That night, the local news ran an entire segment about him.
"In a furious display of devotion to his beloved, the President of Lopez Corporation urgently dispatched a helicopter to summon the nation's top medical experts—all for the sake of treating a mere minor wound."
I silently took out some disinfectant and hemostatic powder, treating my injuries with the bare minimum of care.
The next day, Samuel still didn’t come home.
I packed up everything I owned and donated it all. Then, I took our marriage certificate—the one I had once cherished so deeply—and tore it into pieces, throwing it into the trash.
On the third day, just past noon, Samuel texted me.
[Lydia, I just finished my work. I’m heading to the hotel to check the venue setup. My assistant will pick you up this afternoon.]
But in reality, at that very moment—he was walking through a high-end shopping mall, holding Xandra’s hand while Apollo was cradled in his arms, as they swept through luxury jewelry stores together.
All around them, envious eyes followed their every move.
"Mr. Lopez truly adores his wife and child. My sales performance for the next twenty years is basically set! This family of three is just too picture-perfect."
"But I heard Mr. Lopez booked the lowest-tier banquet at the hotel today. Supposedly, it's to celebrate his wife's childbirth."
"You must be mistaken. With the way Mr. Lopez spoils his wife, would he really go for something so cheap? Did you see the necklace around Madam Lopez’s neck? He just bought it for her this morning—its price could cover ten banquets!"
I heard every word.
Standing on the upper floor, having just bought a suitcase, I watched them, my heart completely numb.
I didn’t bother replying to his messages. Instead, I took out the divorce papers and a few other documents, arranging for a local courier to deliver them straight to the banquet.
Once everything was set, I put on my sunglasses and headed straight for the airport.
—
A few hours later, Samuel finally finished his shopping spree with Xandra and Apollo. They arrived at the hotel, expecting a grand celebration.
But instead, they were told—Lydia hadn’t shown up.
Samuel glanced at his watch. It had already been over an hour past the agreed time. A strange feeling crept into his heart. After all, Lydia had never been late for any of their meetings.