"Kate, you look beautiful today. Even the most beautiful flowers pale in comparison to you.
"I personally picked these roses. Happy Valentine's Day!"
Kate glanced at me nonchalantly, then took the roses and said thank you.
My gaze grew even colder.
Peter smiled slightly. "Tobias, don't misunderstand. When I was young, I used to give Kate roses every Valentine's Day. It's a habit.
"Only those years abroad I didn't give them."
Kate snorted. "No need to explain to him. He's just a blockhead."
Peter looked surprised. "What's wrong, Kate? Did you argue with Tobias?"
"No. He just mentioned divorce," Kate said resentfully, "All because of that bracelet you gave me."
Peter turned his gaze to me, his eyes full of meaning.
"I'm sorry, Tobias. I originally bought that bracelet for my girlfriend.
"But she broke up with me the day before yesterday. Since I had already bought it, I didn't want to waste it, so I gave it to Kate.
"I didn't expect it to cause trouble for you. I'm really sorry."
Looking at his "sincere" face, I showed no expression and turned to leave.
"Hey, Tobias, I'm telling the truth. Don't misunderstand!"
"Enough, Peter. Tobias won't listen right now. Let him be."
...
In the following days, Kate ignored me.
She didn't speak to me proactively. Every time I brought up divorce, she only responded with rolled eyes and indifference.
Over the years of our marriage, we had cold wars a few times due to conflicts.
Under my mother's persuasion, I always chose to compromise, thinking of various ways to please Kate, and then we would reconcile.
This time, my mother is no longer around.
And I have no intention of going back to my old ways of being a pushover. I'm determined to divorce her.
One afternoon, while I was working, the female supervisor came over and asked me to help move some things in Peter's office.
Peter got promoted to general manager after his business trip. His new office happens to be next to Kate's.
The female supervisor was recruited by Peter and was a real sycophant, often giving me a hard time over trivial matters.
I refused, saying I had a back injury and couldn't do heavy lifting.
Her face immediately darkened. "Tobias, I'm ordering you, not asking you.
"A grown man can't even move a few things? Who are you fooling?
"I think you're just being lazy!"
Her voice was loud, drawing the attention of everyone in the office, and whispers began to fill the air.