Chapter 2
Early the next morning, Emily came downstairs and was actually surprised to see Andrew cooking in the kitchen.
After his company took off, Andrew barely spent any time with her anymore, let alone cooking for her.
Later, she realized it wasn't that he was too busy; it was that his heart just wasn't with her anymore.
Everyone said that a rich guy's true love was wherever he chose to spend his time.
Emily thought back to all the photos that girl had sent her over the past six months: Andrew having meals with her, gaming together, chasing the northern lights side by side.
It was clear the girl was Andrew's true love; Emily was nothing but a stain he'd left behind.
Emily had thought she'd never get to eat his cooking again. Maybe fate just took pity on her and gave her this one last chance.
Andrew saw her and smiled. He said, "The oatmeal's almost ready. Come and have some."
Emily pulled out a chair and sat down, taking the bowl of oatmeal he handed her. She took a spoonful.
Andrew grinned and asked, "So, how is it? It's been ages since I last cooked. Did my skills get rusty?"
"It's alright," Emily replied, taking another spoonful.
Andrew, pleased by her response, grabbed a spoonful himself, only to nearly gag and spit it out the next second.
He glanced over and saw Emily still eating. He quickly said, "Wait, don't eat that.
"It's way too salty and bitter. What if it makes you sick? I'll get us some takeout."
"It's fine," Emily said, taking another spoonful. She said, "I can handle it."
If she could survive this mess of a marriage, a bowl of oatmeal was nothing in comparison.
Andrew looked stunned for a moment, then quickly took the spoon from Emily's hand. He asked, "Emily, are you feeling sick?"
Emily shook her head and said, "No."
But Andrew didn't believe her. He grabbed her coat, helped her into it, and headed straight for the hospital.
After a whole mess of tests, they finally confirmed she wasn't sick, and Andrew let out a breath he'd been holding.
"See? I told you I'm fine," Emily said, sounding a little exasperated.
Andrew clutched the test results and said, "But you...." Then he sighed and said, "Forget it. As long as you're alright, that's good enough for me.
"I'm staying home with you today. I'm not going to work."
Emily asked, "Are you sure you can just skip work?"
Andrew was known as a total workaholic. Ever since the company blew up, he had always been buried in work.
There was even a time when their daughter had a 102-degree fever, and he still wouldn't leave the office. In the end, Emily had to carry their daughter through a downpour to the hospital all by herself.
Andrew replied, "Don't worry about it. The company won't fall apart just because I skip a day."
Right then, his phone started ringing.
He took it out, checked the caller ID, hung up, and shoved it back in his pocket.
Emily saw the number: it was the one that had been messaging her for the past six months. She averted her gaze, acting as if she hadn't seen it.
But the caller was relentless. The shrill ringtone echoed through the empty hospital hallway.
Emily asked, "Are you not going to pick it up? Maybe it's something urgent from the company?"
Andrew smiled fondly and ruffled her hair. He said, "Alright, I'll do as you say."
With that, he took his phone and walked away, leaving Emily sitting alone on the chair in the hospital hallway.
Back then, Andrew would always take calls on speaker, no matter who was calling, even if it was a big business partner. He never hid anything from Emily.
Emily used to tease him, asking if he wasn't afraid she'd betray him after knowing all his business secrets.
But he'd just laugh and say the company, and even himself, were hers. She could do whatever she wanted with them.
But at some point, Andrew stopped putting calls on speaker. Sometimes, he'd even take calls behind her back, making sure she couldn't hear a thing.
Andrew came back from his call looking like nothing had happened.
After Andrew fumbled with the seatbelt for the third time, Emily just unbuckled hers, opened the car door, and got out. She said, "I just remembered that Yvette asked me to go get a beauty treatment with her today. It's probably not a good idea for you to tag along."
Andrew replied right away, "Alright, I'll come pick you up when you're done."
"Don't bother. I'll be staying over at Yvette's with Stella tonight, so you really don't have to come," Emily said.
Andrew frowned at that, then handed her a card. He said, "Here, use this. Buy whatever you want."
As soon as Emily took the card, Andrew floored it and sped out of the parking lot.
The car exhaust blew over Emily, leaving her standing there, feeling even more abandoned. She called Yvette, and the tears she'd been fighting finally broke free. She asked, "Yvette, can you come pick me up from the hospital?"