I felt very irritated.
So, I lied to him, saying I had to work overtime during this period and wouldn’t get off work until 8 PM every day.
In reality, I stayed at the office to study after work.
Without his interruptions, I could finally focus in peace.
On this day, after work, I took out my review materials to study.
Half an hour later, the entire building lost power.
I asked the security guard, who said they didn’t know what had caused the problem, but they were looking for someone to fix it.
I packed up my materials and headed straight to the coffee shop across the street.
I ordered a coffee and sat there doing practice questions for two hours.
After finishing, I rushed back to the office building across the street.
I had told Zachary that I was working overtime recently and that he didn’t need to come pick me up.
He still insisted on coming every night at 8 PM.
When I got downstairs, his car had just arrived.
Recently, he had become particularly talkative, always trying to find various topics to chat with me about.
He would ask how my work was going, if my studies were progressing smoothly, how I was getting along with colleagues.
Even if I gave perfunctory answers, his enthusiasm didn’t diminish.
But tonight, he was silent the whole way.
This was fine with me, as I could close my eyes and zone out for a while,
10
As we entered the apartment and I was changing my shoes, Zachary finally broke the silence.
“You haven’t been working overtime these past few days, have you?”
I paused, then admitted directly: “No, I haven’t.”
“Every day after work, I drive straight to your company building and wait. I usually arrive around 6:30 PM and sit in the car for an hour and a half, waiting for you to come down. Today was the same, but just as I arrived, the building lost power. I saw you run out of the main entrance, but before I could call out to you, you ran across the street. I followed behind you and watched you do practice questions in the coffee shop until 8 PM.”
“Oh, you saw me? Why didn’t you call out?” I felt a bit embarrassed.
“These past few days, you haven’t been working overtime at all. You’ve been studying in the office, right? Why don’t you come home to study? Olivia, we’re not even married yet, and you’re already tired of coming home? Would you rather hide in the office than see me? Tell me what I’m doing wrong, I can change.”
Since the conversation had come to this point, I pursed my lips and said: “Alright, I think we do need to have a good talk about our relationship-”
C
<
“Olivia, I just remembered, I have a business trip to the neighboring city tomorrow,” Zachary suddenly interrupted me. “I need to get up early tomorrow, so let’s get some rest early tonight. Whatever it is, we can talk when I get back!”
I don’t know if it was.my imagination, but there seemed to be a hint of panic in his eyes.
I sighed: “Fine! Have you packed your luggage?”
“Not yet.”
(Then hurry up and pack. I’m going to take a shower first.”
In the past, whenever Zachary went on a business trip, I always helped him pack his luggage, but now I no longer had the patience for it.
In the morning, seeing Zachary leave with his suitcase, I felt an unfamiliar sense of relief.
I wouldn’t have to face him for the next few days. I could finally enjoy some time alone.
On the third day of Zachary’s business trip, I received a call from Chloe at noon.
She told me that Zachary had a severe cold and was getting an IV drip at the Central Hospital.
Taking advantage of my lunch break, I took a cab to the hospital.
Zachary looked pale, leaning back in a recliner getting an IV drip. He looked weak and indeed seemed quite ill.
“Weren’t you on a business trip?” I walked up to him.
Zachary opened his eyes, saw me, and his eyes first lit up with joy, then turned guilty.
“Olivia, why are you here? Who told you?”
“I told her!” Chloe walked in from outside, carrying a cup of hot water.
She looked at me righteously: “What have you done to Zachary? He’s been afraid to go home and has been staying at Mike’s place these past few days. How can you be so domineering? You’re too much!”
I looked at Zachary: “You said you were on a business trip.”
Zachary couldn’t meet my eyes and said weakly: “I’m sorry, Olivia. I lied to you. I wasn’t on a business trip.”
I understood. He was avoiding me.
