Chapter 1

My husband Victor was diagnosed with ALS, but he didn't know it yet.

The same day I received the diagnosis, he installed a camera in our room and confessed his love to another woman:

"I only love you, and I won't have sex with my wife anymore!"

I silently threw his diagnosis report into the shredder.

Since he has already fallen in love with someone else, there is no need for me to pay attention to his body.

Let Victor slowly feel the atrophy of his body and the disappearance of his life in the days to come.

1

When I saw the letters "ALS" on Victor's diagnosis report, I nearly lost my footing.

Three months ago, Victor was injured in a mountain climbing accident. During his hospital stay, I specifically requested the doctors to perform a comprehensive examination, hoping to put my mind at ease. I never expected to receive such a result.

"Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is currently incurable. We can only use medication to slow the progression, but the final outcome is irreversible."

The doctor's gaze was filled with sympathy as he looked at me.

Victor had just turned thirty, handsome and dashing, in the prime of his life with a successful career.

As a renowned divorce attorney in the country, he was sharp, decisive, cool-headed, and rational - the epitome of an elite professional. In his private life, he led a simple and disciplined routine, enjoying fitness and mountain climbing, and was extremely particular about his quality of life.

The thought of someone like him becoming a helpless ALS patient in the future was almost unbearable to imagine.

Sitting on the street corner, watching the endless flow of people passing by, I remained there for a long time before slowly standing up.

I had made up my mind.

As husband and wife, we should face everything together. No matter what he might become in the future, I would stand by him with our son and face it all.

By the time I returned home, night had already fallen.Daniel was quietly playing Go in his room. At age seven, he had reached grandmaster level in Go and was once interviewed on TV as a "Prodigy."

"Have you eaten?" I asked him gently, adjusting my mood.

"Yes, the nanny made pork rib and lotus root soup today," he replied without looking at me, focused intently on the game board.

"Where's your father?"

"He went for a run."

Daniel had a quiet personality and spoke concisely.

He took after both of us.

Two hours later, as I was leaning against the bed debating whether to tell Victor about my condition, he returned.

Dressed in all black workout gear, he looked imposing and efficient.

I immediately felt anxious. "It's only a few degrees outside, why are you wearing so little?"

One of the precautions the doctor had mentioned today was that ALS patients produce less heat due to muscle atrophy and shouldn't get cold, as it could accelerate the disease progression.

Victor's face was expressionless as he said flatly:

"That's how I always dress for runs."

He opened the box he was carrying and took out a camera, setting it up on the dresser across from the bed.

Aimed right at the bed.

I was a bit confused.

"Why are you suddenly installing a camera?"

"There have been some break-ins nearby. Having surveillance is safer."

"Aren't you worried about privacy being invaded?"I hesitated before asking, knowing Victor was someone who highly valued his personal privacy.

He glanced at me and scoffed lightly:

"Privacy? Who's interested in your privacy?"

A mix of emotions swirled inside me, but I didn't want to argue with him.

As we prepared for bed, he lay down with his back to me, positioning himself far away, clearly in a mood where he was too exhausted to communicate.

I sighed softly to myself.

He had just wrapped up a high-profile celebrity divorce case that had caused quite a stir. Now that the pressure was off, I figured I should let him relax for a bit.

In the middle of the night, I suddenly woke up, feeling uneasy.

The bed beside me was empty. Victor wasn't there.

Feeling a sudden pang of worry, I got up to look for him.

On the balcony, I found him in his thin pajamas, making a phone call in the night breeze.

I quickly grabbed a jacket and walked over.

"I won't touch her again..."

His soft words reached me, and I froze mid-step.

"I've sent you the password and account details. You can log in and check anytime."

"I've decided to stay celibate for love."

Through the glass, I stared at Victor in shock.

His usually cold and indifferent face was now flooded with intense emotion.

Looking at his flushed, impassioned face, I slowly processed the logic behind his words.

In that moment, I felt like I didn't know him at all.