Sienna’s POV


    That morning, I woke up early, as always. The sun hadn’t fully risen, yet my mind was already drifting far. Five years living in this house with him—and in all that time, we had never once shared a bed. Not because I didn’t want to, but because Liam never truly epted me as his wife. And he had extreme hygiene habits—even the doorknob to his room couldn’t be touched without his permission.


    After a shower and slipping into a simple outfit, I took the document I’d prepared the night before and drove to thew office owned by my best friend, Liliana. She greeted me warmly, as always, but her smile faded the moment she saw my face—likely far too used to being drained of light.


    We sat in her office, and Liliana looked at me with a troubled gaze. “So all this… your rtionship with Liam, your closeness with Noah—it was all just a contract?” I nodded softly. There was nothing to hide now.


    “Oh my God,” she whispered, holding her breath. “When I read those tabloids about you two, I feared you’d actually fallen for that man. But to find out it was all an act… I’m slightly relieved.”


    She leaned back in her chair, visibly overwhelmed. “So, what brings you here today? Want me to draw up divorce papers?”


    I gave a faint smile—not out of amusement, but bitterness. “We never registered our marriage legally. There’s no marriage to divorce.”


    Liliana fell silent. “Then what?”


    “I want you to help me draft a custody release form.” My voice was barely audible. “I want to give up custody of Noah.”


    Her face changed instantly. She stared at me, stunned, as if I’d just said something unforgivable. “Sienna, are you insane? Everyone knows how deeply you love Noah. Why are you handing him over to Liam?”


    I held my breath, trying to bury the wounds where no one could touch them. But I knew—my eyes had betrayed me.


    “Please, Liliana. I just need the document.”


    She didn’t reply, only stared at me for a long moment, perhaps hoping to find a crack she could persuade. But she knew—once I decide, there’s no going back. With a heavy sigh, Liliana began typing. Momentster, a printed pagey on the table. I epted it calmly, slid it into my bag without a word.


    As I stood to leave, she called out softly, her voice almost breaking. “Sienna… you’ve given everything for the past five years, but he never really saw you. Please, from now on, give your goodness only to yourself.”


    I turned to her and smiled—just slightly. “I’ll try.”


    When I returned to the vi, it was already ten in the morning. The grand house was silent. No smell of coffee, no sound of Noah running around. In the kitchen, the breakfast I’d prepared earlier still sat untouched on the table—now cold. I put it in the microwave absentmindedly, then headed upstairs. As usual, I intended to wake Noah and Liam. I didn’t know why I still followed this routine—when deep down, I knew no one was really waiting.


    I stopped at Liam’s bedroom door. I always knocked. Though we never shared a bed, I knew how much he hated people entering uninvited. But before my fingers touched the wood, the door opened on its own. Emily stood there. Her hair loose, pajamas hanging perfectly on her frame. She smiled as if nothing were out of ce.


    “Oh, Sienna. I just came in to borrow the bathroom,” she said lightly. “Don’t know why, but my back’s been sore since waking up.”


    I froze. My face must’ve gone pale, but I said nothing. Didn’t react.


    Secondster, Liam appeared behind her. His pajamas were rumpled, hair a mess. He looked startled to see me at the door.


    “Emily just needed a power bank,” he said quickly. “Don’t think anything weird.”


    But I’d seen it—the red marks on his neck. Kisses. Intimacy.


    In five years of marriage, he’d barely touched me. Always kept his distance. But that distance didn’t seem to apply to Emily.


    I took a breath, smiled faintly. “Breakfast is ready. I’ll head down first.”


    I didn’t ask. Didn’t demand an exnation. What for? It was just a contract. And that contract was ending in a few days.


    Five minutester, they joined me in the dining room. I was already eating the dumplings I’d reheated. Noah wrinkled his nose.


    “These dumplings were reheated? They taste bad. Mommy, I want your fried dough instead!”


    Liam tried to calm him. “Noah, Mommy made this for us. Don’t throw it away. She’ll make fried dough tomorrow, okay?”


    “No! I want it now!”


    Liam looked frustrated, but before he could speak, Emily chimed in sweetly. “Sienna, I heard you’re great at making fried dough. Mind if I try some too?”


    Liam turned to me. “If everyone wants it, just make some, Sienna.”


    I kept my gaze on my bowl. Didn’t look up.


    “No,” I replied.


    My spoon clinked gently against the porcin.


    “If you want to eat, cook it yourself. I made these dumplings this morning. If you don’t like them, throw them out.”


    Silence.


    Liam looked at me as if seeing a stranger. Emily still smiled, though her expression stiffened. Noah huffed.


    I didn’t care. For the first time, I didn’t care. I wasn’t trying to be the best mother. I wasn’t trying to be the understanding wife.


    I was just… being me.


    I scooped another bite of my dumpling. Cold. nd.


    But for the first time, it tasted real. Not an illusion.


    These past five years of marriage felt the same—cold, nd, and never truly satisfying.