I was in the hospital for my stomach problems, watching the live broadcast of my wife, Ava, winning the Breakthrough Artist Award on the TV.

She was all smiles, talking about thanking the most important person in her journey.

But there wasn't a single mention of me.

The camera panned to the audience, focusing on Ava's childhood friend, Liam.

A reporter asked what their relationship was.

They stood silent.

But the identical rings on their clasped hands sent the reporters into a frenzy of flashes.

Finally, under the gaze of thousands, they shared an intimate, passionate kiss.

I chuckled softly and typed a comment on the live stream.

Wishing you happiness.

1

A sharp sting on my hand made me frown. The nurse was staring intently at my phone, only realizing I was looking when she flinched and hastily tended to my IV drip.

"You're a fan of them too! I absolutely love their CP! They're such a rare real couple in show business!"

The nurse chattered excitedly, pulling out her own phone to show me fan edits of Ava and Liam, the screen filled with well wishes that made my eyes ache.

I scrolled through them, my heart aching too.

January 20th, my birthday. Ava said she had work at the studio and couldn't come home. Instead, she decorated an entire beach with flowers for Liam.

March 16th, our wedding anniversary. Ava said she had a tight schedule. But she was photographed embracing Liam on a beach in Miami.

June 5th, Ava's birthday. I cooked a huge dinner. By the time the food went cold, she and Liam were sharing smiles in a recording studio.

Every time she was absent from my life, she was present somewhere else, with him.

The ache in my chest intensified, mirroring the churning pain in my stomach. My finger slipped, and the tablet screen landed on a reality show.

It was a couples' show. When the invitation first came, I'd worked overtime for a month straight just to clear my schedule so Ava and I could participate.

But Ava dismissed it, saying it was boring, that her career was taking off, and appearing on it wouldn't be good for her image.

So I had to drop it. During that month of overtime, I saw the city skyline at 4 AM more times than I could count.

But home was always dark, just me, alone, lonely.

Yet, on that show, Ava had her arms wrapped around Liam's neck, laughing loudly, saying, "Of course, you have to leave a light on for the one you love when they come home."

I took a deep breath, feeling the sharp pain in my gut, and sent Ava a text:

"Let's get a divorce."

On the live broadcast, Ava's assistant quickly handed her the phone.

2: Dreams of the Past

Ava frowned as she opened the message, her brow furrowing. She muttered under her breath, "Damn it," then shut off the phone and tossed it back to her assistant.

She seamlessly returned to the live broadcast, smiling sweetly as she held onto Liam's arm.

A curious reporter asked, "Ava, who was that message from? You didn't look too happy."

Ava's expression froze for a second, then she shook her head with a troubled look. "Just some overly enthusiastic fans. My assistant is handling it."

She leaned into Liam's embrace. "We really hope everyone can be rational fans. I already have someone I love."

Liam stroked her hair affectionately. "Our Ava is just too popular. It's making me feel insecure."

Ava snuggled against him, saying sweetly, "But my heart belongs only to Liam."

Liam looked down at her, and they shared a meaningful smile.

My stomach twisted painfully. To help Ava win this Breakthrough Artist Award, I, someone unfamiliar with the entertainment industry, had busted my gut finding resources for her.

She couldn't sign with a good agency? I invested my own money, throwing cash at the problem until she got a contract with the best agency out there.

Her acting wasn't great? I begged veteran actors to mentor her while simultaneously sucking up to directors to get her more opportunities.

Her temper was volatile? I hired the best PR firm to spin it as "straightforward and endearingly honest."

Even this stomach condition – I got it from being forced to drink excessively at business dinners while trying to secure those resources for her.

I gave almost everything for her, but it seemed like she never saw any of it.

The live broadcast continued, their sweet interactions drawing screams from the audience.

I gasped from the pain, my hand trembling as I reached for the call button by the bed.

Everyone was focused on them; no one cared about me, alone in this hospital bed. The room was filled only with the cheers from the broadcast.

I tried desperately to control the pain, but then a line from the show echoed:

"Ava loves Liam forever!"

