Chapter 2
From falling in love to tying the knot, everything happened so naturally, as if it was meant to be.
It all went by in a blur, almost like a dream.
Anthony said, "What are you thinking about? You look so lost in thought."
Anthony's voice pulled me back from my memories.
He set the ribs down on the table, walked over, and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.
His chin rested gently on my shoulder.
His warm breath tickled my neck.
"Nothing," I replied.
I turned my head aside, dodging his closeness.
His arms froze for a second.
But he quickly relaxed, as if nothing had happened.
"Go wash your hands. Time to eat," Anthony said.
He let go of me, gave my hair a playful tousle, and spoke in that same gentle, pampering tone he always used.
I walked into the bathroom.
I turned on the faucet.
The cold water flowed over my fingertips.
I gazed at myself in the mirror.
My face was a bit pale.
I wondered if I could really let go of the past.
The eyes in the mirror looked lost, filled with uncertainty.
I really didn't know.
All I knew was that whenever Anthony was good to me, I just didn't feel anything.
All I felt was a cold, bitter irony that seeped into my bones, and a barely-there, lingering fear.
I was scared.
I was afraid that beneath that gentle facade, the same monster who sent me tumbling down the stairs ten years ago was still there, waiting.
After dinner, Anthony went to do the dishes.
I settled onto the couch and kept reviewing my design drafts.
This was an important project. The client had really high standards, and I'd already revised it over and over.
My head was pounding from all the revisions, so I got up and stepped out onto the balcony for some fresh air.
The early summer evening breeze carried a trace of heat.
As it brushed against my face, it helped untangle my messy thoughts.
The phone started ringing.
It was Anthony's.
He'd left it charging on the coffee table in the living room.
I walked over, picked it up, and glanced at the screen.
It was his assistant calling.
I swiped to answer and put it on speaker.
"Mr. Garza, the lawyer just raised a few more questions about the contract details for the Westside project. We need you to take a look right now," the assistant said.
I brought the phone over to the kitchen door.
"Your assistant is calling, it's about work," I said.
Anthony's hands were soapy as he glanced over at me.
"Could you answer it for me? Let him know I'll take care of it when I get to the office tomorrow morning," he said.
"Seems pretty urgent," I said.
"It's okay, it's not urgent," he replied.
He gave me a warm smile. "Even if it's something huge, nothing matters more than being with my wife."
His romantic lines always hit me out of the blue.
Without saying a word, I hung up and put the phone back on the coffee table.
But my heart felt suffocated and restless, like something was blocking it up inside.
Late at night, before bed, Anthony was still in the study, caught up in a video meeting.
I headed to the bedroom by myself.
I lay in bed, tossing and turning, but sleep just wouldn't come.
A dull ache crept into my knee again.
I could tell, it was going to rain tomorrow.
Honestly, my body was better at predicting the weather than any forecast.
I lost track of time before Anthony finally wrapped up his meeting and came back to the bedroom.
He slipped under the covers as quietly as possible, careful not to wake me.
Then, like he always did, he gently scooped me into his embrace.
His chest was warm and firm, and the steady, powerful beat of his heart was impossible to miss.
"Can't sleep?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," I murmured.
"Your knee acting up again?" he said.
"A little," I admitted.
He was quiet for a moment, then his warm hand rested on my knee, massaging it gently with just the right amount of pressure.
"I'm sorry," Anthony said suddenly.
I was stunned.
"What?" I said.
"If I'd known..." Anthony paused, his voice a little hoarse. "If I'd known you weren't well back then, I wouldn't have..."
He didn't finish his sentence.
I didn't press him for more.
I wondered what he was going to say.
I wondered if he would not have pursued me if he knew my condition, or if he would not have pushed me down the stairs.
I didn't dare let myself think about it.
I didn't dare ask.
We stayed wrapped up in each other's arms, saying nothing.
His hands worked their magic, and the ache faded a bit.
I was barely awake, already slipping into sleep.
"Tasha," he called.
"Yes?" I mumbled sleepily.
He said, "Set an alarm for me at seven tomorrow morning.
"My phone's dead and charging. I don't want to get out of bed."
His voice carried a hint of weary laziness.
"Sure," I replied.
The next morning, I woke up just as the sky was starting to lighten.
Anthony was still sound asleep beside me.
When he was asleep, he was so quiet.
No gentle smile, none of that moody, dangerous vibe I remembered from the past.
He just looked like an ordinary, handsome guy.
I quietly sat up and reached for his phone on the nightstand.
It was already fully charged.
I unplugged the charger.
The password was my birthday.
He said that way, he'd never forget.
I typed in the numbers without even thinking, unlocking the screen.
The screen lit up.
The wallpaper was a photo of us at the beach.
In the picture, I was grinning ear to ear.
He was looking down at me, his eyes so tender I could practically feel it.
Everything seemed so wonderful.
I opened the clock app, ready to set the alarm.
My finger slid across the screen.
Without thinking, my gaze fell on a folder icon.
It was the notes application.
As if on autopilot, I opened it.
There were tons of entries inside.
Most of them were about work.
[Meeting with Mr. Cox at 3 PM]
[Bidding proposal for the Southside project]
[Business trip to Saldannn next Wednesday]
There were also some little things from daily life.
[Tasha loves strawberry cake, the best is at the Westside bakery.]
[Next month's anniversary, take Tasha skiing in Sessrens.]
[Gift for Tasha's dad's birthday, coffee beans.]
Every entry was so clear, just little bits and pieces of everyday life.
All about him, his work, me, and this home.
Everything seemed totally normal.
It was so normal that it made my earlier suspicions feel ridiculous.
Maybe he really had changed.
Maybe he really didn't remember what happened between us anymore.
Maybe I should just let go of the past and try to give this marriage a real chance.
I let out a bitter laugh at myself, ready to exit the app.
But right then, my finger stopped mid-tap.
At the very top of the notes app, something caught my eye.
There was a note pinned right at the top.