Chapter 1Sunshine and Rain

My two children’s last wish before they died was for our family of four to see the ocean. But the day before we left, their father vanished. My children passed away with that regret. I later saw a photo of him and his childhood friend, Kate, on Kate’s social media. The caption read: “A special birthday, with a special someone.” I turned around, packed my bags, and left. Then, Jensen came crying, begging me to stay.

* * *

Jensen loathed me. And by extension, he disliked the two children I bore him. All it took was a single phone call from his childhood friend, Kate, and he’d travel thousands of miles. But I had begged on my knees, my forehead bruised and bleeding. Still, he wouldn't return to see our children one last time.

I returned home, utterly exhausted. The house was brightly lit. I pushed open the door, a flicker of hope in my chest. I expected to see my two children running to greet me. Instead, I saw Jensen pressed against the sofa by Kate, intimate and oblivious.

My hope dissolved, replaced by instant disappointment. Jensen looked momentarily flustered at my appearance, pushing Kate away.

Ha. I sneered. My children’s bodies weren’t even cold yet. Jensen, who had been missing for half a month, had returned. And he was so eager to bring another woman home.

Jensen had already braced himself for a scene, expecting me to throw a fit. But I showed no expression, not even bothering to glance at either of them. I went upstairs to retrieve my packed luggage. I had planned to leave early that morning. After all, this house was a wedding gift from Jensen’s grandfather for us, but Jensen rarely set foot in it. Mostly, it had been just me and our two children living here.

I quickly came back downstairs. They were still talking on the sofa. The man who was usually expressionless now wore a tender look. It was only with Kate that he softened this way. With me, there was only endless indifference. They hadn’t noticed me. With Kate around, I was always invisible to Jensen. I had grown accustomed to it.

The sound of my suitcase wheels caught Jensen’s attention. He watched me, his voice stiff. “Summer Jiang, what kind of drama is this now?”

Kate looked over, a smirk playing on her lips. “Summer, darling, my blood sugar dropped, and I was just in the neighborhood. Jensen said it was convenient here, so he brought me. You don’t mind, do you?”

Low blood sugar? I watched Jensen pouring tea, fetching water, and even peeling a candy to feed it into her mouth himself. Her lips brushed his fingertips, neither of them seeming to notice anything amiss. I lowered my eyes, remembering a family dinner when I’d forgotten to use a serving spoon to dish food for him. He’d simply dropped his chopsticks and refused to eat. Thinking of it now, I found it laughable.

Love and indifference were starkly clear.

I spoke, my voice raw with bitterness. “Let’s break up, Jensen.”