I whipped my head toward the screen. Amidst a shower of pink heart effects, Liam and Ava were locked in a tight embrace.

They looked like they would never be parted.

Amid the screams and blessings, the churning in my stomach became unbearable. I lost control, fell from the bed, and passed out.

When I woke up again, Ava was sitting by my bedside, scrolling idly through her phone.

3: Pushing Too Far

Seeing me awake, Ava tossed a file onto my chest, ordering, "Sign this."

My stomach still throbbed dully. I picked it up and almost laughed bitterly.

It was an appointment letter. If signed, Liam would replace me as CEO of Sterling Corp.

I pressed the call button for my assistant, asked him to bring me water, and help me sit up.

"Is there nothing else you want to say to me?"

I stared fixedly at Ava, unable to believe I had loved this person for five years.

"Just sign it. I'm busy. I'll leave once you've signed."

Perhaps seeing my lack of movement, Ava clicked her tongue impatiently.

"Someone dug up an old interview where I mentioned my husband was the CEO of Sterling Corp."

"Things being what they are, I can't let Liam be wronged. Just appoint Liam as CEO."

"Liam is innocent. It's tragic enough he got dragged into our mess. Don't make trouble."

I gave a cold laugh. "So, what you're saying is, even though I'm your legal husband, to prevent your lover from feeling wronged, I need to hand over everything I own?"

"Ava, how did I never notice before? Are you completely clueless?"

Ava shot up from her chair, furious. "Ethan! What did you say!"

"How dare you talk about Liam like that!"

"Let me tell you, I'm famous now! I'm not someone an upstart like you can associate with! If you know what's good for you, sign the papers. Otherwise, don't blame me for playing rough!"

I was livid, staring hard at Ava, about to say something more, when the door suddenly opened.

Liam walked in carrying breakfast. "Ava, honey, I got you breakfast. You must have been exhausted last night."

They exchanged a knowing smile. Liam then acted as if he just noticed me. "Oh, Ethan, man, I'm so sorry. I forgot you were in the hospital with your stomach thing. Didn't get you anything. Please don't mind."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Mind? Why would he mind? Why should you have to serve him?"

She threatened again, "Hurry up and sign this agreement!"

Liam wrapped an arm around Ava's waist, feigning embarrassment. "Ethan, really sorry about this. Ava just cares about me too much. She can't stand seeing me suffer even a little, so you'll have to take the hit, buddy."

"No need to be sorry. It's not like I plan on taking any hits."

I snapped a few pictures of the agreement with my phone, then, to their utter shock, ripped it into pieces and threw the shreds in their faces.

"I'm not signing this. You can leave now."

I closed my eyes, ready to dismiss them.

Liam looked hurt, holding Ava's hand. "Ava, maybe you should just tell everyone about Ethan. I'm really not good enough for you. You're so amazing, and I have nothing. Only someone like Ethan, who has everything, deserves your love."

It was always like this. Whenever Liam wanted something from me, he'd claim he wasn't good enough for Ava, and Ava would invariably hand over whatever he desired on a silver platter.

This time was no different. Ava asked me coldly, "Last chance. Are you signing or not?"

"Not signing."

I watched her calmly, curious to see what stunt she'd pull next.

But Ava just turned and left.

4: Wife Escalates, My Counterattack

Not long after Ava left, my assistant rushed into the room.

"Mr. Sterling! This is bad! Mrs. Sterling is saying you coerced her!"

The accusation was so absurd that I froze for a moment.

Taking the assistant's phone, I saw Ava had posted on social media, accusing me of essentially forcing her into a relationship using my power and wealth, making her my "kept woman." That was why, she claimed, she'd said on the show her husband was the CEO of Sterling Corp.

But then, she alleged, I cruelly discarded her for someone new, leaving her unable to cope, even developing depression.

It was Liam, she claimed, who saved her, helping her slowly heal and embrace the world again.

A complete reversal of truth, twisting facts.

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. Who was this person I had loved all these years?

