Arthur looked around as if he no longer recognized the home he loved so deeply. The pain etched on his face now mingled with something darker—revolt, disbelief, devastation.

Zoe, breathing hard, removed her wedding ring with trembling fingers.

“I’m not doing this anymore,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her chest rose and fell. “This marriage is over.”

She threw the ring at him. The metal struck his chest with a sharp metallic thud before falling to the floor. Arthur stared at it—silent, hollow.

“I trusted you blindly. I believed in you,” she said, turning toward the door.

But before she could reach it, Arthur moved.

“No! You’re not walking out like this!” he shouted, rushing to block the doorway.

He stood there—eyes wet, chest heaving—refusing to let her pass.

“We’re not done talking!”

He tried to step closer, but she backed away.

“I love you, Zoe. From the moment I saw you, it was you. I messed up. I hate myself for it. But I haven’t touched her since that day.”

Zoe shoo