Chapter 4

Without even looking inside, Nydia tossed the box straight into the dumpster.

If she had just taken a closer look, she would've seen that those were all the matching couple items I gave her. Every single one of them meant the world to me.

But she didn't. She just threw it away and went back inside like it was nothing.

I stood on the stairs, letting out a bitter laugh. It was clear—there was no saving this marriage.

Later that afternoon, my headphones stopped working while I was listening to an audio file. I asked to borrow Nydia's.

She handed one over without hesitation.

I said thanks. She gave me a strange look but didn't say anything.

I put in the earbud and went to connect it to my laptop, but before I could, I heard a woman's voice coming from it.

"Nydia, we've worked together for so long. When are you finally going to introduce us to your boyfriend?

"We're having dinner tomorrow. Bring him along?"

I froze, holding my breath, waiting for Nydia's answer. My chest tightened.

But Nydia didn't say a word.

She didn't want me there. For years, she'd lived like she was single.

After a long silence, she stepped out of the bedroom and saw me. From the look on her face, she knew I'd heard everything.

I looked up and slowly pulled the earbud out. "Do you want me to go?"

She had always been sharp. I was sure she knew what I really meant—was she going to tell them she was married? Was she going to let them know about me?

She stood there, and her lips parted slightly in hesitation. But she couldn't even give me an answer.

Her silence felt like a knife to the chest. My heart shattered into a million pieces.

I forced a smile to cover the sting. "Even if you wanted me to, I can't. I've got work tonight. I need to get to the office."

Her whole body relaxed. Her face even lit up a little.

She gave a soft smile. "Next time, I'll bring you."

I nodded, not even trying to fake it anymore. A bitter smile crept onto my face.

There was never going to be a next time, Nydia.

That night, I went out—not for work, though. After she left, I packed a few things and headed out.

My friend had helped revise the court documents, but he had plans tonight, so I had to go pick them up myself.

I waited outside the bar we agreed to meet at, but no one showed up for what felt like ages.

Then I spotted two people coming out. It was cold out, and the guy gently draped his jacket over Nydia's shoulders.

My hands clenched into fists. Just then, my phone rang—it was Nydia.

I didn't say anything when I picked up, and she didn't even recognize my number.

"Hello, my coworker's boyfriend asked me to drop off some papers for you. I'm outside. Where are you?" she said.

I let out a bitter laugh. "I just got out of the car."

Nydia froze when I walked up to her.

Her eyes went wide as she stared at me, her grip on the file tightening slightly.

She looked down at the file. "The case isn't settled yet?"

With that, she started to open the folder, but right then, a car's headlights lit us up.

She squinted against the glare. I reached out to take the papers, but she jerked them back. A few slipped from her hands and scattered on the ground.