When My Husband's Number Hit Zero, I Left

When I was little, a car accident left me with a strange ability. I could see how many times I would meet each person in my life. One morning, the number above our neighbor Jenny's head changed to "one." She said hi to me, and by noon, her whole family had moved to England. I never saw her again. When the numbers above my parents' heads changed to "one," their plane crashed that night. I waited, but they never came home. Watching the numbers above the heads of people I knew slowly count down terrified me. Then I met the man who would become my husband, Austin Vance. A bright red "∞" glowed above his head. It meant we'd see each other an infinite number of times. It felt like a silent promise. He'd stay with me until my last breath, until death did us part. For all five years of our marriage, he made me feel safe. He was a mafia boss, but no matter how busy he was with the crew, he always came home on time. Even during secret crew meetings, he'd answer my video calls and tell his men, "Livia is my wife. She's the person I trust most." Then, shortly before my birthday, Austin stayed out all night. When he finally walked in, he reeked of another woman's perfume. The sickly sweet scent turned my stomach. When he saw me frown, he stroked my hair. "It's just the wife of one of my men. A deal ended in a shootout, and her husband was killed. I stayed to help her with the funeral arrangements." The "∞" above his head still glowed bright red, so I told myself not to overthink it. Then one night, Austin didn't get home until almost midnight. The number above his head flickered and changed to "three." In that moment, I knew my marriage to Austin was about to end. Chapter 1 Austin walked in and found me curled up on the couch in a thin nightgown. He frowned, strode over, and wrapped a blanket tightly around me. "It's so cold. You should know better than to dress like that." He sounded a little annoyed, but he tucked the blanket around me gently. He hugged me from behind, his warm breath brushing my neck. He still seemed like the husband who loved and spoiled me. I stared hard at the number, but no matter how many times I blinked, the blood-red "three" didn't change. "Why are you so late?" I stepped back without thinking, slipping out of his arms. Austin looked away for a moment, then quickly composed himself. "Tomorrow's your birthday. I've planned a party on a cruise ship. Haven't you always wanted to watch the sunrise at sea? This time I'll be there with you." He leaned in and brushed his nose against mine. Just as he was about to kiss me, his phone rang, sharp and urgent. Austin answered, and I heard a child crying on the other end. His expression changed at once. "Don't be scared, Ron. I'm on my way," he said, trying to calm the boy. I'd rarely seen him so rattled. Even when his crew was under siege, he could give orders without batting an eye. But the moment he heard Bianca Russo and her son on the phone, he was in too much of a hurry to even put his coat on properly. He got up to leave, and I caught his wrist. "It's late. Can't you send the bodyguards instead?" Austin looked back at me, his brow furrowing. "Bianca just lost her husband, and her son's only eight. I can't stand by and do nothing. "Livia, don't be so cold. Bianca's husband died protecting the crew, after all." Cold. That one word cut deep. When we were dating, I stayed up all night helping him gather information on the other families so he could hold on to his power. I even used the money my parents had left me to keep his men loyal and get him through the crisis. When he was injured and feverish, I sat by his bed for more than 20 hours without sleeping. Back then, he said I was the gentlest person he knew, the one who understood him best. Now all I'd done was ask him to spend my birthday with me, and suddenly I was cold. He'd already provided Bianca with bodyguards, maids, and a doctor. She had more help than we did, but whenever anything happened, she still called him. Once, twice, countless times. I looked at the number above his head. Exhaustion washed over me, and I no longer wanted to argue. "Go." Austin froze, probably not expecting me to give in so easily. Then his voice turned gentle again. "Wait for me. I'll be back." I sat in the empty living room, staring at the wedding photo on the wall. In it, he was holding my hand in the church where he'd sworn never to leave me. I picked up my phone and called my brother. "Get a divorce agreement ready for me." I couldn't keep playing the understanding wife who waited for him to come home, especially when our marriage was already counting down to its end. Chapter 2 The next afternoon, Austin finally came home. He came toward me with a bouquet of white roses. "Happy birthday, sweetheart. I'm sorry I wasn't with you last night. Meet me on the cruise ship at the harbor at eight tonight. I've got a surprise you're going to love." He leaned down to kiss me. I smelled that sickly sweet floral perfume on him again. It wasn't mine. I turned my head away. He paused, then smiled and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Still mad? I'll make it up to you tonight." The number above Austin's head still glared at me, but this might be the last birthday we'd spend together. I wanted one last good memory so I could end our marriage with