My Ex-Husband’s Downfall

It was the third year after my divorce from Liam Roscente when he married that little adopted sister from next door.

When the news spread, almost everyone waited to see me lose my mind.

After all, back when he cheated, I had caused a huge scene that rocked the entire city.

Wrist-cutting, threats, cursing them to never find peace.

I even had a miscarriage due to emotional turmoil, later went to prison, and my family fell apart.

Everyone thought I was destined to be entangled with Liam Roscente until death.

But upon hearing the happy news, I just smiled faintly.

"Then I wish them a long and happy life together."

My apprentice, Ava Evans, blinked her big round eyes and leaned in to ask me.

"Master, clearly that man and woman wronged you, yet you're still so magnanimous... In your heart, aren't you hurt at all?"

I looked out the window at the gray sky.

It hurts.

But hurt is also a flavor one must taste to be alive.

No matter how painful, you always get through it eventually.

I met Liam Roscente again in the bakery I owned.

He came to buy desserts for his new wife.

The winter wind in Seattle was biting, carrying the cold through the cracks in the door.

I treated him like any other customer: smiling, inquiring, packing, taking payment.

"Your cake, please take care."

Liam's nose was red from the cold. He stood at the counter, looking at me deeply for a long time.

"Emma Sullivan."

My fingers paused almost imperceptibly. Then I lifted my face, my smile unchanged.

"Sir, is there anything else you need?"

His voice was terribly hoarse.

"You... are you doing alright now?"

Before I could answer, he gave a bitter laugh to himself.

"I thought you'd left Seattle long ago."

"Olivia always says there's a bakery on Madison Avenue that's really popular, and the owner lady looks a bit like you. I said it couldn't be."

"I never expected... it really is you."

He glanced around the small but warm shop, his gaze complex.

"The Miss Sullivan who once wouldn't lift a finger for anything, actually baking cakes with her own hands now."

The look in his eyes held a trace of the old tenderness.

I suddenly remembered my eighteenth birthday.

When he ruffled my hair and said "Happy birthday," he had looked at me the same way.

But in this situation now, it just felt absurd.

I looked away and smiled.

"Life is full of unexpected things, but there's always a path forward."

"It's getting dark, we're about to close."

Liam's smile froze. He opened his mouth. "Emma, actually I..."

I turned and called towards the back room.

"Ava, stop watching videos, come out and tidy up."

"Coming—"