Chapter 1

That day, during the parent-child event, I was sweating buckets inside that heavy mascot costume, jumping around just to get a few more laughs out of my son.

When I stepped off stage, Chloe handed me a bottle of water, saying casually:

"While you were bouncing around up there for half an hour, Liam and I were making out backstage."

"He said he felt bad seeing me struggle with Leo alone."

Liam was a struggling student I'd sponsored for four years.

Just ten minutes earlier, he'd clapped me on the shoulder, his face earnest as he promised:

"Ethan, don't worry. If Chloe ever betrayed you, I'd be the first to stand against it."

Chloe stood in front of me, her voice dripping with contempt:

"Choose now. Are you going to finish this act with your son, or are we going to fight about divorce again, like always?"

I watched my son, who'd just been calling me Dad, now clinging to Liam, whining and calling him "Mr. Liam." A wave of pure disgust washed over me.

This toxic wife, this ungrateful son – I wanted none of them anymore.