My Wife and I: Married in Name, Never on Paper

Nathan's POV

The day before my flight to HQ in Utheria, Emma returned, holding a mango cake.

"I got this for you from Cyrenza," she said.

I shook my head. "I'm not eating it."

At my words, a trace of impatience clouded Emma's features. "What's wrong? You're not mad again, are you? I was just on a business trip with Keegan. Does it really bother you this much? Can't you just—"

"I'm allergic to mango," I cut her off.

Once upon a time, she remembered every single one of our anniversaries. But now, she'd even forgotten I was allergic to mangoes.

My eyes burned, and my chest tightened.

Emma froze for a moment. "Oh."

Guilt flashed across her face. "Sorry, Nathan. I've been so busy lately that I just forgot about it."

"It's fine." I did my best to hold back the sorrow rising in my chest.

It wasn't the first time anyway. I'd gotten used to it by now.

Noticing my foul mood, Emma threw the cake into the trash. "If you can't eat it, I won't eat it either. By the way, Nathan…"

She suddenly grabbed my arm. "I have some free time today. Why don't we go register our marriage?"

I froze in place.

In five years of marriage, this was the first time Emma had ever asked me to register our marriage.

But why?

I'd already decided to leave. Why was she suddenly making me question my decision?

I struggled internally, but just then, her phone rang.

I glanced at her screen. It was Keegan.

After hanging up, Emma looked at me with an apologetic gaze. "The pipes at Keegan's place burst. I have to go. He can't fix it himself. I'm going over to help."

With that, she quickly grabbed her coat and headed for the door without another word.

Watching her back as she left, I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

Keegan's pipes burst, and she rushed off to help.

But when the pipes broke at our place and I called her for help, she told me that as a grown man, I should be able to fix it myself.

Recalling my hesitation just now, I suddenly realized how hopeless I was.

I began packing my luggage. Once everything was neatly organized, my gaze drifted to the photo hanging in the living room.

After a few moments of thought, I took it down.

In the picture, Emma was looking at me with such affection.

It was too bad, though. Those same eyes now turned to another man. We never took photos together anymore. But I often saw pictures of her and Keegan on his social media.

They ate together, worked together, and even went to concerts together. Those were all the things Emma had promised me we'd do.

She kept those promises, but with someone else.

I grabbed a pair of scissors. Without hesitation, I cut the photo in half and carefully packed my half away.

Since I was leaving, I wasn't going to leave even the smallest trace of myself behind.

Once everything was done, I placed the signed separation agreement right on the coffee table.

We never registered our marriage, but with all our finances mixed together over the years, it felt right to leave something in writing.

I picked up my luggage and walked out the door without a single glance back.

Before boarding the plane, I sent Emma one last text. "Goodbye."

Then, I pulled out my SIM card and boarded the plane.