"You're right. It is because of the snowman."
"What is wrong with you? It's just snow."
"I know I promised to watch the first snowfall with you, but I was stuck at the office. I ran into Carter right after I clocked out. We just built a snowman together on a whim. That's all it was."
Tessa's explanation was pale, powerless, and rehearsed. Listening to it, I felt nothing but a rising tide of irritation.
I stared at the snowman. Ugly. Misshapen. Yet looking at it made my chest feel like a boulder had crushed my ribs. I couldn't breathe.
"I don't need explanations," I said, my voice devoid of warmth. "Just sign the papers. Let's get this over with. It's the best outcome for both of us."
The snow fell heavier now, large flakes drifting down to coat the city in white. The streets were filling with people celebrating New Year's Eve, their laughter a stark contrast to the freezing silence between us.
"Oliver, stop making a scene over nothing." Tessa stepped forward, her voice pitching up. "Tell me—where have I failed you? Whatever it is, I'm willing to change."
She clung to my arm, her grip desperate.
I shook her off.
Perhaps I used too much force, or perhaps she was unsteady in her heels—she stumbled and collapsed onto the snowy pavement.
"Oliver!"
Carter rushed forward, scooping her up with exaggerated distress. He turned his glare on me. "You ungrateful leech. Tessa has fed you, clothed you, supported you for five years. This is how you repay her?"
His self-righteous shouting and Tessa's soft, broken sobbing instantly drew a crowd.
Among the onlookers, I recognized several faces—Tessa's subordinates from the company.
"My god, isn't that Director Fletcher? Did I hear that right? Her husband wants a divorce over a snowman?"
"No way. Her husband worships the ground she walks on. He brings her dinner every time she works late."
"He's just a house husband. Delivering food is the only skill he has."
Vicious whispers assaulted my ears while the biting wind drilled into my collar.
Yet internally, I felt no chill. The cold inside me had long since frozen over.
"Sign it," I repeated, ignoring the audience. "While this hasn't completely blown up, while I haven't changed my mind about the terms—sign it. It's for your own good."
I thought of our five years together. Despite everything, I was still giving her a chance to walk away with her reputation intact. Still urging her to sign an agreement where I left with nothing but the clothes on my back.
"I won't sign! I absolutely won't sign!" Tessa cried out, tears streaming down her face. "Oliver, you're being incredibly petty. I missed one snowfall with you. I built one snowman with Carter. And for that, you want to throw away our marriage?"
She paused, her tear-filled eyes widening as if struck by sudden realization.
"Wait... say it. Do you have someone else? Is that it? Did you deliberately wait until today to stage this?"
Her face was a mask of pure grievance, painted with the perfect amount of betrayal.
Instantly, the murmurs around us grew louder, turning into a roar of judgment.
"The freeloader is cheating?"
"Director Fletcher must be right. Look at his face—guilty."
"He definitely found his next meal ticket. Why else would a man divorce his wife over a snowman?"
"Scumbag. Absolute trash. I'm exposing him."
Phones were raised. Flashes went off.
Tessa's company was in the heart of the commercial district, and the New Year's Eve foot traffic was immense. My stated reason for divorce sounded absurd to outsiders, and several self-appointed vigilantes began livestreaming.
"Look at this guy. Lives off his wife's money, acts tough, and demands a divorce because she built a snowman with a friend."
Viewer counts climbed rapidly. Tessa noticed the cameras, and her tears flowed harder.
"Oliver," she choked out, playing to the gallery. "Even if everyone's guesses are true... as long as you cut ties with that woman, I won't hold it against you. Come home."
She looked so righteous. So forgiving. So understanding.
Bile rose in my throat.
"Tessa has already compromised this much! How are you still not satisfied?" Carter held the "heartbroken" Tessa in his arms, practically spitting as he cursed me. "Oliver Fox, everyone is right about you. You aren't worthy of being called a man."
I looked at the signed divorce papers in my hand.
Then I pointed at the pure white snowman behind them.
"I am getting this divorce," I said, my voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "And the answer to why is right there. Inside that snowman."
Tessa froze, her eyes flickering. "Oliver, I've already compromised. Do you have to force my hand?"
"Tell me!" she screamed suddenly, trying to drown me out. "Who is she? What does she have that I don't? I loved you for five years! Every holiday, every birthday—I spent them with you!"
"Only tonight... only because of overtime, I broke a promise. You cannot use divorce to threaten me over this!"
Her words exploded like a bomb, blasting a crater into calm water, sending ripples of sympathy through the crowd and turning public opinion violently against me.
