I couldn’t blame her disbelief. After all, we had been together for seven years, and I had been proposing to her six times until she agreed.

Marriage had seemed like my obsession.

I opened my mouth to say something more, but before I could, I heard Ayden's voice on the other end of the call.

"Valerie, did you tell him you wanted to get married?"

Valerie quickly denied it.

"No, no! I’d never marry him."

The next moment, the call ended, leaving me cast aside like nothing.

Suddenly, rain poured down, drenching me completely.

The cold water snapped me awake.

My obsession with marriage had finally turned to nothingness.

When I returned home, I found myself feverish, with my throat burning as if on fire.

I took some medicine and fell into a hazy sleep.

In my daze, I seemed to see Valerie.

She gently touched my cheek, her expression completely different from the anger she had shown at the wedding.

When I sat up, she handed me a bag of luxury goods.

"Even though the wedding didn’t happen, you should still have a ring."

I opened the bag to find the receipt still inside—it was newly purchased.

So, she had never planned anything for the wedding beforehand.

I took the ring and slid it onto my finger.

Then, I raised my hand in front of her.

With a slight tilt, the ring slipped off my finger and fell lightly to the ground.

"Is this Ayden's size?" I asked, staring at her without a change in my expression.

When she heard what I said, a flicker of unease crossed Valerie's face.

Then, as if trying to cover her tracks, she retorted, "Maybe the designer got the size I mentioned wrong. I'll have it redone."

Clicking my tongue, I replied casually, "No need."

It no longer mattered.

Seeing my indifferent attitude, her brows furrowed tightly.

"Minton, how much longer are you going to act like this?" she snapped.

"I was trying to have a civil discussion with you, but look at your pathetic attitude."

"Let me inform you now: because of his health, Ayden will be staying at our house."

Apparently, her rambling had only one purpose—to make Ayden's stay in our marital home.

I didn’t want to argue anymore. After a nod, I turned and went to my room.

Seeing my silence, she assumed I had given in.

She muttered under her breath as I walked away, "Good thing I was smart enough not to put your name on the property deed. Otherwise, who knows how messy this would get."

Later that night, as Valerie lay beside me, Ayden called.