Chapter 4

Emma stormed out.

Everyone at the door was struggling to keep a straight face.

Thomas came out from the back, carrying a cup of coffee.

"Feel better now?" he asked.

I paused to think.

"Not bad," I said.

Thomas rolled his eyes. "You're not tough enough."

I laughed. "I'll try to be tougher next time."

Andrew came by in the afternoon.

He stood at the doorway, refusing to step inside.

He was still in that immaculate black coat, looking completely out of place in this bustling old alley.

I was helping a little girl choose some embroidery thread.

The girl glanced up at him and whispered, "Grace, who is that?"

"My ex-husband," I said.

"Wow," the girl exclaimed. "He's handsome, but he looks like he'd be totally useless at everyday stuff."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Andrew overheard and his expression soured.

He waited until the customer left before finally stepping inside.

"Did you mail the bill to my mom?" Andrew asked.

"Nope, I didn't mail it," I replied, dropping the scissors back in their box. "I gave it to her myself."

"Grace, do you really have to be so ruthless?"

"I'm only getting back what she owes me."

"But we're family."

I looked up. "Who says I'm family with you?"

Andrew looked like he'd been slapped in the face. After a few seconds, he glanced around the shop.

"So you're planning to stay here from now on?" he asked.

"What's wrong with this place?" I said.

"You could've had a much better life."

I nearly burst out laughing. A better life? Seriously?

I used to wake up at six every morning to make him breakfast.

When I went shopping with Emma, she picked me apart.

I sat at the dinner table, listening to Andrew's relatives go on about how "lucky" I was to marry into the Sullivan family and live the good life.

Every night, I'd wait for him to come home until the dinner went cold, and in the end, all I'd see was Vivian's name lighting up his phone screen.

That was his so-called "better life."

I picked up my embroidery hoop.

"Andrew, your idea of a good life is pretty empty," I said.

He frowned. "Do you have to talk to me like this now?"

"Yes," I said, looking at him. "Because I don't have to baby you anymore."

As soon as I said it, his eyes wavered for a moment, like he wasn't used to me not giving in to him anymore.

He fell silent for a moment, his tone softening a little. "My mom can be mean. I'll have her apologize. And we can talk about the master bedroom again."

I laughed out loud. "Andrew, do you still not get it? I didn't leave because of the bedroom. I left because of you."

He stood there, frozen.

I went on, "For three years of marriage, the phrases I heard from you the most were, 'Don't make a fuss,' 'Be sensible,' 'Whatever,' and 'No need.'

"When I had a fever of 102°F, I called you, but you said you were on an international call with Vivian and told me to take some meds on my own."

I paused for a moment since there was something I couldn't mention.

So I changed my wording. "When I was burning up with a fever, you were busy chatting with Vivian.

"Your mom took the clothes I made and gave them to your relatives, saying she ordered them herself. And you told me it's not worth arguing over with family.

"Every time you took someone else's side, you expected me to put up with it. In the end, you even decided the storage room was good enough for me.

"Andrew, hearts aren't made of steel. Even iron would rust through after three years."

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

I saw a flicker of panic in his eyes.

But that panic came way too late. I was already past caring.

Suddenly, a gentle voice came from outside the door. "Andrew, I've been looking everywhere for you."

Vivian stood at the doorway. She was wearing a light blue coat and carrying a box of pastries.

"Oh, Ms. Miller, you're here too," she said.

I looked at her. "This is my place," I said.

Her smile faltered for a moment, then she quickly recovered. "Sorry, I spaced out for a second."

She walked in and set the pastries on the table. "I heard Andrew's mom was coming over today, and I thought things might get tense, so I wanted to see how things were going."

Just then, Natalie happened to walk by and poked her head in. "Well, bringing snacks to watch the drama unfold?" she said.

For a moment, Vivian almost couldn't keep her smile.

Andrew frowned. "Vivian, go wait for me in the car."

Vivian glanced at him, her eyes growing misty with tears again. "Am I bothering you again?"

I used to dread it when she acted like that.

Whenever she teared up, Andrew would instantly side with her.

But this time, I stayed silent.

I kept my head down, sorting out the threads.

Sure enough, Andrew said, "It's not your fault."

Vivian bit her lip. "Ms. Miller, I really don't want to get in the way of you two. I only came back because Andrew's the only person I know in this city."

I raised an eyebrow. "You just got back, right? How did you already know where my shop is?"

She paused, looking a bit caught off guard.

Andrew turned to look at her.

Vivian quickly explained, "Emma told me."

I nodded. "Emma left less than three hours ago, and you're already here with pastries. You sure spread the word fast."

Vivian looked a bit awkward. "Ms. Miller, you don't have to go after me like this."

I set the threads down.

"Vivian, I'm not targeting you," I said, looking at her. "I only want to remind you not to take everyone for fools."