Chapter 1

Four months after marriage, my husband took in his pregnant and divorced distant cousin. He killed the dog my late mother left to keep me company and used it to nourish her body. He gave her our meticulously decorated newlywed room, which he had prepared for me, and made me sleep on the couch. When I got angry, he scolded me, saying he was just doing what a brother should do. But he didn't know that I also had a childhood friend who was like a brother to me. When he heard I was wronged, he flew back from abroad specifically for me.

Late at night, after returning from the hospital where I had been cleaning up after my mother-in-law, I discovered that my husband had killed the dog I had raised for nine years to nourish his pregnant cousin.

I grabbed the bones I found in the trash and rushed into what used to be our wedding room. There, I saw my husband pressing his ear against Zoe's belly, grinning like an idiot.

"Mia, 'Buddy' was so smart," Zoe taunted me. "He was barking non-stop when Jack was killing him, but he quieted down when he heard your voice recording. Haha, I'm sure it'll be very nutritious for my baby. Jack just said the baby enjoyed it."

I clenched my fists, tears in my eyes, as I looked at Jack. The smile he had worn earlier while watching me call out for "Buddy" in the yard was still lingering on his face.

"Alright, Mia. I'll buy you another dog after Zoe gives birth. Now, go prepare a basin of warm water for Zoe to soak her feet," Jack said dismissively. I stared at him in disbelief, as if I had never known him before.

I had found Buddy seven years ago when I first got into college and brought him home. My mom had taken care of him for seven years. She said when she missed me, she would pet Buddy, and it was as if she was seeing me.

Eight months ago, she passed away in a car accident, and Buddy became like my mom's presence accompanying me.

Just four months ago at our wedding, Jack had ignored the mocking voices of others and publicly offered a toast to "Buddy," tearfully promising to take care of me for life.

But now, just four months into our marriage, he easily killed Buddy for Zoe.

Enraged, I threw the bones at Zoe's belly. Jack reacted quickly, pushing me to the ground and shielding Zoe behind him. He scolded me angrily, "Enough, Mia Russell! Are you really treating this dog as your mother? Your mom is long dead, why are you throwing a fit here?"

I glared at him coldly. Since the first day of our marriage, my mother-in-law had fallen ill and been hospitalized. I had been running back and forth between the hospital and home, while Jack focused all his attention on Zoe.

Every time I returned home late at night, only Buddy was waiting for me at the dark alley entrance.

I stood up angrily, glaring at Jack, and ran to the living room where we kept his father's ashes. I grabbed a handful and sprinkled it over their heads, coldly saying to them, "Zoe, didn't you want snow? Here, I'll give you some."

I recalled the social media post Zoe had made earlier that day in the hospital room. Jack's hand was holding hers, touching her belly, with the caption: "When we were young, you held an umbrella for me in the snow. Now there's no snow, but you still shield me from the world's hardships."

I continued sprinkling the ashes in a frenzy. Jack angrily grabbed my hand, shouting if I had gone mad.

"Your dad died even earlier. Are you really treating this urn as your father?" I mimicked his tone. His face darkened as he yelled at me to get out.

Zoe took the opportunity to cling to Jack, saying she was scared.

I looked around the messy room. Just half a month ago, Jack had covered my eyes and proudly showed me the scene he had meticulously prepared for a week. The memory was still vivid.

Now, our wedding photo on the wall had been replaced by Zoe's shoes, and the "double happiness" decorations we had laughingly put up on the windowsill were quietly lying in the trash can.

The blanket they were using was hand-sewn by my mother.

Perhaps our relationship, like this wedding room, had already been in shambles since Zoe's arrival.

With a dead heart, I uttered the word "divorce" to Jack. He didn't try to stop me but instead roared "Get out!"