Chapter 7%
He never thought I’d say something like that in public.
“What… what did you just say?” he asked, as if unsure he heard right.
I smiled calmly #
“What’s the point of sharing a bed if it feels so degrading? It’s better to let you go than continue like t
this.
With those words, I walked out of the celebration, ignoring all the stunned gazes.!
Out in the hallway, Nathaniel chased after me.
He caught my arm and spun me around–then slapped me. Take back what you just said!”
“Not this time.
My voice was soft, but resolute.
Rage clouded his face, but a tear still slipped from the corner of his eye as he roared,!!
“You’ve never disobeyed me like this. I said take it back!”
Then came another slap.
It was angry, but weak.D
I closed my eyes, then reopened them.
If you’re tired, just go home. Til have a lawyer handle the divorce.”
I turned to leave!
Behind me, I heard Nathaniel’s anguished sobbing.
He had never looked so broken.!!
But I had been in that state too many times to count.
I didn’t return to the house we shared. Instead, I went to a villa fd bought recently!!
Aside from the nanny, it was quiet.!
He wasn’t there anymore.
There was no longer need to worry about him showing up unexpectedly. But I was wrong.li
Late at night, he still found me.”
“How did you know where to find me?”
I asked, but he said nothing.
He walked in coldly, took off his clothes and headed for the bathroom.
The tattoo on his back caught my eye, pain sliced through my heart!!
Years ago, he’d injured himself protecting me.
Later, he had that scar inked with a tattoo.
I once asked if it hurt.8.
“It did,” he said, “but I want you to remember me forever”
“Everyone makes mistakes,” he’d continued. “I will too. But no matter what I do–promise me you’ll forgive me, unconditionally, when you see this.”
I’d been so moved I nodded :
“I promise.”
He grinned and held out his pinky. “Pinky swears. For a hundred years.”
Remembering that, the ache in my heart intensified.”
At some point, he walked back from the bathroom and stood before me.
“Where’s the bedroom?”
I said nothing, only looked toward the stairs.
He wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
“Husband and wife shouldn’t hold grudges overnight. No matter how bad things get, we can move on,”
Then he guided my hands to his waist.
“Hold me. Let’s go to bed.”
I didn’t respond.
He leaned closer and whispered,
“Believe me.
I’ve completely cut ties with Veronica.” He shouldn’t have said her name. Hearing it only made me resist him more. I pushed him away and shook my head. “You’ll never be done with her. Not really,”
“We’ve been together for thirteen years. And you still don’t trust me?”
He wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
“Husband and wife shouldn’t hold grudges overnight. No matter how bad things get, we can move on.” Then he guided my hands to his waist.
“Hold me. Let’s go to bed.”
I didn’t respond.
He leaned closer and whispered,
“Believe me. I’ve completely cut ties with Veronica.” He shouldn’t have said her name.”
Hearing it only made me resist him more. I pushed him away and shook my head.!!
“You’ll never be done with her. Not really.”
“We’ve been together for thirteen years. And you still don’t trust me?“}
His voice trembled with frustration.&
I couldn’t meet his eyes.
“It’s because I know you so well… I know you won’t stop.”
Nathaniel stepped forward again. He lifted my hand and kissed it.
Just this once,” he said. “Believe me, just this last time.”
Iwas silent.&
Later that night, he curled up beside me and said he didn’t want to work anymore.
“From now on, I’ll handle the home. You focus on your career. Let’s have a child.”B
Thirteen years.
We never had a child.
Because back in college, I was in an accident.
My uterus was severely damaged. I’ve been infertile ever since.
“I already contacted the hospital,” he said. “There’s a pair of twins, abandoned at birth. A boy and a girl. Let’s adopt them.” That was his way of showing he wanted to be a real husband.
After a long silence, I said yes.
We adopted them.8
Inexperience left us overwhelmed and we eventually had to hire a nanny.
But life changed. The house filled with laughter we hadn’t heard in years.
And he really did change.
He cooked at home. He packed meals and brought them to my office!
Once, during a downpour, thought he wouldn’t come. But he stili showed up–soaked, smiling, holding food.
He no longer came into the office or disrupted my work. He handed things to coworkers to give to me.
For a while, people envied me.
But then, just a month later. A friend sent me a photo.
Nathaniel and Veronica, walking side by side.!
Smiling. Close. Too close E
I stared at the photo for a long time before finally putting down my phone.
