3#03

3

Nicolas was in the process of loosening his necktie, cocking an eyebrow and flashing a cocky grin.

"What are you on about? Isn't this situation exactly what we've been working towards?"

I couldn't believe he'd go to such extremes just to get under my skin.

I could feel his warm exhalations on the back of my neck, and I couldn't contain myself any longer—I began to retch.

Nicolas quickly stepped back, his expression a mix of revulsion and fury. Once I regained my composure, he grabbed my face roughly.

"So now I'm disgusting to you, is that it? But didn't you profess your love for me? What's changed? Can't keep up the charade anymore, Rowena?"

Tears began to stream down my face, and he released me abruptly, as if my reaction had scalded him.

I forced a smile, feeling an odd sense of calm wash over me.

"My love for you has died. A man who cheats is like a decomposing corpse — nauseating, revolting, and impossible to ignore once the stench permeates the air. No matter how hard you try to conceal it, the rot always seeps through, leaving nothing but revulsion and betrayal in its wake."

Nicolas' expression shifted, and he seemed ready to argue, but when he noticed how ashen I had become, he clamped his mouth shut.

"Say what you will, but remember that I own you, Rowena. And I'll make you rue the day you ever spoke to me like that," he snarled, hurling those words at me before storming into the bathroom with his clothes in hand.

I suppressed my disgust and made my way to the living room, gulping down some water. Tears flowed uncontrollably, clouding my vision.

Nicolas wasn't mistaken — he did own me.

The weather forecast program had already been canceled, and the rain outside intensified, drumming against the windowpanes.

My phone vibrated several times. It was a message from Annette.

She had sent a few screenshots of her bank transfers, along with some of Nicolas' complaints about me.

"I just can't stand her. Always walking around with that dour expression, acting as if I actually owe her something!"

"She's such a killjoy! Every time something good happens, she always ruins the mood—so dull!"

"Are you finished with work yet? Put on something nice, I'll come pick you up."

I opened a voice message from Annette, and her playful, naive voice filled my ears.

"Did you catch my show, Rowena? It was my first time on camera. Nicolas said I outperformed you, so he even sent me five million for some luxury shopping."

"By the way, I heard Nicolas mention you were upset about losing your job? I'm here to knock some sense into you. Being upset will only age you faster. After all, you're already twenty-six, so you can't really compete with us twenty-year-olds."

I shut my eyes, accustomed to Annette's occasional jabs. But at this moment, I couldn't take it anymore. Opening my eyes again, I tapped on my brother's chat.

The previous year, my brother had sent me an application for a position at a major network. At the time, I still wanted to give Nicolas one last chance and had declined my brother's offer. In hindsight, I realized how foolish I had been.

But now, I had given Nicolas three chances, and with the job loss and the two incidents that followed, all the chances I'd given him were exhausted. My feelings for him had completely evaporated.

"Regarding that application you mentioned last year—if I submit it now, would it still be valid?"

His response came almost instantly. "It would be."

"But... have you really considered this carefully?"

"Yes," I replied, wiping away my tears.

"And what about the proposal I made to you? What's your answer?"

"I've made my decision. I do, Kyle."

Although my brother was adopted, my father had once considered him as a potential son-in-law before he passed away. If my parents were still alive, I didn't think they would have objected. As for Nicolas and me, there was no need to prolong things any further. My feelings for him and our marriage had reached their conclusion.

Nicolas remained silent after his shower. He grabbed his coat and left without a word.