Ryan returned to his room and collapsed onto the bed, too weary to care about what anyone else might say. He packed his belongings into a small suitcase, then pulled out his phone and dialed Sterling, his lawyer.Sterling was taken aback by Ryan's request. In his mind, Ryan and Emma had always been the perfect couple—how could things have gone so far, so quickly, after just one holiday?Sterling tried to talk him out of it, but Ryan's resolve was unwavering."Alright, when do you want it done?" Sterling asked."Now," Ryan replied. "Draft it and get it to me as soon as possible.""Okay."After the call, Ryan stayed home, waiting. Two hours later, Sterling personally delivered the papers.Ryan took the documents and retreated to his bedroom, feeling groggy. He soon drifted into a light, restless sleep.At 3 a.m., Emma suddenly switched on the bedroom light, jolting Ryan awake. He blinked, his vision blurry, and turned to see Emma, freshly returned. She was still wearing her glamorous evening gown, a pearl necklace around her neck, her makeup flawless, lips painted in bold red. The scent of alcohol lingered in the air.Seeing Ryan, Emma kicked off her high heels, revealing her bare feet, and wobbled toward him. "Darling~"Ryan sighed in resignation, catching her delicate form as she nearly lost her balance. "How much have you had to drink this time?"Emma smiled seductively, a flicker of mischief in her eyes. "In business, you can't say no to everything..."Of course, Emma had been thriving in her career these past few years—attending more high-profile events, meeting more influential people. It was only natural that she had changed. Or at least, that's how Ryan tried to convince himself.Ryan helped her up. "Let me take you to the bathroom."Emma pushed him away playfully. "No, I just want to sleep!"Ryan reluctantly complied.Emma fell into a deep, untroubled sleep, her body heavy with the comfort of intoxication. She didn't notice the missing clothes from the closet, nor the subtle shift in the atmosphere around her. She was certain Ryan would take care of everything, as he always had.Indeed, after Emma fell asleep, Ryan quietly got up. He carefully lifted her, carrying her to the bathroom. He washed away the traces of alcohol from her skin, removed her makeup, then gently returned her to bed.But unlike before, he didn't lie down beside her. Instead, he sat in the dark, staring at her cold, beautiful face, lost in thought.Their love story, from the innocent days of campus to the wedding vows exchanged, had once been the envy of everyone. But when had it all begun to unravel?Ryan traced the timeline in his mind: perhaps it started when Emma's career took off. They had both started as low-level employees at the same company, but Emma, unable to stomach the politics of office life, had decided to go out on her own.Ryan had put all his savings into her dream, even sold his car and borrowed money from friends to provide her with the capital to start her business. From a humble market stall, he had helped her climb step by step from the ground up.Now, Ryan, a deputy manager in a publicly listed company, earned a decent salary, though nowhere near a six-figure income. Much of what he earned went toward Emma's business or their household expenses. Only a small portion was his alone.His savings amounted to a mere fifty thousand.In contrast, Emma's company, Smith Enterprises, had grown to a comfortable success. Big projects now brought in millions.The financial gap between them had become impossible to ignore.Ryan chuckled bitterly, turning away from Emma. He reached under his pillow, pulling out the divorce papers, and placed them carefully on Emma's vanity.Every morning, Emma would spend time in front of the mirror, so Ryan knew she would see them soon.Without hesitation, without any lingering attachment, and without a scene, Ryan packed a single suitcase—just a few changes of clothes—and put on his coat. Quietly, he left the Smith household.Emma, thinking that as long as Ryan came home, everything would be forgiven, had no idea...Leaving in such a quiet, deliberate manner was, in its own way, a test.When someone truly wants to leave, even the sound of the door closing is soft, almost imperceptible.———————————————————————————————————————Ryan, dragging his suitcase behind him, drove away from the house.As dawn broke, he wasn't sure where to go. He parked his car by the side of the road and lit a cigarette, watching the smoke curl upward.As the cigarette's flame slowly died, a knock came at his window.Ryan rolled it down."Sir, why are you parked here? You're blocking the alley..."Before the person could finish, they suddenly recognized him. "Wait, is that you?"In the frigid winter air, the young woman in front of him was bundled up like a teddy bear. For a moment, Ryan didn't recognize her. "Uh, sorry, who are you?"Fiona immediately pulled off her hat and mask, revealing her sweet, innocent face. "It's me, Fiona. We met yesterday. You don't remember?"Ryan's memory clicked. He glanced toward the end of the alley—Fiona's breakfast shop was just around the corner. He had parked too close, blocking the way.Ryan smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, Miss Fiona, I'll move the car now."Fiona laughed lightly. "Are you still here for the hot dog? It's only 6 a.m. Most places aren't even open yet. What brings you here so early?"Caught off guard, Ryan could only nod. "Yeah, I came for the hot dog..."He wasn't about to admit he had been aimlessly wandering around.Fiona didn't press the issue. "Park in a proper spot. I'm opening the shop now!"Ryan complied, got out of the car, and walked with Fiona through the snow toward the back of the alley.Ryan asked, "How come your hot dog shop is always open? Don't you go home for Christmas?"Fiona smiled softly. "It's just me and my mom. When we have free time, we want to earn more. As for going home... for me, wherever my mom is, that's home."Ryan paused. Though Fiona's words were simple, he could sense the unspoken struggles beneath them.For some reason, he felt a twinge of sympathy for Fiona. Perhaps it was because... he could relate to her in a way. She, too, had her hardships.But then again, he might be worse off. Despite having a wife and parents, he still felt completely alone.The difference between him and Fiona was...He didn't have a home anymore.Ryan nodded at Fiona's words. "As long as you're with the people you care about, it doesn't matter how hard life gets."Fiona's eyes sparkled with innocence as she nodded eagerly, her voice sweet and warm. "That's how I feel too. So, Mr. Ryan, take care of yourself, okay?"Ryan looked at her, surprised. Did Fiona sense his troubles?Before he could respond, Fiona had already scurried off toward the kitchen. "I'll make your hot dog now! The first one of the day is always the best!"