Cheers to the New Year and the End of Us

"You're back?" Harry was sitting on the couch. The moment he saw me walk in, his smile disappeared. His whole demeanor turned distant, and he didn't bother asking me how I was feeling.

He clearly hadn't expected me to come home so suddenly. From the look of things, he had been in a good mood before I arrived, but the second I opened the door, his face fell.

This was what our marriage had become—just an empty shell.

"Yeah, I'm back," I casually replied.

It was then that I noticed how stiff his posture looked, almost like he was subconsciously bracing himself.

I frowned slightly. Then, at the next moment, I heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom shower—someone else was in the house.

"Who's taking a shower?"

Even though I already had a bad feeling, I still asked, holding on to a sliver of hope.

But the moment Harry heard me, his expression shifted, and he quickly tried to explain.

"It's Sally. Her building's water got cut off for the whole week, so I brought her here after work to shower. Don't overthink it. The water really is out."

"I got it. I'm not overthinking anything."

That response seemed to catch Harry off guard. He stared at my face, clearly trying to find any signs of anger, but when he didn't see it, he actually looked relieved. "You finally figured it out. I'm amazed you're not making a scene for once."

"Making a scene"? So, that was what he thought of everything I had done before?

I didn't say another word. I simply turned around and went straight to the bedroom. Then, I pulled out a suitcase from the closet and quietly began packing.

The entire time, Harry never once came to check on me.

Only when I started gathering my things did I realize how little I had actually accumulated in our years of marriage. I was never someone who cared much about material things anyway.

I left behind everything Harry had ever given me and all the things we had shared together. I didn't want them. I didn't even want the memories.

When I stepped back out, Harry was drying Sally's hair. He was kneeling on the couch beside her, chatting and laughing.

They could have passed for a loving couple from the way they looked.

At that moment, I felt like I was the outsider in my own home.

Harry had his back to me, and the sound of the blow dryer was too loud for him to notice my footsteps.

But Sally saw me the second I came out. She slowly looked up with a smug glint in her eyes. Then, she curled her lips into a faint smile. It was like she was saying, "See? You can't beat me."

I stood there, expressionless.

I didn't want to win, and I didn't feel like I'd lost either. I just silently watched as Harry patiently dried Sally's hair, his expression full of affection.

It had been so long since he'd looked at me like that.

So, it wasn't because he was stressed from work that he snapped at me at home. He had simply used up all his patience on someone else.

When the dryer finally shut off, Harry turned and saw me. His face stiffened, and he quickly explained, "I was just drying her hair. I didn't want her to go to work tomorrow with a headache if it stayed damp."

"Got it. You don't have to explain to me," I flatly replied, my voice calm and indifferent.

But that one line gave Sally the perfect opening to jump in. She looked timid as she said, "Grace, you probably don't want me here. Maybe I should just leave." As she spoke, she made it seem as if she was about to stand and leave.

Harry immediately stopped her. "You just showered. If you go out now, you'll catch a cold."

"I never said I didn't want you here," I said. "I'm the extra one. You stay. I'll go."

With that, I walked back into the room, grabbed my suitcase, and headed straight for the door.

Harry's face darkened as he rushed over to block me. "Grace, what are you doing? I knew something was off the moment you got home acting all calm. Is this one of your schemes?"

I let out a small, bitter laugh. I didn't even want to guess what kind of person I had become in Harry's eyes after all the things Sally had accused me of.

I just looked at him and calmly said, "No schemes here, Harry. Keep an eye on your email. I'll be sending you the divorce papers."