some dignity. So I nodded. When I got to the harbor, the water was empty. There wasn't a cruise ship in sight, or even a decent yacht. The cold wind whipped in off the sea and stung my face. I stood under a streetlight with my arms wrapped around myself, coming up with one excuse after another. Maybe there's a last-minute inspection. Maybe he's still on his way. Maybe... Eight o'clock came and went. Then nine. There was still no ship in sight, and my last bit of hope faded. I called Austin. He didn't pick up until the third try. "Livia?" He sounded as if he'd only just remembered, panic creeping into his voice. "I'm sorry. I had everything set up, but Bianca went missing by the water. I sent every boat I could to look for her. Go home. I'll make it up to you another day, I promise." I could hear a child crying in the background and people updating him on the search. My fingertips were numb from the cold, but I suddenly laughed. Bianca again. On Valentine's Day, she said she was having a breakdown. On our engagement anniversary, she took her son to the hospital. And now, on my birthday, she just happened to go missing. I used to feel sorry for her after she lost her husband. I never held it against her, and I even went out of my way to help. But every one of her crises happened on a day that mattered to Austin and me. And every time, Austin chose her. "Okay." After I hung up, I walked along the harbor. The wind made my eyes burn. As I passed a row of warehouses, I saw the luxury cruise ship meant for my birthday. The ship was brightly lit, with a birthday cake and champagne set out on the deck. Austin was holding Ron, letting the boy smear frosting on his face. This was a neat freak who couldn't stand even a wrinkle in his shirt, yet he was laughing without a hint of annoyance. Bianca sat to one side with Austin's suit jacket around her shoulders, watching them fondly. In that moment, my mind went blank. Every sound around me disappeared. Watching the three of them play happy family made my chest ache. Ron was smearing frosting from my birthday cake all over Austin, as if it were Austin's birthday instead of mine. My name was written on the cake, beside a candle shaped like my favorite number. They'd taken my ship, my cake, my birthday. They'd even taken my husband's tenderness. Bianca saw me first. Her smile froze, but she quickly put on an innocent look. "Ms. Sinclair, I'm so sorry for ruining your birthday." She stood up, her eyes red and that white floral perfume clinging to her. "I just wanted to clear my head by the water. I never thought Mr. Vance would worry so much." She apologized, but kept her eyes on Austin, as if to remind me he'd even miss my birthday for her. Only then did Austin notice me. He hurried over, took my hand, and tucked my ice-cold fingers inside his shirt. "How long have you been waiting? Why didn't you go home?" I looked at Ron, still in Austin's arms and making faces at me, then at the jacket draped over Bianca's shoulders. "Didn't you say tonight was my birthday party?" His fingers went stiff. "Livia, I can explain. Something really did come up today..." "Don't bother." I pulled my hand away, digging my nails into my palm. I looked him straight in the eye. "Let's get a divorce." Chapter 3 The laughter on the deck stopped short. Austin's smile vanished completely. "Divorce! Over one missed birthday?" He lowered his voice, staring at me in disbelief. "Livia, stop it. Bianca just lost her husband. She's not stable. I can't just ignore her." I looked at him. "What about me?" He froze. I'd waited two hours for him until I was numb with cold, and the first thing he did was blame me for showing up. Austin grabbed my hand. "I messed up today, but don't bring up divorce again. We're not getting divorced." He was about to pull me away when Bianca covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. "It's all my fault... If it weren't for me, Mr. Vance wouldn't be fighting with you. I shouldn't even be alive. All I do is cause trouble for everyone..." Before she could finish, she collapsed onto the deck. Ron burst into tears and threw himself at her. "Mommy! Mommy, don't die!" The color drained from Austin's face, and he crouched down to check on her. I stood to one side and watched the all-too-familiar scene unfold, unmoved. All Bianca had to do was cry, and everyone would rush to her side. All Ron had to do was throw a fit, and Austin would drop me immediately. Sure enough, Austin looked back at me, his voice pleading. "Livia, can you go home first? I'm taking her to the hospital. We'll talk once she's been taken care of." I watched him fuss over another woman, and my chest tightened until I could barely breathe. It hit me then: Austin had pushed me away and chosen someone else. I had no reason to hold on to a marriage that had long since gone sour. And I definitely shouldn't give up my own life for a man who no longer cherished me. I took out my phone and called my old mentor. "Professor, last time you asked if I wanted to join your archaeology team. I've thought it over. I'm in." I heard the relief in my professor's voice, but I felt strangely dazed. Five years ago, I'd given up the career I loved to help Austin build his empire. Now I understood that love shouldn't be my whole life, much less the thing that kept me trapped. "Your flight's at ten a.m. the