Chapter 2
I never imagined Andrew would ever betray me, like I never thought the man who once treated me as the center of his world would one day break my heart.
We were each other's first love.
When I was twenty, I met Andrew in the university art society. I was the straight-A student who always had her life mapped out, while he was the art-obsessed loner professors thought cared about nothing but his paintings.
Because of a joint art exhibition, I got paired up with Andrew to make sure he stayed on track with his project.
At first, I couldn't stand him.
Andrew wasn't cooperative at all and always interrupted me whenever I was coming up with ideas.
Whenever we took a break in the afternoon, he'd run the tip of his paintbrush along the back of my neck.
On our mountain sketching trips, whenever I fell behind because I was out of breath, he'd always double back to make fun of me.
One time, after an event, some art school punks from another university tried to corner me because I was pretty and had a certain charm.
Andrew rushed over, easel in hand, and threw himself into the fight. He took a hit to his wrist, breaking it, to shield me.
From that day on, my whole opinion of him flipped upside down.
Later, his art classes really improved, but his grades still couldn't quite catch up to mine.
Andrew gave up a teaching job at the university so he could stay in the same city as me and build a future together.
On Christmas Eve of our senior year, he told me how he felt, and of course, we ended up together.
During graduation season, Andrew's advisor plagiarized his idea and won an award. His beloved mentor suffered a mental breakdown and, after the art exhibition, committed suicide by jumping off a building.
He locked himself in his studio for five days and nights.
When I finally found him, Andrew held me and cried his heart out.
He said betrayal was the thing he despised the most.
Andrew had said, "Luna, you're the only soul I'll ever love. I swear on my hands as an artist that I'll only ever paint for you.
"My heart, my hands, my inspiration, they all belong to you. If I break this promise, may I never hold a brush again."
After graduation, he came with me to meet my family.
My family truly admired him.
Then we celebrated with a romantic wedding.
Three years into our marriage, I put everything I had on the line to bring our little miracle into the world.
Andrew named our son Sirius.
It symbolized that the stars and the words of devotion Andrew gave me would shine forever.
We became the family everyone wished they could be.
With a child to care for, Andrew poured himself into his art even more.
In just three years, he became a recognized innovator in the art scene.
Not long after, I was promoted to director.
Our life grew more and more prosperous, but Andrew started coming home later and later.
He always returned in the dead of night.
Every time, Andrew would cling to me passionately and whisper, "Baby, I love you so much, it's in my soul. We're going to be inseparable for the rest of our lives."
Each time, I was overwhelmed with happiness.
My friends and coworkers were all envious that I had such a brilliant husband.
But when the mask of our love was torn away, the truth underneath was so foul it made my skin crawl.
I didn't bother checking Marianne's social media anymore. My gut told me that everything she posted was meant for me to see.
One post was enough to seal Andrew's fate for me.
There was no need to torture myself any further.
I drafted the divorce papers that very night and signed my name at the bottom.
*****
When we got off the ferry, Andrew was waiting for us at the dock, waving wildly at us from afar.
As soon as Sirius saw him, he shot into his arms like an arrow.
Andrew scooped Sirius up, then wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close.
His voice was hoarse as he said, "Baby, what took you guys so long? Did you forget you've got a husband waiting at home? I've been going crazy waiting for you!"
Andrew moved in to kiss me.
The thought of those lips having kissed someone else, God knew how many times, made me feel physically sick.
I turned away with a blank expression and said coolly, "Don't make a scene. People are watching."
Andrew's brows furrowed in disappointment.
Sirius giggled, "Dad, you're always thinking about Mom. Don't you miss me at all?"
"Of course, I miss my little prince. Wait till you see what Daddy got you at home!" Andrew replied.
I watched Andrew and Sirius walking ahead of me, looking like any other day.
If I hadn't caught Sirius making that secret phone call, would I have stayed clueless forever?