Chapter 3
Around ten, Edward finally came out of the master bedroom.
I pushed a hotel booking page across the table to him.
"I've checked it. There's a serviced apartment nearby with good security. I'll pay for it. Claire can stay there," I said.
His face fell. "What do you mean?"
"She doesn't have a place to stay, right? A hotel is better than our home."
"She just got back. She's not from around here, doesn't know a soul, and her health isn't great. It's not safe for her to stay in a hotel."
I looked at him. "So our home is the right place for her?"
He lowered his voice. "Anna, try to understand. She helped me a lot in Bristania with my life, my studies, and took care of me when I was sick.
"Now that she's in trouble, I want to help her out. It's just friendship, and I owe her for all she did for me."
It was such a noble excuse that I couldn't argue with it.
He frowned. "You used to be so understanding."
That was the second time he'd said that to me today.
Suddenly, I felt so tired.
I stood up. "It's late. I'm heading home."
Edward looked surprised. "You're not staying here?"
I glanced at the closed master bedroom door.
"Where am I supposed to sleep? The couch?" I said.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed his face.
"It's a special situation tonight. I'll figure something out tomorrow," he said.
I didn't wait for his arrangements. I turned and walked out.
*****
The next morning, I brought breakfast over for Edward and Claire.
As soon as I walked in, I saw Edward wearing the checkered apron I'd bought, busy at the stove, the pot bubbling away.
He glanced back at me, then turned his attention back to the stove.
"I used the health tonic from the fridge. Claire needs it to get her strength back," he said.
My mom had someone bring the fancy gift box of health tonic all the way from overseas for Edward and me. It was meant to help us get in good shape, so we could start planning for a baby when Edward got back.
He didn't even bother to ask me before handing it over to someone else.
I walked over and turned off the stove.
Edward frowned and turned to look at me.
"What are you doing? Claire's about to wake up," he said.
"That health tonic was meant for me, to help us get ready for a baby," I said, looking him straight in the eye.
For a second, he looked shocked, then his face twisted with impatience.
"Anna, can you not be so selfish?" he snapped. "Claire's all alone in this city. She's my classmate, and she's sick. What's wrong with me taking care of her?
"It's just a box of health tonic. I'll buy you ten boxes tomorrow, alright?"
I stared at the man before me, someone who felt both familiar and strange.
Five years ago, he hugged me at the airport, crying, promising he'd call me every single day once he got to Bristania.
The first year, he called me three times a day.
The second year, it was once a day.
The third year, he said he was too busy with school and would call when he had time.
I tried to be understanding, so I swallowed all my feelings, worked like crazy, saved up, and planned for our future.
Now, all I was to him was selfish, unreasonable, and ungrateful.
I set the breakfast down, grabbed the leftover health tonic from the fridge, and walked out.
"Anna, can you take a cab home and leave the car with me?" Edward called after me.
He couldn't even look me in the eye as he said it.
"Why?" I asked.
"Claire and I have to go to the office tomorrow. She's not feeling well, and the subway's too crowded for her. Can I borrow your car for a few days?" he said.
"And how am I supposed to get to work?"
"You're healthy and independent. Just take the subway for a few days. I'll buy a car as soon as I can."
"Edward, do you really think this is okay?"
His tone turned impatient again. "It's just giving her a ride to work. Don't make it complicated. Stop picking fights with Claire. She got off a long flight earlier, and she's really weak."
His words hit me like ice water, leaving me completely numb.
I didn't know what else to say. I simply stared at him for a long moment, then pulled the car keys out of my bag and set them on the table.
I bought that car in my second year of work.
Every time Edward came back for a short visit, he'd say my car was right for him.
I never said no because I thought we were together, that there was no line between us.
But now, he was using my car to drive another woman around.
He said it like it was the most natural thing in the world, like all the effort I put in was never worth mentioning.