Chapter 3

When I reached the hotel lobby, I passed by the restaurant.

That was when I saw Madeline carefully cutting Ethan's steak into bite-sized pieces before setting the plate in front of him.

I lowered my head and quickened my pace.

Behind me, I heard some excited whispers.

"Oh my god, look over there."

"That girl is so sweet to her boyfriend."

"I noticed them in the elevator earlier. She kept doting on him, telling him to go back to their room if he felt unwell."

"Is that the same couple? The one where she was cutting up his steak for him?"

I walked up to the front desk and handed over my driver's license.

The receptionist smiled. "Mr. Sterling, right? Your wife has already checked you in. Room 301. Here's your keycard."

I took it, paused, and said, "Excuse me, could I change to another room?"

She looked a bit surprised but nodded.

I chose the room at the very end.

The last time I stayed at a hotel with Madeline.

She got up three times in the middle of the night, saying Ethan couldn't sleep in a strange bed.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling until dawn.

That night, there were no footsteps in the hallway.

I fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of the wind in Azure Ridge, whistling beneath the clear blue sky.

I dreamed of golden sunlight spilling over the snow-capped mountains.

Before I could make out the details, someone started knocking on the door.

Ethan shouted, "Charles, wake up. Come on, get up."

I opened the door.

Ethan was beaming with excitement, ready to head out early.

My throat was dry. "I'm feeling dizzy. You guys go ahead."

Madeline frowned. "Charles, Ethan waited for you. He only came to get you after he was ready.

"Why do you always say you're not feeling well at times like this? Don't kill the vibe."

Her eyes were full of disappointment as she looked at me.

I used to be scared when she looked at me like that.

I was afraid that if she got disappointed in me too many times, she'd stop wanting to see me at all.

But later, I realized she never looked at me anyway.

I let it go.

I closed the door, got changed, and tagged along after them downstairs.

The wind in Norvale Grasslands was dry and powerful, whipping across my face.

Ethan was like a bird out of its cage.

One minute he wanted to ride a horse, the next he was eager to see the sheep.

He kept handing his phone to Madeline, asking her to snap photos of him.

I followed behind, watching him show off in front of the camera with all sorts of poses.

Madeline was remarkably patient, tirelessly adjusting the camera angle for him.

The place was getting crowded.

As a couple passed by, the woman, linking her arm in the man's, glanced at Madeline and Ethan and sighed, "Look at them, how sweet."

While we were waiting in line for coffee, the woman ahead of us turned around and gave them a once-over.

With a big smile, she said, "You two make such a cute couple. Are you married?"

Ethan jumped in, "We've been married for ages. She totally adores me."

Madeline smiled, and I lingered a few steps behind.

At the ice cream stand, the vendor grinned and said, "You two make such a sweet couple."

That made thirty.

Thirty times.

Since we got here, people haven't stopped saying how perfect they are together.

Everyone keeps calling them a loving couple and wishing them a lifetime of happiness.

But Madeline never bothered to set the record straight. She could've cleared things up with a few words.

But she went along with Ethan.

Ethan passed me the ice cream he'd chosen for me.

I watched him put his arm around her.

I watched as she let him hold her again, not pushing his hand away like always.

"What about me?" I blurted out.

Some tourists glanced over, and Ethan's grin suddenly vanished.

Madeline finally turned to me, looking stunned.

"I'm the one who's actually her husband. So, what about me?" I said.

I tossed the ice cream into the trash.

I continued, "But it doesn't matter anymore. I'm not her husband anymore.

"Because I'm getting a divorce."