Part 3Divorce Papers Signed Over a Spicy Meal

Fiona only touched the crescent necklace she was wearing and laughed.

The sound was light, yet it still hit hard.

I stood up.

"I don't like bland food. I like spice," I said.

Julian froze for a second. Then he looked at me, startled.

I didn't look at him. Instead, I picked up my bag.

"You two eat. I have something to do, so I'm leaving."

Then I paused and looked at him.

"Come home tonight. I have something to tell you," I told them.

It was time to tell him about the divorce papers.

I packed all afternoon, boxing things and sending parcels out.

While I was at it, I found a DVD from ten years ago.

When I played it, a video from that same time appeared on the screen.

Young Julian sat at a roadside stall in Sorrin. A bowl of noodles piled with chili sat in front of him.

He ate, sweat beading on his forehead from the heat.

I wiped his face with a tissue, scolding him and aching for him at the same time.

"You idiot. You can't take the heat, and you still have to show off."

Julian wiped his mouth, and he smiled brightly.

"I can't help it. I'm going to marry a Sorrin wife," he said proudly. "Besides, your cooking is that spicy. How am I supposed to spend a lifetime with you if I don't train myself?"

He sucked in a breath and pushed the bowl toward me.

"Try a bite. It smells amazing!"

Even the air smelled like chili. It messed up his hair, and something in me went soft.

I let the video loop for a long time.

I was still staring at it when Julian came home.

He stepped in and pulled off his jacket. Then, he saw the DVD in my hands and froze.

"Why did you dig this out?" he asked.

He didn't even put the jacket down. He walked over in a few steps, a melancholic smile on his face.

"This is from ten years ago, right? We had just started dating…"

He stopped halfway when his eyes landed on the screen.

On it, 20-year-old him was smiling, saying he'd eat spice with me for life.

Julian swallowed hard.

In that second, he seemed to remember something. I didn't know if it was the awkward lunch or the man he used to be.

After a short silence, he pulled a jewelry box from his pocket.

"Happy birthday. I should've given this to you yesterday, but I forgot," he said.

I took the box, surprised.

Even now, he'd remembered a birthday gift?

Then, I opened it and saw the same necklace Fiona had been wearing. My heart went cold.

What was this?

Charity?

I said nothing. I just looked at him.

Julian sounded uneasy.

"Fiona told me to buy it. She said it's the latest fashion and that young people love it.

"Don't overthink lunch… She's like a friend to me. We've been together for ten years. Don't you trust me?"

Yes. Ten years had passed.

How many decades did one get in life?

Ten years ago, I left Sorrin for Capin for him without looking back.

Ten years later, also because of him, I decided to walk out of the marriage that'd trapped me.

I looked down at the necklace.

Julian put an arm around me.

"There's a company banquet next week. The boss favors happily married men. Nina, play your part well that night. Whether I get the promotion depends on it," he said, staring at me hopefully.

I smiled bitterly to myself.

Even this thoughtless gift already had a price tag on it.

"Got it," I said, nodding calmly and closing the box.

"You… You agree?"

He hadn't expected me to answer so fast. His surprise was obvious.

Then, he relaxed and reached out to hug me.

"Honey, you're the best. I've waited ten years for this chance. When I get the promotion, I'll make it up to you.

"You wanted stew, right? Spicy or not, I'll eat it with you."

Tears glistened at the corners of his eyes. For a while, he looked like the man who'd loved me ten years ago.

I only smiled.

My voice was light as I took the divorce papers from my bag and held them out.

"You misunderstood. I only said I heard you. I didn't say I'd actually go to the banquet. Your business has nothing to do with me, Julian. Let's get a divorce."