It had been seven years since my divorce from Aiden Sanders when we ran into each other by chance at a flower shop.
He was there to buy flowers for his pregnant wife, while I had only stepped in to take shelter from the rain.
After a moment of awkwardness, we greeted each other.
Aiden politely asked me how I had been doing over the years and I politely replied that everything was fine.
As we were about to part, he suddenly said, “Nina, you seem … a little different from before.”
I smiled but didn’t answer.
Actually, nothing was different. I just … no longer loved him.
——
A damp breeze blew in through the crack in the door. The only sound left in the room was the rain hitting the windowpane.
This awkward silence finally broke when the shopkeeper emerged with a bouquet of irises.
“Mr. Sanders, you and your wife have such a wonderful relationship. Even on rainy days, you remember to come buy flowers for her.”
Aiden took the flowers and instinctively glanced at me. As was his habit, he immediately explained, “Eryn’s been quite moody during her pregnancy. I thought these flowers might cheer her up.”
I nodded and responded with a few polite compliments.
Seeing the rain gradually come to a stop, I picked up my bag and prepared to leave.
As I reached the door, Aiden suddenly grabbed my hand. “Where do you live? Let me walk you home.”
“No need,” I said, taking a few steps back to keep my distance from him. “I’m afraid your wife will misunderstand.”
I was turning to leave when I thought I heard Aiden say something else, but the howling wind carried his voice away before I could catch it.
Unfortunately, the breakfast I was holding got soaked in the rain. What a waste.
I quickly tossed the ruined breakfast into the trash can.
At that time, the winds blew up my sleeves, revealing the scars from self-harm years ago.
I paused, then suddenly remembered.
This was the seventh year since my divorce from Aiden. It was also the third year since I had truly let him go.
There was none of the sadness I might have imagined, none of the hysteria from right after the divorce. I felt calm, as if looking at a stranger.
The rain had stopped, leaving the sky bright and clear. I pulled my sleeve back down and walked towards the bakery nearby.
Sabrina Sherman, who was helping out at the shop, greeted me with a bright smile. “Nina, you’re here! I was tidying up some clutter and found this box. Can you check if you still want it? If not, I’ll throw it out to make space for the bread cutting machine.”
After brushing the dust off the box, the first thing that caught my eye was Aiden’s bold, confident handwriting.
To Nina Jones.
Sabrina immediately became interested. She playfully asked, “Wow, which man gave you this gift? The packaging is so exquisite. It looks like he put a lot of thought into it.”
She eagerly looked at the signature at the end, but the moment she recognized the elegant handwriting, she froze in place. Even her voice stammered.
“Aiden Sanders? Do you mean the legendary prodigy with a PhD in physics? That super handsome astrophysics doctor who made it into international journals for discovering a minor planet?”
Sabrina’s gaze towards me instantly filled with admiration. “Nina, who exactly are you?”
I opened the gift box and replied calmly, “I’m Aiden’s ex-wife.”
The one who was paranoid, who acted crazily. The one who was admitted to a psychiatric hospital because of delusions. The ex-wife, whom he considered the disgrace of his life.
Under Sabrina’s persistent questioning, I sat down and began to tell her the story of Aiden and me.
When I first met him, he wasn’t yet the legendary genius boy.
Everyone in the neighborhood saw Aiden as nothing more than a problematic introvert child with strange behavior.
He had no friends and no family to rely on. His parents were too busy fighting over their divorce, treating him like a ping-pong ball neither wanted.
I could still vividly remember that bone-chilling winter in this city, where Aiden huddled in the stairwell, shivering in nothing but a thin undershirt.
I felt sorry for him and brought him home.
Not long after, while playing a simple game, my father accidentally discovered his astonishing talent for math.
From that moment on, Aiden was changed.
He won the Math Olympiad at the age of ten and was accepted into the best university without taking any exams at fourteen. By sixteen, his published research was gaining international acclaim and his awards began to pile up.
The same couple who hadn’t wanted him were now fighting over custody. Yet he still knelt before my father, pleading with all his heart.
“I know exactly who has been kind to me and who truly loves me,” he said. “From today on, you and Mrs. Jones are my real parents. I will definitely take good care of you and Nina.”
Thereafter, Aiden strived for success, never once thinking of abandoning me.
When he received his university placement, he insisted that they lower the admission score so that I could attend with him. When he became a professor, he demanded that they create a staff position for a family member.
I worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up with his pace, but Aiden looked at me and said, “The year I was eight, my parents divorced. Neither of them wanted me. I sat alone on the stairs from dusk till dawn, until you found me and took me in. From that moment, I swore I would never leave you. Nina, without you, I wouldn’t be who I am today. No matter how high I fly, I’ll never abandon you.”
That’s the kind of person he was, exceptionally stubborn. Once he set his mind on something, he never let go.
Whether it was his research, pursuing me, or even when he was cheating on me.
“Cheated?” Hearing that, Sabrina’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You two were childhood sweethearts, grew up together, had such a deep relationship and he still cheated?”
“Who’s the mistress? Is she a rich heiress or a stunning beauty? Is she one of those scheming, alluring and vicious femme fatales from TV dramas?” she asked exasperatedly.
