Chapter 2

I returned home and started drinking alone.

Seven years of feelings, three years of marriage, and a lifetime of plans, all ending in this result.

When Serenity got home, I was nearly drunk.

Seeing me drinking, she anxiously asked, "Eames, what's wrong? Did something upsetting happen?"

As she came close, I could still smell Fintan's cologne on her.

I felt waves of nausea, pushed her away, and ran to the bathroom.

There was a fleeting look of panic in her eyes.

I started violently throwing up into the toilet.

She followed closely behind me, gently patting my back.

"Don't drink so much, it's bad for your stomach. It pains me to see you drink like this."

How could she switch so quickly from one man to another?

"I'll go make you some hangover soup."

By the time I came out, she had already prepared the hangover soup.

She kept stirring it, hoping it would cool down faster.

Sitting on the couch, she fed me spoonful by spoonful.

I stared at her fingers, noticing a ring very similar to our wedding band.

But when she reached out, I saw a small "Fintan" on the inside of the ring.

She had thrown away our wedding ring and put on someone else's.

Just as well.

The pain of love feels like being flayed alive. The more thoroughly it's done now, the less your heart will ache when it's over.

Her gaze upon me was different than before. She spoke with concern, "Am I not spending enough time with you? The company's been so busy lately, I've neglected you. Tomorrow, I'll go with you to pick out a suit. Our third wedding anniversary is coming up soon. We'll celebrate properly then."

She grabbed a warm towel and began wiping my face.

As she leaned down, her neckline gaped open, revealing a mass of hickeys across her chest.

I pulled her close, trying to tug at her clothes.

She quickly covered herself with her hands. "Eames, you've had too much to drink. That's not good for you. You need to rest, okay? Be good."

After a brief moment of panic, her tone switched back to gentle.

I just wanted to see how she'd hide the marks on her body, but she thought I was trying to initiate sex.

In the past, her words would have made me feel how thoughtful and caring she was towards me.

But today, I knew she just didn't want me to discover the hickeys on her body.

While she was cleaning the bathroom, a message popped up on her phone on the table: "You little wildcat, you drained me dry today."

I didn't move, just stared blankly at the phone screen as it went dark again.

After cleaning the bathroom, she helped me to bed.

Gently, she changed me into my pajamas.

She carefully tucked me in, making sure the blanket was snug around me.

She also took my discarded clothes to wash them.

By my side, she continued to play the role of the devoted wife.

If there were an award for the top ten actors, she'd undoubtedly win the gold.

The next day, while I was being measured at the suit tailor's, she received a call from Fintan.

"Little wildcat, I want to eat you up. Come to me."

She glanced at me furtively, thinking I couldn't hear.

But I was once the best scout, with exceptional hearing as my forte.

My fists clenched involuntarily, and my body tensed up.

When she approached, she feigned casualness and naturalness.

But the blush on her face betrayed her eagerness.

"Eames, something's come up at work. I need to go. After you're done with the measurements, wait for me at the top floor of the Riverside Tower Restaurant. I've made reservations. We'll eat together."

I held onto her, "Can't you skip it? You said yesterday you'd spend today with me."

Although I'd decided to leave, seeing her about to go meet another man right in front of me still caused an unstoppable ache in my heart.

She pried my hand off, "The work matter is important. I'll be back as soon as I can. Wait for me."

With that, she gave my waist a quick hug and hurried off.

I waited in the restaurant from sunset to twilight, from the first streetlights to the city ablaze, until darkness enveloped the entire metropolis. Still, she never came.

I called her five times. Each attempt met with no connection.