Chapter 2

Alex was unusually restless that night.

He refused to stay in the hospital and insisted on coming home with me.

I knew tomorrow was Ember's wedding day. He was afraid I'd cause a scene, so he stayed by my side to keep an eye on me.

Even though he didn't want Ember to marry another man, he still wanted her to be happy.

He had always been that kind to Ember.

When we got home, Alex froze when he saw the clean, empty dining table.

"Honey, today's our anniversary. Where's the dinner you made?" he asked.

I looked annoyed. "Who's the one who drank himself into the hospital? You're not eating anyway. I fed it to the stray dogs."

Alex stared at the dining table in a long silence.

I had had a long day, so I went to take a shower, with no energy to guess what he was thinking.

In the early days, Alex had worked in sales, skipping meals constantly and ruining his stomach.

After that, I had started cooking for him every day. I would even bring the food to his office and watch him finish every bite.

Later, he stood me up again and again for Ember.

I reheated those meals countless times until they were completely mushy and shapeless.

When Alex came home and saw the cold food on the table, he only said he was sorry that he had already eaten out.

I dumped the food in the trash and never left a meal out for him again after that.

Alex had only noticed that now.

When I came out of the shower, Alex was waiting for me by the door, holding a glass of warm water.

"We're married. We can't keep sleeping in separate rooms forever," he said.

"Thanks, but I don't want it," I replied.

"You always drank a glass of warm water after showering before. I checked the temperature. It's exactly how you like it," he said.

"This is one of a pair of matching cups you bought with Ember," I said.

I met Alex's gaze.

I said, "Back then, I accidentally broke your cup. Ember was furious. You didn't come home for a whole month. I lost ten pounds from the stress.

"When you finally came back, you demanded to know if I had learned my lesson.

"This is the second one she bought. You made it clear I could never touch it, so I wouldn't mess with Ember's feelings."

Alex froze for a moment, then quickly set the cup down. "I forgot."

He looked at me, hesitating.

"What are you trying to say?" I asked.

"Are you going to look at the apartment tomorrow?" he asked.

When I nodded, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm free tomorrow. I'll go with you," he said.

I let out a silent scoff in my heart.

Alex was really pulling out all the stops to make sure I wouldn't ruin Ember's wedding.

"Sure," I said.

Alex seemed genuinely excited.

*****

Maybe it was because of what Neil had said during the day, but that night I kept dreaming about the child I had lost.

I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Just as I was about to get up for some air, a pair of large, warm hands wrapped around my waist from behind.

I caught a whiff of alcohol, and my skin crawled with goosebumps. I shot up instantly.

"Alex, are you that pathetic? Ember's getting married, and since you can't stay loyal to her, now you want to touch me?" I snapped.

The anger I had bottled up for years flared up, and I couldn't hide the disgust on my face.

Alex flinched under my glare. "I think it's time for us to move on.

"Just let bygones be bygones."

I smirked. "Alright."

Before Alex could even feel happy about it, I tapped at my phone a few times and turned the lit-up screen toward him.

"So, how many kids do you want? We can go adopt them tomorrow," I said.

The photos on the screen were all of orphans with blindness, deafness, and all kinds of deformities and disabilities.

I said, "Cheating, emotional abuse, and never taking responsibility.

"I'm afraid any child raised in our house would pick up those terrible habits. Only a child who can't see would ever want to stay in a house like ours."

Alex fell silent.

"Get out. Don't disgust me," I snapped.

I shoved him out the door and locked it behind him.

*****

The next day, Alex put on the suit I had bought him back then. He looked at me with hope in his eyes.

"Do I look good?" he asked.

Honestly, he didn't.

After all those years, the suit had faded slightly no matter how carefully it had been stored. It was wrinkled and looked cheap, its quality far worse than the suits he wore now.

But I lied and told him it looked good anyway.

Alex was overjoyed and transferred three million dollars to my account right away.

"Those days were so hard, and we still made it through together. Things are going to keep getting better for us, right, honey?" he asked.

Once the money was in my account, I shook my head.

Alex pretended not to notice.

*****

I was very satisfied with the apartment. It offered private elevator entry and sat in a prime central area. Two subway stops were right downstairs, and a massive shopping mall was located within a mile.

The sales agent followed behind me, his smile never leaving his face the entire tour.

Alex was distracted, checking his phone constantly.

I didn't care where his mind wandered. All that mattered was that he paid for this apartment.

When I got back from the restroom, Alex had gone.

There was only one text on my phone.

Alex: [She refuses to walk down the aisle until I get there. I'm afraid she'll keep clinging to me after the wedding.

[This is the last time. Just half an hour, and I'll be right back. Please wait for me.]

The sales agent looked at me awkwardly. "Well, who will be handling the payment?"

I was done waiting.

No one was obligated to wait for anyone.

"Card, please," I said.

What Alex didn't know was that I had prepared a grand gift for Ember, too.

If he hurried, he would be right on time to see it.