Chapter 4
Erwin dragged me into the car, his face dark with anger.
Then he drove straight to the supermarket.
I was a little surprised at first. Then I remembered he'd said he would cook dinner tonight.
As he pushed the cart and picked out groceries, he seemed to calm down a bit.
I trailed lazily behind him without a word.
By the time we got home, he had fully regained his composure and transformed back into that gentle and courteous gentleman.
What an impressive emotional adjustment.
I sat down and saw that the dining table was laden with an array of dishes. There was the chicken parmesan, Caesar salad, creamy mushroom soup, and the grilled salmon with asparagus he'd learned from my mother.
Erwin sat across from me. His gaze was gentle, but his features seemed indistinct to me.
I couldn't even remember the last time he cooked for me.
We had known each other since we were kids. His dad was always busy with work, and his mom loved playing cards, so he used to come over to my place for dinner all the time.
My mom's grilled salmon with asparagus was famous in our neighborhood. Every kid around wanted to join us whenever she made it.
Later, in 12th grade, my father fell ill and passed away.
My mother was utterly devastated.
Soon after, she also passed away.
I sat motionless on the floor until dawn, clutching our family photo.
I was left homeless. No one would ever cook for me again.
Erwin knocked on my door the following day.
He was 18 years old back then. Wearing his school uniform, he walked into my home with a plate of grilled salmon with asparagus.
He said softly, "Noelle, I made this grilled salmon with asparagus.
"A few days ago, when you weren't home, I asked your mom to teach me how to make it.
"I wrote down every step she told me and followed them one by one.
"Don't be afraid. From now on, I'll cook for you. You won't go hungry.
"Go ahead and eat. When you're done, come to my home with me."
That plate of grilled salmon with asparagus was so bitter. He'd completely burned the salmon.
Yet with tears streaming down my face, I ate every last piece.
At that time, I really believed I was meant to be with him.
But now, as I looked across the table, the eighteen-year-old Erwin I once knew had vanished.
I only found the 28-year-old Erwin extremely repulsive.
"Noelle, why aren't you eating?" Erwin asked in a gentle voice. He placed a piece of grilled salmon on my plate.
I kept my head down and said nothing. My hands remained unmoving under the table.
With a sigh, he set down his fork. "Are you still upset?"
He began to explain, "I'm sorry, Noelle. I did have a thing with Allison.
"You know, I had a crush on her back in high school.
"Back then, she was out of my league.
"Honestly, I haven't been pining for her all these years. I just had a chip on my shoulder about it.
"She showed up again recently, divorced and in rough shape.
"At first, I just felt sorry for her. We were classmates, so I reached out to help.
"But she started throwing herself at me. With things between us being so tense lately..."
Erwin cleared his throat and quickly added, "I'm sorry. I lost control.
"But I'm over it now.
"Noelle, you know you're the one I truly love.
"She was just my crush during my youth, someone I could never be with.
"Now that I've actually had her, I realize she's nothing special."
His eyes were filled with deep sincerity as he raised his hand in a solemn vow.
"I swear," he declared, "I don't love her. I never loved her, and I never will. There won't be any involvement between us.
"I'll make sure she's out of the company tomorrow."
However, I remained silent.
Erwin crouched down beside me.
He gently covered my clenched hand with his, slowly prying my fingers open.
He froze the moment he saw what was inside.
Resting on my palm was the pendant I'd snatched from around Allison's neck.
His voice trembled as he said, "Noelle, I—"
I cut him off. "Erwin...
"As you said, I'm an orphan with nothing to my name.
"The only thing my parents left me is this pendant.
"It was my most precious possession, and I gave it to you.
"But you didn't care at all. You just handed it to the other woman as if it didn't matter."
Erwin's face went pale, his lips trembling. "I didn't mean to treat it like it was nothing. I'm sorry, Noelle. It's all my fault."
I forced a bitter smile. "You say you don't love her? So what about me, the one cast aside carelessly? Do you even love me?"
He gave away my pendant and then left me to wither away on that hospital bed in my previous life.
It turned out I was abandoned long ago. How ridiculous that I only realized it now.
Erwin's eyes turned red as he gripped my hand tightly. "No, Noelle. It's not like that. I love you. I really do.
"I'm sorry I gave away your pendant. She begged me, and I gave in out of pity.
"It won't happen again, Noelle. From now on, I won't even look at another woman. I'll stay with you to protect you and our home."
He reached out to embrace me, but I dodged him.
Staring into his bloodshot eyes, I said coldly, "Erwin, you're no longer my family.
"Make time for the divorce proceedings soon.
"By the way, your grilled salmon with asparagus? It tastes like garbage."
Then I stood up and went back to my room.
Erwin still crouched beside the dining table, his face deathly pale.