Chapter 2

The coffin lid creaked open, leaving a narrow gap.

Outside, the rain was coming down in sheets, and a cold, damp wind brushed against my face, making me shiver.

There was a faint, dragging pain in my lower belly, but all I could think about was one thing.

I had to get back. Leonard was still waiting for me.

After what felt like forever, I finally made it to the hotel the archaeology team had booked in town, covered in mud and limping with every step.

But what I saw next made me freeze in place.

Inside the tavern, fresh roses flown in piled up in the corner, filling the whole place with their sweet scent. Warm yellow candlelight flickered everywhere, making the room feel cozy and romantic.

Guys and girls were hanging out together, laughing and messing around.

And there was Leonard, my husband, snuggled up next to Emily, his elegant face flushed with a rare hint of red.

I clenched my fists. Leonard never drank and a sip would make him tipsy and lose his head.

Something was said in the room, and suddenly everyone's faces lit up with excitement.

Jessica King, the wildest one in the group, stood up and plopped a bottle right in the middle of the table.

"Since the Old Witch isn't here, let's play a game," she said.

"Truth or dare. You all know the rules, right?"

Leonard instinctively shook his head. "I'm not feeling well. You guys go ahead."

The other students started teasing him. "Come on, Professor Brooks. The Old Witch isn't here to boss you around today. Relax and have some fun."

Someone winked at Emily. "Emily, go talk to him. He always listens to you."

Emily couldn't say no to everyone's pleading. Her cheeks flushed as she lowered her head. "Professor Brooks suspended me. I don't even know if I'll ever get to hang out with you guys at work again.

"Tonight's basically my farewell party, right?" Her voice trembled, choking up. "I'm really gonna miss you all."

As soon as she said that, Leonard stood up and gently ruffled her hair, his eyes brimming with unrestrained affection.

"If I hadn't suspended you, the Old Witch would've kept nagging you nonstop. Do you really want that?" Leonard said.

"Oh my gosh. Professor Brooks, you were trying to protect Emily. That's so cute," someone exclaimed.

Emily's cheeks turned as pink as spring blossoms. "Then... let's play the game."

Leonard rested his head on Emily's shoulder, rubbing his temples with a helpless sigh. "Alright, whatever you say."

I stood there, frozen, my blood running cold.

I always thought if I went missing, everyone would panic, and Leonard would blow up, tracking down whoever tried to mess with me.

Or maybe they wouldn't even realize I was gone, sending me worried texts asking if I was okay.

But I never imagined I'd walk in and see them all having a blast, cracking jokes about my Old Witch nickname and Leonard flirting with Emily right in front of everyone.

All because I spent seven days underwater helping him rescue those artifacts, which left me with a cold he now turns into a running joke.

I clutched my phone, staring at the unanswered messages. No matter how many times I tried on the way here, there was never a reply. My tears burst out before I could stop them.

The game was heating up. The bottle pointed at Emily five times already, and Leonard had stepped in to drink for her the first four rounds.

Back then, I was the one who always took the drinks for him...

Leonard took a sip from Emily's glass, and the way he did it made her blush bright red.

But this time, the others started complaining. "Hey, that's cheating. Professor Brooks, you're breaking the rules."

"No more saving her this time. Emily, truth or dare?"

Emily shifted nervously, her palms sweaty and clenched as she stole a glance at Leonard. Her voice was barely more than a whisper. "D-dare."

"Woohoo. Emily and Professor Brooks, you have to French kiss," someone cheered.

I sucked in a sharp breath, my fingers digging so hard into my palms that it hurt. My eyes were glued to Leonard, standing tall and unyielding in the middle of the room.

Leonard, please, say no. I prayed over and over in my head.

If you say no, maybe we can still go back to how things used to be.

With everyone egging him on, Leonard hesitated, his eyes lost and unfocused like he was bewitched. Then, almost as if he couldn't help himself, he leaned closer to Emily.

Emily held her breath, her pale cheeks blushing as her fingers twisted nervously at the hem of her dress.

Their lips were about to meet.

"Leonard." I finally lost it, my voice trembling with shock and anger. "What the hell are you doing?"

The playful, teasing mood in the room vanished in an instant, and everyone turned to stare at me in shock.

My face was smeared with mud, and my knees were bruised and bleeding.

The rain was still pouring outside, and all that pain and grievance froze inside me.

When Leonard saw my face, his eyes widened in shock, panic flashing across his face. "Sarah? What are you doing here?"

The lively mood in the room came to a screeching halt, like someone hit pause. I felt like an unwelcome clown, crashing in and ruining their happy little world.

I forced a bitter smile. "So I shouldn't even be here, huh? Where do you want me, rotting in a coffin?"

Leonard's phone was still playing an ironically fitting love song in the corner, like it was mocking me.

I limped into the warm hotel, an ironic, bitter smile tugging at my lips. "Looks like the Old Witch crashed your party, huh? Am I interrupting?"

Leonard instinctively frowned and put some distance between himself and Emily, stepping in front of her to shield her suddenly pale face from view.

He tried to explain, "It's not what it looks like. They were messing around, playing a game.

"You know how young people are, always coming up with nicknames. There's no need to get so worked up about it..."

But that explanation made me feel even more disgusted than if he'd said nothing at all.

Leonard didn't even spare me a glance, never bothered to ask where I'd been or notice how battered I looked. All he cared about was how embarrassed Emily felt.

"That's enough," I screamed, completely losing it.

I cried, "Leonard, you know exactly how much this eats me up inside. No one feels more broken than I do, not being able to get pregnant after five years of marriage."