After Her Trip with Her First Love and Our Daughter

I had everything planned a month in advance for our holiday. I was going to take my wife and daughter on a trip to see the country's beautiful landscapes, but just before we were supposed to leave, they both disappeared.

I ended up standing alone in the pouring rain, trying to call them.

My daughter's voice came through over the phone—it was cold and impatient. "Mommy's having dinner with Uncle Skyler. We don't want to go anymore."

Right after that, the call was cut off. I had been blocked.

They locked me out of the house on purpose and left me to freeze out there all night. The rain had already drenched me, and I was running a high fever that turned into pneumonia.

Meanwhile, the two of them were off enjoying a vacation with Skyler Shire.

That was the moment I knew—this marriage was well and truly over.

Not Worth It Anymore

When I woke up, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled my nose. Every inch of my body ached, and my head was foggy with exhaustion and fever.

It was only after asking a nurse that I found out—I had collapsed outside my front door the night before, and it was a neighbor who had called an ambulance and gotten me to the hospital.

Suddenly, my daughter's voice echoed in my head. 'Uncle Skyler…'

The man was none other than Skyler Shire, Selena Sorrell's first love.

It was around noon, and the hospital room buzzed occasionally with the sounds of other patients chatting with visiting family. My bedside, however, remained empty.

After a long silence, I gave in and tried calling Selena. As expected, she didn't pick up.

So I opened Instagram. She had just posted an update. 'Enjoying the holiday with the ones I love.'

In the photo, Selena and Skyler stood on either side of my daughter, each with an arm around her. All three were smiling brightly at the camera, holding up little flags. It was the perfect picture of a happy family.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of my lips. To say I didn't feel hurt would be a lie. But moments like this had become so common that I was numb to them. I even gave the post a like before setting my phone down.

The whole time I stayed in the hospital, Selena and my daughter were out having fun with Skyler. By the time I was discharged, I was still alone, quietly packing my things and heading back home by myself.

The moment I opened the front door, laughter and chatter echoed from inside.

Selena and Evie were lounging on the sofa, surrounded by stacks of beautifully wrapped gift boxes. Expensive. Lavish. When they saw me walk in, their expressions instantly changed—faces cold, aloof, as if I were some unwelcome guest.

In the past, I would have pretended nothing was wrong. I would have tried to make conversation, to smooth things over. But now I was too tired—both physically