Right before we boarded our flight to Bali for our honeymoon, my wife suddenly turned to me. I'm going to run and grab you a coffee from that little place you like. You wait right here for me.
But six hours passed. Then, my phone buzzed with a notification. It was a racy video.
My wife had already landed in Bali. In the ocean-view suite I had booked, she was locked in a passionate kiss with a male intern from her company.
I forwarded the video directly to her.
"Did you go all the way to Bali to source some rare, imported coffee beans?"
Her reply was casual, almost bored. "The company's IPO is just around the corner. You need to stop thinking about vacations all the time. We can do the honeymoon later."
In the background, I could hear the intern's mocking whistle.
"Some of these rich husbands are so clueless. They really think money makes them invincible, don't they?"
A cold, sharp laugh escaped my lips. Whether or not money makes me invincible
We were about to find out.

1
I booked every single seat on every flight returning from Bali to our home country for the next two weeks.
If Ava didn't want to see me, then she would never have to come back at all.
Ten minutes later, my phone was ringing. It was her.
"Leo, are you insane? The IPO signing is in three days! If I'm not there, do you have any idea how much money we'll lose?" she shrieked. "Tell them to get the flights back online now!"
Her furious tone was laced with panic, but I just chuckled softly.
"You said you never wanted to see me again. I'm just making your wish come true."
Before she could answer, the intern's whiny voice came through the phone. "Ava, it's all my fault. I was just being selfish. I'll go apologize to Mr. Hayes, okay?"
Ava cut him off, her voice tight with suppressed rage as she spoke to me. "I was just taking my little brother out for a trip. I forgot to tell you. Stop making a scene."
I let out a derisive snort. "Right. Well, you two have a great time. In fact, I'll even book you a couples' package tour."
She finally lost her composure. "Leo! What the hell do you want?!"
"Either he's out of the company, or the company goes under. Your choice."
Thirty minutes later, I received an email notification of the intern's, Caleb's, termination.
I immediately called the airline. "Reopen the return flights."
Then, I sent Ava a picture. It was a series of termination documents for several of her key confidantes at the company.
"Ava, remember where my line is. This is just a warning. If you provoke me again, you'll face the consequences."
She didn't reply.
I knew she must hate me right now. But the fire in my own chest burned hotter.
She had no idea what I had sacrificed for this honeymoon, canceling a packed schedule of crucial project meetings. I had hoped this trip would be a chance for us to rediscover the sweetness and joy we once had.
After all, she was the one who had come to my grandmother, begging her to let me marry her, claiming she'd had a secret crush on me for years. My grandmother, moved by her sincerity, had told me to consider it. Otherwise, given her background, she would have never been a match for me.
In the years since our wedding, she had managed our home perfectly. She was a doting and respectful daughter-in-law to my parents. Whenever I came home late from business dinners, no matter the hour, she would leave a light on for me in the living room, a thermos of hot, soothing broth always waiting on the table. She even remembered a passing comment I'd made about a rare aged tea and scoured every tea shop in the city to find it for me.
Slowly, I had come to believe that her story of a long-held crush was true. And slowly, I had fallen for her. For years, we were the picture of a perfect couple, what everyone called a match made in heaven.
I never imagined she would shatter that peace for a man she barely knew.

2
The next day, I left work early and drove to the airport to pick Ava up.
I leaned against the car, waiting patiently. My phone was silent, but I figured she just hadn't gotten my last message before her flight.
The minutes ticked by. Her flight had landed, but there was still no sign of her.
I tried calling. It rang a few times and then was disconnected.