Heart in Ashes

Luna Baxter and Simon Fulmer have been married for five years. One day, she receives a provocative voice message and intimate photos from Simon's first love. They're sent from his phone, too.

"I've only been back in the country for half a year, but he took the bait as soon as I laid it. He's prepared blue fireworks for me tonight, but I don't like the color blue. To avoid wastage, you can have them on your wedding anniversary."

Luna and Simon's fifth wedding anniversary comes a month later. She looks out the window at the blue fireworks lighting up the sky. Then, her gaze lands on the empty seat across from her.

Simon's first love challenges her again. She sends her a photo of them having a candlelight dinner.

Luna doesn't cry or kick up a fuss. She silently signs a divorce agreement and asks Simon's secretary to prepare for a wedding.

"What are the bride's and groom's names, Mrs. Fulmer?"

"Simon Fulmer and Sophie Sutherland."

Seven days later, she flies to Naavi to give them her blessings. She throws them a wedding.

"Mrs. Fulmer, here's the divorce agreement from the safe."

On Luna Baxter's fifth wedding anniversary, her secretary, Susanna Mace, handed the divorce papers to her in a Westonian restaurant.

On the day Simon Fulmer and Luna registered their marriage five years ago, Simon, as a gesture of sincerity, drafted and signed a divorce agreement before locking it in a safe.

The agreement stipulated that Luna could sign it at any time to end the marriage if Simon was ever unfaithful.

Luna swiftly signed the document.

She looked at the empty seat across from her, her expression dim. "Take the divorce papers to the attorney. Then, book a hotel and prepare the wedding venue in advance."

Susanna froze for a moment before she tentatively asked, "Whose names should I write for the bride and groom, Mrs. Fulmer?"

"Simon Fulmer and Sophie Sutherland," Luna replied, to which Susanna didn't say another word.

Sophie was Simon's first love.

Susanna's voice trembled as she continued, "Mrs. Fulmer, how many days from now should the wedding be held?"

Luna slowly turned her gaze to the window.

The blue fireworks, blazing for an hour, flickered out at last, leaving only a faint line in the sky.

"Happy Fifth Anniversary to Simon Fulmer & Luna Baxter."

Luna withdrew her gaze and pressed her lips together. "The wedding will be in seven days. Also, book me a flight to Naavi for that same day."

"Naavi, ma'am?" Susanna was stunned for a few seconds, hesitating before advising, "Mrs. Fulmer, perhaps you should reconsider?"

On the day of their marriage registration five years ago, in addition to the divorce agreement that Simon voluntarily signed, Luna's parents, who resided in Naavi, refused his million-dollar wedding gift and had him sign a prenuptial agreement.

The agreement stated that if Luna were ever heartbroken by the marriage and returned to her parents' home alone, Simon would be forbidden from stepping into Naavi for the rest of his life.

If that day came, Simon wouldn't even have the chance to beg for reconciliation.

"It's fine." Luna shook her head.

It would be her birthday in seven days. She planned to leave Simon, take a flight to Naavi, and arrange for someone to host a wedding for him and Sophie, fulfilling their wishes.

After Susanna left, Luna's phone suddenly vibrated.

A notification popped up.

Simon had used the company's Facebook account to publicly post a photo of the blue fireworks display, tagging her.

"Happy fifth anniversary, my love. I will love you forever."

Within less than a minute, the post garnered over a thousand comments.

"I'm so envious! I was wondering why Lake City had an hour-long blue fireworks show tonight. It was Mr. Fulmer's surprise for Mrs. Fulmer after all!"

"Five years of marriage and Mr. Fulmer's declarations of love are still this grand."

"I heard that after Mr. Fulmer had surgery under general anesthesia last year, he wasn't fully awake yet when he saw Mrs. Fulmer in the recovery room. His groggy first words were, 'You have a sensitive stomach. Did you eat lunch on time?' Even the nurses were moved to tears at that moment."

Among the flood of comments, Simon replied to one.

"Lulu is my wife. Loving her, spoiling her, and protecting her for a lifetime of peace and happiness is my duty as her husband."

Instantly, this reply was met with a wave of envious outcries in the comments.

Yet, as the object of all this admiration, Luna impassively stared at the empty seat across from her.

Once, there was love between her and Simon.

They had never fought in their seven years together.

For seven years, Simon had given her wealth, status, and love.

But a month ago, on the night Simon was away on a business trip, Luna discovered that he had long been unfaithful.

That night, Simon sent her a voice message.

When she played it, a woman's voice came through the speaker.

"I've been back for six months. With just a flick of my finger, he's fallen into the palm of my hand. He prepared a blue fireworks show for me tonight. Since I don't like blue, let me give it to you for your anniversary celebration so that it won't go to waste."

At the time, Luna didn't even know who the woman was.

That was until two weeks ago when Simon walked into a party in the private room with that woman.

Simon introduced her, saying she was his distant younger cousin.

Sophie's delicate face lit up with a bright smile as she greeted Luna, "Hi! I've been back for over six months. I'm finally meeting you, cousin-in-law!"

The woman's charming and all-too-familiar voice left Luna in a daze.

Later, Luna left early as she couldn't stay. When Simon came home drunk in the middle of the night, Luna received a message from an unknown sender.

"It was way too thrilling on the rooftop tonight. I couldn't hold back and left scratch marks all over Mr. Ex. I've gotta say, Mr. Ex is still as wild as ever. He's like a stallion in heat."

Luna looked at the passed-out Simon on the bed.

His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, and his chest was covered in scratch marks.

The shirt he wore was the men's version of the matching white shirts she had custom-made for their anniversary last year.

On the collar was an embroidery of the word "Husband" she had hand-stitched.

When Simon received the shirt, he was so touched that he took her hand and promised, "Lulu, every time I wear this shirt you gave me, I'll remind myself to stay away from other women. I'll save myself for you."

Now, the same shirt bore a glaring lipstick stain on its collar.

And today, on their fifth wedding anniversary, she arrived first at the Westonian restaurant.

Five minutes later, she received a call from Simon.

Simon said he was preparing a surprise for her and couldn't make it to their candlelit dinner, so she should enjoy the fireworks alone.

Two minutes after he ended the call, Luna received a photo from him on WhatsApp.

She clicked on the photo and saw Simon having a candlelit dinner with Sophie.

The flowers and red wine made for a romantic sight.

Simon must have posted his love declaration on Facebook while he lay in Sophie's arms.