The Favorite's Game

During a family dinner, I, Ingrid Sutherland, bring up divorce.

My husband, Samuel Ziegler, lets out a cold laugh in exasperation. "Are you mad just because I peeled a banana for Whitney two days ago? I can't believe you're still throwing a tantrum over that now! She's my sister-in-law. What's wrong if I show her a little bit more care?"

He did the same thing in my past life. Ever since his older brother, Charles Ziegler, got seriously hurt, Samuel always put me last and prioritized taking care of the supposedly weaker Whitney Lovette.

Whenever I voiced my dissatisfaction, he would criticize me while standing on an irrefutable moral high ground.

He would say, "Why can't you be more understanding and cut Whitney some slack?"

When it was Whitney's birthday, she proposed going on a skiing trip. But then, an avalanche hit us. Samuel protected her the whole time and led her down the mountain. However, he left me to die in the avalanche.

It was then I realized that Whitney was not just his sister-in-law, but also the one he loved.

When I remain silent, Samuel chuckles derisively. "You'd better not regret it."

It's like he's sure I'm just throwing a tantrum. In one fluid movement, he glides a pen across the bottom of the page, confident and composed.

But this time, I'm really giving up on him for good.

Ingrid's First-Person Point of View

"I will never regret it," I said in an unwavering voice.

The family dinner fell into a sudden, heavy silence. Samuel Ziegler's hand, which was still gripping his fork, trembled as he stared at me.

I maintained a calm, composed expression.

Then, without warning, he threw the fork aside and snatched up the divorce papers. He signed his name on it without hesitation and hurled both the papers and the pen at me.

The sharp edge of the papers sliced a thin line across my left cheek, and ink splattered across my white dress.

No one had imagined a simple dinner would take such a sour turn.

Samuel spat angrily, "See you at the courthouse tomorrow. If you don't show up, I'll have someone drag you there. Let's see if you'll really follow through with this."

He stormed out without looking back.

His sister-in-law, Whitney Lovette, instinctively moved to chase after him, but Samuel's mother, Jenna Till, slammed her palm to the table.

"Sit down," she commanded authoritatively.

Whitney argued, "But Jenna, Samuel's upset. He needs someone to comfort—"

"Even if he needs comfort, you're not the one who should be giving it!" Jenna retorted sharply, glaring at Whitney with disgust.

Whitney had grown up in the Ziegler household. Her mother had been their maid for almost 30 years. Out of respect for the woman, Jenna paid for Whitney's education and made sure she never lacked anything the Ziegler siblings had.

However, Whitney crossed a line.

When she reached the age of 18, she secretly drugged Samuel's older brother, Charles Ziegler, and slept with