After the Divorce, I Relied on Comics to Turn Myself Around

He finally noticed me, eyes wide in a flash of panic, "Why are you here!"

Stunned, I just flashed my meet-and-greet ticket.

Lily Evans leaned in, all coy, "James, stop eyeballing other chicks, it makes me crazy jealous, like, seriously hurts."

James didn't go for a kiss.

He just pushed her back, holding her off like she was just some acquaintance.

He grumbled and stepped aside, letting me through, like he barely knew me.

How bizarre.

That night, James didn't roll in until way past midnight.

I was lounging on the couch, catching him chatting on his phone, totally ignoring me.

"Enough with the drama. I'll swing by, change, then come pamper you."

His shirt collar was a canvas of smeared lipstick, like a badge of dishonor.

Half an hour later, he strutted in pretending he'd just got back.

Even bleary-eyed, he mumbled some pointers for my comic's plot.

Barely had time to think it over when my editor buzzed me—my comic was trending.

#Lily Evans suspected to be the real-life muse for the comics#

Someone chimed in below.

"Check this out. I've matched up Lily's known whereabouts with the comic's key scenes. Coincidence? More like she's the living embodiment."

"Talk about art imitating life. No wonder the creator said she and her hubby cooked this up together—they're flaunting it for the world."

"Bet you, next week's chapter ditches the concert scene."

Reading through these comments, I felt a tightening in my chest.

I clicked on the fan-compiled link. Last week's chapter? Hero takes the heroine to an amusement park. Just days ago, Lily was snapped at an overseas park, not alone.

I tried calling him all that day; his phone was off the grid.

Next day, James was like, "Let's hit up the amusement park."

Last week, on a whim, I sketched a scene where the hero and heroine chase the aurora together.

Pulled an all-nighter fleshing it out.

Draft after draft, I'd show him the fresh storyboards.

He nodded, "Not bad, I'll post this soon."

I kept tweaking it all week.

As soon as she logged on, Lily Evans dropped a video montage of her aurora adventure.

Just now, James urged me to sketch out a concert scene.

My grip on my phone tightened, wishing I could crush it.

A deep sorrow was swallowing me whole.

Yet, not a single tear fell.

The editor hadn't even hung up yet and was pitching ideas.

"The drama's buzzing pretty well."

"Got next week's content? If not, let's roll with what the netizens want—a concert scene to keep the hype alive."

My voice shook as I replied, stunned, "This comic ends here. Permanently."

The editor was speechless, forgetting to ask if something was off with me.

As I cleaned up my drawing table, I said, "Nothing's wrong, just sick of sketching the same old lead. Time to break new ground."

On my way to sort things at the office.

The editor tried to talk me down the whole way—contract breach fines, not to mention copyright fees were steep.

Years back, I'd sold my first comic's exclusive rights to a company under James's name.

Maybe James really was smitten with Lily, since he brought her along to work.

That was why I bumped into her once I got into the office.

The moment she saw me, she apologized, "Gracy, I had no idea you drew that. James never told me."

"Don't mind the netizens. They just spin tales. I'm not your muse. They're blowing it out of proportion."

Before I could respond, she grabbed my arm, faking closeness,

"Good thing James is with you. I'd worry if it were anyone else."

"Got time soon? The professor keeps asking about you."

I twisted the ring on my finger, "I'll visit when I can."

"You're right, you're not the muse. I'll clarify that and erase this character for good."

After that, Lily's face fell.

She suddenly clutched her stomach, gasping for air, looking like she was about to collapse.

Her eyes locked on me, she lunged, but I instinctively dodged.

Just as I thought of helping, James barreled in, throwing me off balance.

Stunned, I pictured Lily bloodied and broken.

James was frantic, barely touching her, "Grace, if anything happens to our baby, I'll never forgive you."

Tears streamed down Lily's face as she clung to James, "It's not her fault, I got carried away. Didn't think Grace would wish me dead after the net chatter. Didn't think she'd be this mad."

"James, our baby will be okay, right?"

Hearing her, James looked even more remorseful.

He wrapped his arms around Lily, comforting her with a voice so tender it could wring tears from a stone.

I'd spent my best years behind him, but now, I was the punchline.

He looked at me, eyes full of a cold breakup. As if to say. I was a smear in his life.