空想

For years, Emily endured Mark's indifference with a smile. She loved him deeply, believing that one day, her devotion would melt his cold heart.

But instead of warmth, she got betrayal.

Mark fell for another woman-instantly, completely-and suddenly, the man who couldn't spare five minutes for his wife was bending over backward for her. Emily held on, clinging to the wreckage of their marriage, until the day she flew across the country to surprise him and their daughter, Lily, on her birthday-only to find them both gone, off playing happy family with her.

And when Lily-her Lily, the child she had raised with every ounce of love she had-looked up at her and asked, "Can't Kate be my mom instead?"-something inside Emily finally broke.

She stopped waiting.

She stopped caring.

She filed for divorce, walked away without a fight, and left them behind without a second glance.

And then-then-Mark suddenly realized what he'd lost.

Now the man who never came home is always home. The man who couldn't be bothered to remember her birthday is suddenly desperate to keep her. And when she tells him she's done?

He pins her against the wall, his voice rough with something she's never heard from him before-panic.

"Divorce?" he growls. "Not a chance."

Too late, Mark.

Emily isn't waiting anymore.