Chapter 2

Ten years had passed, and sure enough, Dad had forgiven me at last.

His voice trembled as he listened to me pour out my troubles. "Don't worry. I'll get someone to handle the paperwork for you and my granddaughter to go abroad. All you need to do is get that bastard to sign the travel consent form."

It took me another hour to calm down. I watched as Alex and Sophie's sweet talk wrapped up on TV.

He finished by saying, "Sophie, I love you. See you tomorrow."

Tomorrow marks our wedding anniversary. It is also the day he had promised me, after I hurt myself the last time, that he would spend the whole day with me.

When Alex came out, I was on the phone with the restaurant, canceling the reservation I'd finally managed to snag a month ago.

Across the room, Alex's unblown hair was already half-dry.

He overheard me and asked, "You went to so much trouble to book it. Why cancel now?"

I replied coolly, "I think there'll be too many people. I don't really want to go anymore."

He looked surprised and walked right up, slipping his arms around my waist.

Alex asked, "Aren't you always big on these holidays?

"Are you upset?"

I thought he'd finally noticed something was off with me, but then he said, "Well, that's fine. That place is always loud and crowded anyway. How about we go on a trip in a couple of days?"

My mind drifted back to the conversation Alex had with Sophie earlier.

"Tomorrow's my first day back, I want you all to myself," Sophie said.

Alex replied, "Sure."

My heart had turned to ice, but I still couldn't stop myself from asking Alex, "So, what are you planning to do tomorrow?"

He looked away, leaving me with his back. "There's something at work I need to take care of tomorrow."

I nodded, and for a brief moment, it almost felt like things were normal again, like before.

The difference was that in the middle of the night, when Alex, half-asleep, reached out to hold me, I instinctively moved away.

And when he woke up the next morning, he didn't find me anxiously crying and asking if he still loved me.

At breakfast, he gave me a scrutinizing look. "Karina, why did you avoid me last night?"

I casually replied, "I was fast asleep. I don't know what you're talking about."

He didn't seem to buy it and was about to say something else, but his phone buzzed, cutting him off.

He shot up to answer it. I already knew who was calling.

In his rush, he knocked over the steaming hot milk in front of me, scalding my legs and leaving them instantly red.

At the sound of my pained gasp, he didn't even glance back.

When he came back in from the balcony, he was practically beaming and headed straight to the mirror to fix his hair again.

The nanny suggested Alex drop me off at the hospital for my burn, but he brushed it off, clearly impatient. "Have the driver take another car. I'm in a hurry to get to the office."

He was in such a rush, he didn't even notice that, for once, I didn't run after him for my daily good morning kiss.

After my doctor's visit, I got a call from the restaurant where I'd canceled my reservation. They told me there was going to be a fireworks show outside tonight, and it was a rare chance.

I thought about how I'd always wanted Alex to take me to see fireworks, but it never happened. After hesitating for a few seconds, I agreed, "Alright, I'll be there."

Inside the restaurant, I took my seat.

But then I spotted a familiar figure upstairs in the VIP section, the kind of spot you had to book two months in advance.

It was Alex, sitting with a girl who kind of resembled me.

He was gently draping his jacket over her legs, looking all caring and attentive.

His wedding ring was gone.

Instead, he was now wearing the couple bracelet they handed out at the restaurant entrance.

A celebratory bell rang out, and a spotlight lit up the two of them at their table.

The emcee walked over with the mic, addressing Alex. "Congratulations to your table for winning today's couple grand prize. So, is the lady next to you your wife?"

As he said, "Yes," his gaze accidentally fell right on my face.

I simply applauded, like everyone else around me.