I stared at the screen, the bitterness in my chest threatening to spill over.

I loved shrimp, too. But every time I asked Asher to peel them for me, he’d brush me off, saying he was not good at it and would ask the housekeeper to do it instead.

Now, he peeled shrimp for Nora with his own hands—so many of them and so effortlessly.

If it had been the old me, I would have called him immediately, demanding an explanation. But now, even as the ache in my heart grew unbearable, I will not ask.

***

I thought back to the past, to when my parents were imprisoned. The whole internet had turned against me, dragging my name through the mud.

Back then, it was Asher who stood up for me.

At that time, he insisted that the Rose family help the Wilson Family, which has a very good relationship with him, to accept me as an adopted daughter.

As a result, he was locked up and beaten a few times by his father and when he was lying in the hospital for treatment, he touched my head and held my hand, smiling weakly, ‘It is okay now Emily. No one will bully you anymore’, he said.

Because of him, the Rose family took me in as their foster daughter. I changed my name to Lily Rose and became Asher’s fiancée. He even helped me step into the entertainment industry, where I finally began living out my dreams.

For a time, He had pulled me out of hell and had given me genuine happiness.

But after his betrayal, I swallowed my pride, enduring it silently, hoping in vain that the man I loved would come back to me.

Now, I no longer wanted anything from him—his love, his promises, or the life we built together. I just want to make a clean break with him completely, move out of here and discard the things he gave me.

When Asher saw that I didn't show up at the theater set the next day, he called to ask, "Why didn’t you come to the set today? Still sulking?"

I kept my voice calm. "I am not sulking. I have thought it through."

He chuckled softly, his tone carrying a smug edge.

"Lily, if you had been this obedient from the start, we would not have all these problems."

"I told you I would not let anyone hurt you. I will keep my word," Asher said, his voice low and sharp. "But if you keep acting out, I will make sure you lose what you care about most."

I stayed silent for a moment, holding back my emotions. Then, with a steady voice, I replied, "I will bring the divorce papers to the set. Don’t forget to sign them."