None of those.
Aiden’s mistress was a dark-skinned, thin and plain-looking flower seller.
By that time, Aiden had already achieved remarkable success in his career. He no longer chased fame or fortune. Instead, he poured his energy into personal hobbies.
He wasn’t into stocks, fishing, or tea. But he suddenly developed an interest in flowers.
Imported, cheap, common, rare—Aiden collected them all, bringing them all to his little garden.
Among them, his favorite was the iris I gave him on his birthday.
“It was this flower that sparked my interest in flowers all over the world,” he once said. “Such an unremarkable little seed, yet with human care, it can bloom into something so beautiful. The whole process is just fascinating.”
He said he loved the flowers, but he loved the process of their blooming even more.
In this small world, he was the god who controlled everything. Blooming, withering, fading, blossoming, it was all his to command.
I couldn’t understand what Aiden was saying. A flower was just a flower. It bloomed when it wanted, fell when it was time. Why bother with all that?
That was when Eryn Ziegler, who was helping us move the flowers that day, suddenly lifted her head.
“You’re right, Professor Sanders. I love this feeling too,” Eryn agreed. “The quality of flowers depends entirely on how diligently the gardener cultivates them. Look how well this iris is growing. I’ve taken such good care of it.”
They first met one fall with the irises in full bloom. The flowers were the reason, but I also took part in it.
After that, Aiden started ordering flowers from Eryn regularly. Roses, peonies, magnolias, lilacs …
Our villa was slowly transforming into a sky garden and their relationship grew closer and closer.
Then, one day, Aiden suddenly offered to sponsor Eryn’s education. “She’s only a teenager, remarkably intelligent and willing to work hard. It would be a pity to let such talent go to waste.”
Eryn nervously picked at the thick calluses on her hands. A worried yet almost pleading smile appeared on her dark little face.
She spoke timidly, “Nina, I’ll study hard, I promise. I had good grades before. I only dropped out because my mother was in an accident and I had no choice but to support the family. Please, give me this chance. I won’t let you down!”
Her young face was etched with fatigue and pain that were unsuited to her age.
Looking at those sincere eyes, I suddenly recalled the image of Aiden sitting helpless and confused in the stairwell when he was eight years old.
Once again, my heart softened.
For a long time after that, I treated Eryn like a younger sister.
I bought her clothes, taught her about skincare and shared wisdom on how to navigate relationships.
She kept calling my name, saying I was the kindest person in the world to her. She even promised that she would repay my kindness if she ever had the chance.
Well, that girl didn’t disappoint my expectations—she made it into the university where Aiden and I worked.
The same night she received her acceptance letter, she climbed into Aiden’s bed.
I had left work early that day, planning to cook a whole table of dishes to celebrate her achievement. But when I got home, I saw them tangled together. With their clothes half off, their bodies pressed close.
In that moment, I lost my mind.
I threw the cake right onto both of them. Then, I smashed every single flower and plant in the house to pieces.
Aiden shielded Eryn behind him, watching my actions with a cold stare instead.
“Nina, when you’re done making a scene, close the door. You have no shame, but Eryn still does,” he sneered.
Between her and me, he had chosen the other woman without hesitation.
I couldn’t bear any of it and forced Aiden to give me an explanation.
Sadly, he just frowned and said, “Nina, you’re still my wife. As long as you behave, Eryn will never threaten your position.”
At that same time, Eryn suddenly knelt before me.
“Nina, I know I’ve wronged you, but Aiden and I truly love each other. We’re soulmates who understand each other best in this world. Don’t worry, I’ll never forget your kindness. I don’t want a title, nor will I compete with you. All I ask is to stay by Aiden’s side!”
Back then, I was barely in my twenties. It was that age when youth and pride made me intolerant of any injustice.
I sent a letter of report to the university, intent on exposing their disgusting, immoral affair.
However, reality quickly taught me a lesson.
The university would never dismiss Aiden, its most respected professor. Instead, they give me a disciplinary warning to calm him down.
Aiden even made a public statement, asking his fellow professors to “look after” Eryn.
That man proudly said, “This is my student. She is intelligent, eager to learn and diligently hardworking.”
“I sincerely hope that, for my sake, none of you will make things difficult for her. She’s come a long way from being a flower seller to where she is today, enduring countless hardships.”
“Perhaps Eryn isn’t outstanding or exceptionally brilliant, but in my eyes, she is the best. She is my greatest pride.”
Aiden even admitted that Eryn’s admission into this prestigious institution was partly due to his behind-the-scenes influence.
He knew it wasn’t the right thing to do, but he didn’t care. He only hoped that Eryn would have a bright future.
Then, what about me? What was I? A joke?
I hid at home, crying night after night.
No matter how many times I turned over in bed, all I could see were those twisted, mocking faces around me.
Meanwhile, Aiden continued to take care of his irises.
He said casually, “Nina, haven’t you figured it out yet? Your job, your reputation, your status, everything you have comes from me. Without me, you are nothing. I told you, Eryn won’t threaten your position. Be sensible. Can’t we just live our lives in peace?”