day after tomorrow," my professor said. "It'll be good to have you back." I hung up and took one last look at the brightly lit cruise ship. This time, I wasn't going to wait for Austin anymore. Chapter 4 By the time I returned home with the divorce agreement from my brother, Bianca and Ron had already moved in. Austin was sitting on our bed with Ron on his lap, and the boy's shoes were leaving marks all over the white sheets. Bianca was busy in the kitchen, wearing my clothes. One of the matching mugs Austin and I had made together lay broken in the trash, and someone had replaced the tablecloth with one I didn't recognize. The roses in the vase were gone, swapped out for lilies. Five years ago, we'd searched the whole city for a set of dishes. Back then, he'd said we should decorate the house the way I liked. Now another woman was taking over everything I'd chosen, piece by piece. When Bianca saw me, she set down the ladle and put on a wounded look. "Ms. Sinclair, I'm so sorry. Ron's been having nightmares, and Mr. Vance was worried we wouldn't be safe on our own, so he's letting us stay for a few days. As soon as I feel better, we'll move out." Austin added, "I've taken care of it. They'll move out in a few days. Don't get upset over something so small." I looked around the house that suddenly felt like a stranger's and almost laughed. "That's great," I said. "Looks like this place already has a new lady of the house." Bianca's face went pale, and she immediately looked at Austin. He frowned. "Livia, don't say that. She and her son have been through enough. Why do you have to be so harsh?" Standing in a house I barely recognized, I felt the last of my love die. Every last sign that we'd ever loved each other was gone. It was time for me to go, too. I looked at him, took a stack of documents out of my bag, and set them on the table. "You promised to make it up to me. Sign these." Austin glanced at the list of jewelry and clothes on top, then picked up a pen without asking. "Fine. You can have whatever you want. Just stop being mad about your birthday." He flipped through the documents without reading them. When he reached the last few pages, my heart leaped into my throat. The divorce agreement was tucked into that stack. Just then, Ron started pestering him for a toy. Still soothing the boy, Austin flipped to the last page and signed his name without a second thought. And just like that, my heart sank. I gathered up the documents and traced his signature with my fingertip. Five years of marriage, reduced to a careless stroke of his pen. I went back to the bedroom for some clothes and Bruto, the dog my mother had left me. But I searched the whole room and couldn't find him. Just as I was about to go downstairs, a faint whimper came from the corner. I rushed over and found Bruto stuffed into a cramped toolbox. He was curled up inside, looking at me through a gap and whining. Chapter 5 "Bruto!" I tried to open the box right away, but the latch was locked. Ron stood nearby, swinging the key in his hand, his smile somehow innocent and cruel at the same time. "Mommy says you're a bad person, and the doggy doesn't play with bad people!" With that, he turned and ran. I chased him, my voice rising in panic. "Ron, stop! Give me the key!" He deliberately dodged around the furniture, holding the key high. Bruto's whimpers grew weaker. I forgot about everything else and lunged for the key. Ron spun around, and his forehead slammed into my stomach. I gasped and stumbled back. My side hit the corner of the table hard, my vision went black, and I broke out in a cold sweat. Ron ran to Austin, who'd just come in, and burst into tears. "Daddy, she was mean to me! She won't let me play with the doggy!" When did Ron start calling Austin Daddy? A sharp pang went through me. Whatever. Let them. We're as good as divorced anyway. I reached for the key, but Austin stopped me. "Bruto's just keeping Ron company for a while. Livia, don't be so petty." I grabbed the edge of the table to steady myself, my voice trembling. "Austin, he locked Bruto in a toolbox! He's been with me for ten years. He's the only thing my mother left me!" Austin froze for a second. Of course he remembered. When we were dating, he'd held Bruto and promised to protect him like family. But now, he just crouched down and wiped Ron's tears. "Ron's little. He doesn't know any better. Livia, don't get so worked up. You'll scare him." I stared at him. For a moment, I was too stunned even to be angry. I snatched the key from Ron, unlocked the toolbox, and gathered Bruto into my arms. Bruto buried his head weakly in the crook of my arm, and I finally started to cry. I looked up at Austin. "He doesn't know any better. Can't you tell right from wrong either?" Austin's face darkened. "Bruto's fine, isn't he? Do you have to make such a fuss? Is a dog more important than a child?" Bianca came up beside him and took his arm. "It's all my fault. I wasn't watching Ron. Ms. Sinclair, please don't be angry. I'll take him away right now." She apologized, but there wasn't a trace of remorse in her eyes. The two of them stood together, one shielding Ron and the other making excuses for him, as if I were the only one who didn't belong in this house. I held Bruto tight. My voice came out cold and unsteady. "Get out." Ron cried even louder. Bianca immediately