Chapter 2
Back when I tried to get involved with Joseph's circle, he'd always shut me out with that cold and disdainful tone. "What's there to talk about with a bunch of dudes?"
But later, I found out through his social media that whenever his friends got together, they always brought their families.
Joseph never brought me. Instead, he always showed up with Olivia and her son.
That time, I was shaking with rage. I barged into the gathering and went off on Olivia.
And there I was, pinned to the ground by Joseph like an enemy, in a position so humiliating.
His buddies looked at me as if I was a monster.
It was the worst blow-up we'd ever had in our marriage.
Joseph made me pay by staying away for six months and giving me the silent treatment.
During those months, my father fell seriously ill several times. Joseph had all the connections at the military hospital.
I humbled myself completely at Olivia's doorstep, groveling as I implored her to persuade Joseph to see me.
Even as Joseph's wife, I had to accept that if I wanted to see my own husband, I had to beg another woman for help.
After my dad finally got better, my depression came back and hit me hard.
Joseph sent me to a mental hospital.
It wasn't that he didn't have time for me. He had to accompany Olivia's son to a piano competition overseas.
I wasn't brought home until my belly started to show.
I was caught up in my memories and didn't respond.
It wasn't until a pair of rough, strong hands gripped mine that I snapped back to reality.
The door lock beeped again, warning that the code was wrong.
Joseph turned to me. "Did you change the password?"
I stayed silent and walked up to enter the code myself.
"The password is Andy's birthday," I said calmly.
He froze for a moment, his lips parting as if to speak, but he just followed me inside in silence.
I knew he'd forgotten again, but I didn't lose it like I used to.
Walking into the bedroom, I gazed at Andy curled up in the crib.
Quietly, I spoke to Joseph behind me, "Please, let me have Andy."
Joseph, who was always so calm, suddenly yanked me to my feet.
His face darkened with anger. "Emma, I was only half a day late. I already apologized. How long are you gonna keep this up?
"There's nothing between Olivia and me. Can you quit twisting everything into something dirty?"
"If you hadn't made me stay home with Andy—"
His eyes caught my reddened ones, and he stopped midsentence.
Because of his emotional block, Joseph was terrible at lying.
He must've remembered that he was out pretending to be Olivia's groom that day, nowhere near home.
He felt too awkward to keep up the lie.
I gave a small smile, covering for him. "I should have thought it through. It won't happen again."
Joseph took my hand. His voice carried a rare warmth. "Don't be upset. Once things settle down after your dad, we'll have our wedding. Isn't this what you've always wanted?"
I looked him straight in the eye.
He probably forgot we had a wedding three years ago.
But when it was time to exchange rings, he left me standing in front of all our guests to go fix Olivia's sink.
My mom's biggest wish was to see me walk down the aisle in a beautiful dress.
The moment Joseph left me standing there, she was so devastated she fainted right then and there.
She spent three days in the ICU, and then she died unexpectedly.
Even as she was dying, she put aside her dignity and pleaded with Joseph to be good to me.
While I was spacing out, Joseph had already answered the phone.
By the time he came back, I was lying in bed.
Joseph knocked on the door and asked, as usual, "When will the soup be ready today?"
I was lying on my side, giving a like to Olivia's latest post on social media.
She had posted: [It's raining. I miss that warm bowl of soup.]
Before Joseph retired from the army, years of field training had wrecked his stomach.
So whether he was coming home or not, I'd always make soup ahead of time and wait for him.
Turns out, every bowl of soup I spent hours making ended up with Olivia.
"There's no soup," I replied flatly.
And there never would be again.
Joseph said nothing and went downstairs.
Soon, the kitchen erupted in noisy clatter.