Her audacity stemmed from one thing: she was convinced I loved her.

Convinced I wouldn't destroy her. Convinced I'd take all the blame. Convinced she could threaten me.

But the moment she kissed Liam, that love died.

Ava had just won the Breakthrough Artist Award the night before; her popularity was peaking. Major media outlets were reposting her social media blast.

Even the company's stock price was affected.

I said calmly, "Release the marriage certificate. And everything about Ava's history with the company, release it all."

Ava and I met in college.

She wrote letters to me via campus mail for a year. We agreed to meet on a specific day.

After we met, things progressed naturally – dating, marriage.

In the early years of our marriage, I arranged for her to work at Sterling Corp.

But she was spoiled and arrogant, using her status as the CEO's wife to run wild, even leaking confidential company information.

When discovered, she denied everything until the security footage was played.

But back then, she cried, promising she'd change, her eyes filled with tears, looking at me helplessly, as if I were her entire world.

How could I abandon her?

So, I protected her.

Later, she said she wanted to enter the entertainment industry, unwilling to be confined to domestic life. So I poured money and resources into launching her career.

But she grew closer and closer to Liam, to the point where, unbeknownst to me, the public saw them as the couple.

My eyes stung. Fighting back tears, I told my assistant, "Draft a divorce agreement."

Ava, this time, I'm letting you go.

5: Wife Refuses Reality, I Resolve to Leave

After my assistant posted the marriage certificate and details of Ava leaking company secrets online, the situation exploded.

The internet was buzzing, filled with condemnation for Ava:

"So all that marketing was just the 'true love' story of an adulteress and her side piece."

"Using her husband's resources only to slander him? What kind of new low is this?"

But I wasn't finished. I hired a top-tier PR firm, instructing them to use this incident to utterly ruin Ava's reputation. Simultaneously, I reached an agreement with her entertainment agency to suspend all her activities, effectively blacklisting her.

I didn't forget about Liam either.

Liam had been obscure since his debut until about two years ago when his luck suddenly changed, landing him a role on a reality show he wasn't qualified for, which made him famous.

I had my assistant investigate Liam, and sure enough, some interesting things surfaced.

After handling all this, the suffocating pressure in my chest finally eased somewhat.

But Ava stormed into my hospital room, furious.

"Ethan! Do you have any idea how much damage you've caused me!"

"How could you do this to me?"

"I'll give you one chance. Go public right now and say you made it all up. Otherwise, I'm divorcing you!"

She ordered me around arrogantly. I just smiled faintly and had my assistant bring the drafted divorce agreement.

"You want a divorce? Fine. Sign here."

Ava snatched the papers, glanced through them quickly, then threw them on the floor. "On what grounds are you demanding I leave with nothing!"

Liam noticed Ava trembling slightly and quickly took her hand.

"Ava, Ethan's just angry. We were in the wrong this time."

"He's just upset. If you just sweet-talk him a little, he'll come around. Think about how much Ethan loves you! How could he possibly bear to treat you like this?"

"Guys just need a little coaxing. Just smooth things over, and it'll be fine."

Liam's words seemed to restore Ava's confidence. She scoffed, rolling her eyes at me.

"You want me to bow down? Not in this lifetime!"

"I'm a big star now! I won the Breakthrough Artist Award! But you, Ethan, you're just some new money!"

"If you know what's good for you, apologize to me! Otherwise, we get divorced!"

With that, she proudly swept out with Liam. Her sheer confidence left me with a headache.

All my past sacrifices for her, what did they mean in her eyes?

It wasn't that she didn't see them; she just didn't care. She took everything for granted.

She squandered it, wasted it. To her, I was just a fool, wasn't I?

Even now, she thought my actions, based on my past blind devotion, were just ploys to force an apology out of her.

I sighed and called my assistant. "I recall the VIP rooms have security cameras, right?"

"Yes, Mr. Sterling. What is it?"

"Release the footage from the day Ava came here demanding I sign that appointment letter. And release the photos of the letter too."

Let's see how confident they remain when facing utter ruin.