Chapter 2
At eleven that night, I heard the front door open.
Charles walked in, standing there like he always did.
But back then, he was just a poor kid in worn-out, washed-out clothes.
Now, even his tie was worth thousands of dollars.
He changed his shoes and tossed his suit jacket to Ellen, walking in as he loosened his tie.
"Why are you still up?" he asked.
He came over, reaching out to hug me as usual.
I instinctively pulled back.
His hand hung awkwardly in the air, and he stared at me, surprised.
I pointed at the chicken wings on the table, barely touched.
"I saved these for you," I said.
He glanced over and gave me that doting smile.
He teased, "Look at you, Rachel, being all caring.
"But I already ate earlier with some friends tonight.
"Still, the spicy wings from that place smelled really legit."
"Really?" I looked up at him, meeting his gaze without blinking. "So, does it taste better than the sour cream and onion ones I've been eating for three years?"
Charles looked a bit rattled.
His eyes darted away for a second. "Sour cream and onion? What are you talking about?
"Rachel, you're not making any sense right now."
"I went to that shop today," I said.
I met his gaze, speaking each word clearly. "The owner told me they've never had sour cream and onion flavor.
"Those green ones? They're unsold leftovers from the day before.
"Other people only buy them to feed their dogs."
I locked eyes with him, desperately searching for any sign of panic.
But there was nothing.
He looked stunned for a second, then his face turned cold.
He rubbed his brow, looking annoyed. "Rachel, what are you getting at?"
"You went to confront the shop owner because you suspect me?"
"No," I laughed. "I just wanted to find out if what I've been eating for three years was actually dog food."
Charles's brows knitted tightly as he sat down on the sofa across from me.
He poured himself a glass of water and took a big gulp, like he was trying to suppress his emotion.
He said, "I've been drowning in work for this new project lately. Can you stop making a fuss over nothing?
"It's just chicken wings. Are you seriously going to blow this out of proportion?"
I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
I said, "Charles, do you remember how many times I landed in the hospital because of my stomach?
"Every single time, you were right there, telling me it was because I was weak, that it was all my fault.
"Looking back, were you secretly enjoying it every time?"
His hand clenched around the glass, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
"Rachel, you're out of line," he said.
He stood up, towering over me. "Do you have any idea how much I've done for you?
"Who do you think I'm working my ass off for every single day?
"You're living the life of a pampered wife, and now you're making a scene over something so trivial. Do you have a conscience?"
He had been saying that for three years, and I'd been listening for three years.
Ever since I became a housewife, every time I tried to question him, he'd shut me down with that same line.
He always made it seem like I was the unreasonable one, never satisfied.
But today, I was done putting up with it.
I asked him, "The a couple who kept buying those leftover chicken wings for their dog. Who was the girl?"
Charles froze.
"Have you been following me?" he asked.
"Answer me," I said.
"It's Melissa. Yeah, I'm with her. So what?
"After loving you for so long, I wanted to see what it's like to have someone fuss over me for a change.
"Dropping a couple sugar cubes in her coffee makes her happy for hours.
"But when I buy you a bag worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, all you care about is whether someone else has the same one."
I was dazed for a moment, staring at the man I thought I knew so well, but now he felt like a total stranger.
When the company was starting out, I was the one bringing in clients and investors for him.
I did everything I could, giving him all my connections and resources.
His company wouldn't be where it was today without my 1.5 million dollars wedding gift and my help building up his business.
Once the company finally got on track, I stepped back and became his full-time wife.
Then Melissa Gray came into the picture.
She was young, gorgeous, and super capable.
Charles kept praising her in front of me, saying she reminded him of how I used to be, his right-hand woman.
I always thought his remark was just a boss appreciating his employee.
I looked at his face, so familiar, yet suddenly so strange, and backed away.