walked into the bedroom, and slammed the door shut.

Outside, his heavy, exasperated sigh filtered through the wood.

"You're always doing this—throwing tantrums over nothing! I already explained everything. I was literally just checking on a cat! What more do you want from me?"

"I'm exhausted from work. Can you cut me some slack for once?"

I leaned my back against the door, listening to his retreating footsteps.

Suddenly, unbidden memories of the old Brandon flashed through my mind.

Once upon a time, Brandon truly had loved me with everything he had. Back when his startup was just getting off the ground,

he flipped a dining table on an investor who dared to disrespect me.

On our wedding day, he handed a top-tier life insurance policy directly into the hands of the elderly orphanage director.

My name was printed clearly under the sole beneficiary column.

He had knelt straight down in the dirt courtyard, swearing a solemn vow.

"Don't worry, Director. Grace is my life from this day forward."

"Even if the sky falls down, I'll throw my own body underneath to cushion hers. I won't ever let her suffer a single grievance!"

That devotion was witnessed by everyone we knew.

Everyone believed that an orphan girl had finally found the safest harbor in the world.

Those resonant vows still echoed clearly in my ears.

Yet the man who spoke them had long since rotted from the inside out.

I let out a ragged breath and booked my ticket out of town.