“Give it to someone else. I don’t use such
high–end perfume.”
Half an hour earlier, Chloe posted a picture of
herself buying a bag at a luxury store.
In the corner of the picture was Ethan’s wrist,
showing his Vacheron Constantin watch.
Seeing my bandaged hand and me mindlessly
laughing at cartoons on TV, Ethan leaned in,
trying to check my injury.
I instinctively flinched away, knocking over the
bag and shattering the perfume.
Ethan sneered.
“Nina, I only made you wait a little while in the
car this morning. Is this really necessary?”
く
“I’m not angry.”
My honest words were met with his ruthless
mockery.
“You totally are. Nina, look at how old you
are. You’re so old, you’re always overthinking
things. You’re hopeless.”
I’m three years older than Ethan.
Every time we fought, he’d mock my age and
intelligence. Then he’d leisurely watch me cry
and freak out.
This time, I didn’t cry. I didn’t beg him to tell
me if he regretted marrying me.
I just said,
“Whatever you think.”
After finishing my takeout, I grabbed my bag,
opened the door, and left.
Before, my attempts to run away never
prompted him to chase after me.
But today, Ethan followed me to the elevator,
demanding where I was going.
<
I lied casually,
“My mom asked me to get some vegetables
from her garden.”
He seemed to want to say something more,
but the elevator doors closed.
Less than two hours later, while I was
chatting at a bar, I got a text from Ethan. A
single question mark.
Seeing I wasn’t responding, my best friend,
Lily, was incredulous.
“Nina, your husband finally texted you, you
won’t reply? He’ll be pissed!”
My friends know I’m terrified of upsetting
Ethan.
But tonight, I ignored him and had a blast
with the girls until late.
When I got home, Ethan was drinking water
from the fridge.
He didn’t care where I’d been, and I ignored
him going straight to the bathroom to.
く
shower.
As soon as I got into bed, Ethan came over.
He kissed me for a few seconds before I
pushed him away hard.
Ethan turned on the bedside lamp, unable to
take it anymore.
“Nina, don’t tell me you forgot it’s your
ovulation period.”
We weren’t DINKS. So every month, during
those days, he’d reluctantly sleep with me.
I turned my back to him.
“I’m too tired. I’ll sleep now.”
Hearing those same old rejection words
coming from my mouth, Ethan was stunned.
Finally, he walked out of the bedroom with a
grim face.
I knew he’d sleep in the guest room for the
next few days.
Before, if Ethan slept in another room, I’d be
frantic and sleepless.
く
That night, I slept soundly.
The next day at work, I was incredibly
efficient. When my boss jokingly asked what
reward I wanted, I looked at her seriously.
“The divorce lawyer you introduced me to last
time? Please, hook me up.”
On the ninth day of sleeping separately,
Ethan, who didn’t have to wake up early,
made me my favorite bacon and eggs, then
went back to the bedroom to sleep.
At 3 pm, I saw a picture in our friend group
—
chat a big wedding photo of Ethan’s
childhood friend, Owen.
In the photo was Ethan, and Chloe, his arm
around her, smiling sweetly.
Less than five minutes after the photo was
posted, Ethan called.
He hesitated. “Nina, don’t misunderstand, it
was a weekday when Owen got married,
so…”
<
I didn’t understand. “What’s there to
misunderstand?”
“You’re not angry?”
“Why would I be angry?”
He paused, then said,
“Wait for me at the company after work. I’ll
take you out for dinner.”
He hung up before I could refuse.
When Ethan picked me up, Chloe was in the
passenger seat.
“Nina! So you’re coming to mooch dinner
too?”
I smiled calmly, and gracefully opened the
back door, ignoring Chloe’s sarcasm.
On the way, Ethan kept glancing at the
rearview mirror, trying to make small talk.
I stared at my phone, offering a few
perfunctory responses, then fell silent.
When we arrived at the private room in the
restaurant. Owen greeted us. saving it was a
<
huge regret that I didn’t attend his wedding.
I knew Owen was trying to smooth things
over for Ethan.
But I wasn’t angry with anyone.
“Don’t say that, I owe you a happy wedding
belatedly.”
Seeing my lack of curiosity and my focus on
the food, Owen looked surprised.
Over the past year, he’d covered for Ethan
countless times, with Chloe on various
vacations.
There was even a time when I confronted him
directly, exposing his lie about a business trip
with Ethan.
Even then, he wasn’t as shocked as he was
now.
Halfway through the meal, the restaurant
manager brought over some expensive wine,
asking Ethan,
“This is the wine you and Ms. Chloe left here
L
last time. Would you like to open it now?”