No! Absolutely not!
I couldn’t stand it—having a husband who lived by my side day and night, yet kept thinking about another woman all the time.
I began to lose control. I screamed, shouted and became hysterical. I even launched an almost insane campaign to take revenge on this despicable couple.
When Aiden gave a speech, I replaced his slides with explicit photos of him and Eryn. When they were being interviewed, I rushed forward and exposed their sordid relationship.
I wrote countless complaint letters and filmed countless short videos documenting their actions. However, all my efforts earned me was a single document: a psychiatric evaluation report.
Aiden was too clever. He expertly guided me into a state of madness, then used videos of my outbursts as evidence. His intelligence, social standing and deep understanding of me meant he could destroy me effortlessly.
In the end, I got fired from my job, had my degree certificate revoked and was personally committed to a mental hospital by Aiden himself.
I tell this part calmly, but Sabrina’s eyes are already red with tears. She sobbed and asked me, “What happened after that?”
After that, I found out I was nearly five months pregnant while still in the mental hospital.
When Aiden heard it, he came to take me home. The arrival of this child made him compromise.
He brought me back, held my hand and said, “Nina, I did make mistakes, but you shouldn’t have caused such chaos either. Your parents’ hair turned white overnight because of you. Now, whenever they go out, people point fingers and gossip about them. You’re not young anymore. Can you please stop being so reckless?”
Then he placed my hand on my belly. “Think about this child. Think about your parents.”
Tears slipped down into my palm. This time, I chose to cooperate.
After all these events, my heart was severely wounded and I was utterly drained. Every day, I felt like a zombie, spending my days in that flower-filled house, lost in thought.
Aiden would come home on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to be with me and give early education lessons to the baby in my belly. Yet on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, he was with Eryn, savoring the sweetness of their new relationship.
Ignoring his own stomach issues, he accompanied Eryn to try all the new, interesting, trendy food spots. Milk tea, coffee, hotpot, ice cream, whatever she liked, Aiden never refused.
This man, who once thought wasting ten minutes was a disgrace, now willingly sat through one boring romantic movie after another with her.
This man, who valued his career above all else, was now happily engaged in all kinds of childish things with his mistress.
To protect Eryn, Aiden allowed her to be a co-author on a paper that was outside her major. He even played pranks on his colleagues and skipped his own lectures, all to amuse her.
In doing so, he not only trampled on my face and dignity but also completely disregarded the ethics and fundamental rules of our entire profession.
What finally made me explode was Aiden’s meticulously planned marriage proposal for Eryn.
That year, Aiden had become instantly famous after discovering a minor planet. He didn’t just appear in international journals; his handsome looks also made him a sensation nationwide.
At the peak of his life, he chose to share that glory with Eryn. He named the minor planet “Erynden,” which meant “Forever Intertwined.” Just like Aiden and Eryn, who vowed never to part.
That same night he received the award, in a romantic planetarium, under Erynden, he held a small wedding ceremony for her.
Watching Eryn in her wedding dress, walking slowly toward Aiden and seeing the two of them exchange vows to stay together until their hair turned white, under that starry sky, I broke down all over again.
Back then, Aiden and I had never had a wedding.
When I begged him repeatedly, he only said, “Nina, you know me. I don’t like those showy things. Rather than waste time and effort, I’d rather use my energy on real work. I have many experiments to finish.”
Because I loved him, I gave in. Because I loved him, I also lost everything I had.
All the emotions I had bottled up for so long finally erupted.
In front of all the guests, I rushed forward, tore the wedding dress off Eryn and slapped her hard across the face twice.
Aiden splashed a glass of water across my face. His voice was cold as ice when he said, “Nina, you’ve crossed the line.”
Soon after, he filed for divorce and said he would take Eryn away.
Of course, I refused. I couldn’t and wouldn’t let go.
I cried as I spoke to Aiden. “If you dare leave today, I’ll jump off this cliff with the child.”
Aiden didn’t leave. Instead, he pushed me down. Maybe he only meant to frighten me, but in the end, I truly lost the baby I had been longing for.
I was admitted to the mental hospital again, this time for severe depression.
When I talk about it now, I smile a little and say in a calm, almost indifferent tone, “In my second year at the asylum, Aiden filed for divorce. I fought it until the very end, but I got nothing except this box of junk.”
“The year after the divorce, I couldn’t accept any of it. I self-harmed and went insane countless times.”
“My condition was so bad that I couldn’t find suitable work.”
“My parents were so worried about me that their hair turned white and their health was getting worse day by day. Afraid of making them worry more, I started helping at the family bakery and surprisingly, my emotions gradually stabilized. ”
Soon, I concluded. “Now, I’ve inherited the shop and I’m actually doing quite well.”
My tone was calm, but Sabrina sobbed uncontrollably. “Nina, why are you suffering so much? Aiden is a real jerk. If I see him, I’ll definitely beat him up to a pulp to get revenge for you.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the door was pushed aside.
There Aiden stood, right in front of us.
The cloudy glasses made his face hard to see, yet suddenly I remembered the words he had said when we parted.
I think he said, “Nina, I … ”
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