picked him up, and Austin looked at me before following them out anyway. The moment the door closed, I stroked Bruto's head, my tears falling onto his fur. Some people weren't even as loyal as a dog. But that was fine. I didn't want love that came without loyalty. Chapter 6 The next day, Austin's parents held a party at their estate and insisted that we both come. He hugged me. "Bianca and Ron have moved out. Please don't be mad anymore, okay?" I didn't want to go, but Austin's parents had always been good to me. I decided to treat it as my chance to say goodbye. With that in mind, I agreed. At the party, Austin was busy talking with important guests. He'd left his phone with me, and it chimed several times. I glanced at it and froze. The messages were from Bianca. "Ron misses you so much, and so do I." "The way you made me feel that night was amazing..." "I'm right outside the estate. I took one of Livia's lace nightgowns when I left this morning. I'm wearing it right now. It's such a thrill..." Every suggestive word burned itself into my mind. I stared at the photo she'd attached for a few seconds, my fingers going cold. Austin had given in to temptation after all. He'd cheated on me. When I gave Austin his phone back, his eyes caught on the messages for a split second. He swallowed and looked away as if nothing had happened, but his thumb kept rubbing the edge of the case. Sure enough, before long, Austin walked over to me. "Livia, Mr. Ashford and I have some business to talk about. I have to step out for a bit. Will you be okay on your own?" His voice was as gentle as ever, as though some urgent business really were waiting for him. I almost laughed out loud. He probably thought that as long as his lies were good enough, I'd believe him forever. I didn't call him out. I just nodded. I watched him weave through the crowd and leave the ballroom, then grabbed my coat and followed. Bianca was waiting outside the estate. As soon as Austin saw her, he hurried over. Austin pulled her into a deserted corner, and Bianca threw herself into his arms and tilted her head up to kiss him. At first he pushed her back and warned her quietly, "Bianca, I told you today's party is important. You shouldn't be here." But his breathing quickened, and seconds later, he bent down and kissed her. I stopped at the corner and watched them cling to each other. I'd thought I'd be furious, that I'd storm out and confront them, that I'd throw every bit of the humiliation back in their faces. But when I actually saw it, all I felt was disgust. I'd thought he was the exception fate had given me. I'd believed in his love, his patience, and the "∞" that promised we'd meet countless times. I'd already decided to divorce him, but before I left, he gave me one last gift: he destroyed every good memory we had left. I turned and walked away. The number above Austin's head changed to "one." Chapter 7 Austin didn't come back until that night. He came over as usual and reached out to hug me. "Why didn't you wait for me?" I smelled Bianca's white floral perfume on him, and the image of them kissing outside the estate flashed through my mind. My stomach turned. "I'm tired." I stepped out of his reach. Austin hesitated, then wrapped his arms around me from behind, his voice softening. "Livia, I really do love you. I know I've neglected you lately. Tomorrow I'll take you to Iceland to get away for a while. Just the two of us, okay?" I closed my eyes and didn't answer. He rested his chin on my shoulder, the way he had countless times before. This time, his arms felt suffocating. "Go take a shower first," I said. "That perfume on you smells awful." His arms stiffened. "I must have picked it up at the party." Austin went into the bathroom, and my phone lit up with a message from Bianca. In the photo, she was wearing my nightgown and holding my husband, her neck covered in red marks. "Mr. Vance was just at my place. He said he loves my body. He was so rough, I'm still sore." I glanced at it and blocked her number right away. In the middle of the night, Bianca called Austin again. "Mr. Vance, Ron has a fever! He keeps asking for you, and I don't know what to do by myself..." Austin sat up at once, worry all over his face, but he hesitated when he looked at me. The way I'd been acting the past couple of days had him rattled. "Livia, Ron's sick. I'm going to go check on him. I'll be right back." "Go," I said. Austin was taken aback, but Bianca kept urging him over the phone, and he hurried out without stopping to think. As soon as the door closed, I saw the number above Austin's head change from "one" to "zero." By dawn, Austin still hadn't come back. I took off my wedding ring and left it on the table with the divorce agreement. Then I gave my brother the other signed documents to handle. Bruto lay quietly beside my suitcase, looking up at me. I crouched, stroked his head, and whispered, "Let's go." Before the plane took off, I got a message from Austin. "Babe, the flight to Iceland is all set. Pack your things. I'm coming home now to pick you up." I didn't reply. I blocked Austin everywhere. As the plane hummed beneath me, I watched the familiar city fade from view. Above the clouds, I flew toward a wider world. The moment the number above Austin's head hit zero, he had cut every tie between us himself. From then on, I was free.