Chapter 1

As middle age approached, my marriage with Edward Grant began to sour.

After years of marriage, Edward, my once promised "ideal husband" who swore to love me forever, now found me dull.

When I sacrificed my life to be a housewife just for him, he fell in love with his assistant, Natalie Levenson.

When I found out, he even claimed that the home wrecker reminded him of how I used to be.

That was why he said he couldn't resist getting close to her.

Yet when I let go of everything and showed up at their door with the divorce agreement in hand, he broke down in tears, begging for my forgiveness and pleading with me not to leave.

*****

After making Andrew's lunch, I packed it up and took it to his company myself.

Andrew and I had grown up together—we'd known each other since we were kids, and now we'd been married for six or seven years. He'd always said his favorite thing was the meals I cooked for him with my own hands.

After we got married right after college, he'd been out there working hard to build his career, while I became a housewife.

Our life had been getting better and better over the years. The only thing that never changed was me cooking for him and bringing the food right to his hands.

Usually, when I came to the company, I'd go straight to Andrew's office. To avoid bothering him, I'd leave right after dropping off the food.

But this time, the office curtains were drawn tight, and every now and then, I could hear a man and a woman talking inside.

"It's so good to be young. Even if they don't do anything, they still look attractive," Andrew said.

I moved closer and peeked through a gap in the curtains. I could faintly see Andrew and his assistant, Sophie Quinn, huddling very close together.

Sophie was from the same university as Andrew and me—we graduated a few years ahead of her. After graduation, she joined the company and became Andrew's intern assistant.

When I brought meals over before, she'd always been friendly. She often teased us, saying the love story between Andrew and I was like a fairy tale. She was like a playful little sister, and I really liked her.

But now, everything related to Sophie soured.

"You know," Andrew said with a sigh, a look of frustration on his face, "every day when Emily hovers around me at home, I just feel so annoyed."

He continued, "I don't even want to go back. I have to sit in the car for ages before going upstairs."

I couldn't believe that my gentle, caring husband would say anything like that.

I held my breath to listen more carefully.

Sophie moved closer to Andrew, almost sticking to him. In a coquettish tone, she asked, "But Emily brings you food every day, boss. You always seem so happy eating it, don't you?"

Andrew stepped back a little to keep some distance from her, but there was a smile on his face.

Joking, he said, "She is my wife. But after all these years, it feels like the passion we had when we were in love is gone. More than anything, I think we're just... friends."

Sophie nodded in agreement. Playfully, she said, "Andrew, does that mean you're getting a little tired of her?" After speaking, she leaned in again, like a curious cat.

Andrew kept his eyes straight ahead, but this time he didn't pull away from Sophie.

"You're still unmarried. You won't understand this feeling. I never thought the love that once made me feel like I could burn for her would now turn to ashes. When you look for a boyfriend later, you'd better keep your eyes open," he said.

Sophie playfully hooked her arm around Andrew's and shook it, cooing, "Andy, you're such a good boss. Don't worry, I'll date someone like you. I'll never get tired of him."

This time, Andrew didn't push her away. He let her shake his arm, and his face was full of smiles. That relaxed, happy look—it had been years since I'd seen him like that.