Chapter 6

The crisp smack of a slap rang out in the bedroom, sounding especially harsh in the quiet.

"Nothing?" Eliza's voice shot up. "Do you really expect me to believe that? Do you even remember what day it is?

"You spent the whole night at the office together, you got so drunk she had to take you home, and just now, you were clinging to her, refusing to let her leave. Xavier, do you really think I'm blind?"

Xavier's eyes darkened.

He said, "We've been married for three years, and you still don't trust me, not even a little? I've never once let you down. Just because I didn't do what you wanted this one time, you're just going to throw away everything between us?"

"Trust?" Eliza almost laughed, her voice full of disbelief. "How am I supposed to trust you when you're acting like this?"

"What am I doing?" Xavier's patience was hanging by a thread. He suddenly raised his voice, veins popping at his temples.

"Just because I helped a crying employee? Just because I worked late and forgot our anniversary? Eliza, when did you become so unreasonable?" he said.

Those words stabbed Eliza right in the heart.

She took a step back, gripping her pajamas tightly without even realizing it. Her voice trembled as she said, "So now it's all my fault? I'm the one being unreasonable?"

"Here you go again!" Xavier ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Can you stop looking at me like I'm on trial every single time? I'm your husband, not some criminal!"

"Husband?" Eliza let out a cold, bitter laugh. "Do you even remember you're my husband? Is that what being a husband means to you, getting involved with another woman on our anniversary, and letting her parade herself right in front of me?"

Xavier shot to his feet. "How many times do I have to say it? There's nothing going on between me and Dahlia! What do you want from me. Should I get down on my knees, rip my heart out, and swear a blood oath just to prove it to you?"

Eliza said, "Don't bother. Your vows are worthless now, and even the thought of your heart disgusts me."

The air was frozen for a few seconds, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Xavier's chest was rising and falling with rage as he snatched up his suit jacket and stormed out.

Eliza just watched his back as he left, not saying a single word to hold him back.

She slowly slid down onto the edge of the bed, memories creeping in bit by bit, threatening to swallow her whole.

Back when they'd just gotten married, she'd thrown a fit over something silly and gave him the silent treatment for a whole day.

Xavier was like a big, abandoned dog, following her around with those sad puppy eyes, never letting her out of his sight.

"Eliza, when you ignore me, it's like my whole world loses its color," he'd said.

He'd wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, his voice all whiny and pitiful, like a little kid.

She couldn't help but reply, "I'm not ignoring you." And he immediately leaned in even closer, pressing his advantage. "See? When you're upset, your colors fade. Right now, they're all faded, so you must be unhappy."

Then he'd nuzzled her cheek on purpose, teasing her until she couldn't help but laugh.

Back then, Xavier would get all worked up if Eliza so much as frowned. He wouldn't even dream of saying a single harsh word to her.

Eliza's vision blurred with tears.

She reached up and found her face covered in cold tears. Only then did she realize she'd been crying for who knows how long.

Suddenly, it felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her heart, the pain so intense she bent over, clutching herself.

She finally understood. Heartbreak wasn't just a word. It could hurt so much that it stole her breath and made her fingertips go numb.

Eliza curled up in the corner of the bed, hugging her knees tightly, her silk nightgown all bunched up around her.

Tears slid down her face in silence, gathering at her chin before finally dripping into the hollow of her collarbone, forming a tiny, salty pool.

He was the guy who'd drive all the way across town in the middle of the night just because she casually mentioned craving her favorite dessert.

He was the one who'd stay up all night, massaging her stomach when her cramps were so bad she broke out in a cold sweat.

He was the one who'd always spot the moment her heels started hurting at some fancy dinner, and without hesitation, would drop to his knees in front of everyone just to swap out her shoes.

But now, he was shouting at her and slamming the door, all because of another woman.

Xavier hadn't come home once in the past two weeks, not a single call, not even a text.

Her phone lit up, reminding her that today was her annual physical.

Xavier had started this tradition three years ago, saying he wanted to make sure she'd always stay healthy and well.

Back then, he'd clear his whole schedule just to be with her, hovering around and grilling the doctor for every single result after each test.

This year, it was just the driver downstairs. Xavier was nowhere to be seen.

Eliza stared at the annual checkup reminder glowing on her phone, her finger hovering over the "delete" button for what felt like ages. In the end, she just let it go and set the phone aside.

'Whatever,' Eliza thought bitterly. 'No way I'm going to mess up my own health over a man who's already moved on.'

The private hospital hallway was quiet. Eliza sat by herself in the VIP lounge, absentmindedly flipping through some old magazine. She didn't take in a single word.

Just then, a familiar voice echoed from around the corner.

Eliza froze, her whole body going stiff.

She'd known that voice for years, even in the noisiest crowd, she could recognize it instantly. It was Xavier.