Chapter 2

But by the time I got to the elevator, he was already slipping inside. The doors closed behind him.

The display told me it stopped on the eighth floor. A sign announced that the eighth floor was the OB-GYN department.

When I reached it, I saw Charles joyfully spinning Sophia around in his arms.

The passing nurses couldn't help but gush. "Wow, look at that couple. They're so sweet together. He's even spinning her around."

"Seriously, when will I ever find a husband like that?"

Thinking back to when I was pregnant six years ago, Charles had held me the same way, laughing and spinning me around. "Olivia, you're amazing. I'm going to be a dad."

But on the day our child was born, he had gone silent.

After we got home from the hospital, he started making excuses—said the baby was too little and work was too busy—and moved into a separate bedroom.

I had thrown myself entirely into caring for our child and hadn't noticed the change in him.

Not until that day, when I stumbled upon the diagnosis in his room—erectile dysfunction.

Guilt had consumed me. I felt like a terrible wife. From then on, finding a cure became my mission. I tracked down specialists across the country for him.

But he never cooperated. I knew this wounded his pride as a man, so I always went alone, secretly carrying his medical records from doctor to doctor.

For six straight years, every diagnosis had been the same—erectile dysfunction.

Whenever Charles' mother pushed for a second child, I swallowed it alone. Even at family gatherings, I carried the pressure by myself.

All the stress and pain I'd lived with over those six years had nowhere to go. The only person who stayed by my side was Sophia. She encouraged me, comforted me, and went with me to look for doctors. Looking back now, most of those doctors had been recommended by her.

Watching the touching scene in front of me, I took out my phone and snapped a photo. I didn't know exactly why, but I knew it would come in handy someday.

They walked past me with their arms around each other, not recognizing me at all.

I called my father overseas and told him I wanted a divorce. He didn't ask a single question. He simply had his lawyer reach out to me.

I took a different elevator downstairs.

By the time I reached the parking lot, they were standing by the car, no longer as close as they'd been upstairs. Clearly, Charles had already heard from his doctor friend that I'd come looking for him with the keys.

When Sophia saw me, she walked over warmly and looped her arm through mine. "Congratulations."

I looked at her, confused. She leaned in and whispered by my ear, smiling, "I heard your husband's condition has improved."

I met her gaze and replied calmly, "And how would you know that?"

A flicker of panic crossed her face. She opened her mouth but couldn't get a word out.

Noticing Sophia's awkward look, Charles stepped forward with a smile and explained, "I ran into Sophia in the lobby. Thought I'd give her a ride."

When our eyes met, he suddenly grew nervous and placed his hands on my shoulders. "Why are your eyes so red?"

I stared at him, my heart clenched tight, as if an invisible hand had wrapped around it, squeezing the breath out of me. I wanted to ask why he'd betrayed me, but my throat felt clogged, and I couldn't get a word out.

After a long pause, I finally managed to speak, my voice hoarse. "I just got excited when the doctor said you were better."

Charles visibly relaxed. He gently flicked my nose. "Silly you."

Just then, Sophia stepped in and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, neatly placing herself between Charles and me. "Come on," she said cheerfully. "Come with me to try on wedding dresses. You can try your bridesmaid dress too."