Chapter 2

I looked at a phone number in the list, my eyes welling up with tears.

"Brother, I want to come home."

The voice on the other end responded with surprise and joy, "Elowen, I'll always be here whenever you need me."

Tears fell silently. This was the first time I'd cried in my three years of battling cancer.

"Will you come pick me up?"

On the other end of the line was my stepfather's son, Lorne. He worked in finance and venture capital abroad, having immigrated during his college years.

We had grown up together, relying on each other, and shared a close bond.

Later, I met Alec in college and insisted on marrying him.

When Lorne found out, he cut off contact with me ruthlessly.

I dated Alec for four years and was married to him for ten.

In the end, he left me with nothing but scars and this miserable outcome.

I had just finished cleaning and washing the pile of clothes Alec had left at home. I stood in the living room, my mind blank.

Turning to look at the security camera, I saw Alec standing outside with Lily.

In the footage, Alec was kissing Melody at the doorstep, completely shameless.

And my daughter Lily showed no surprise, as if this was a common occurrence.

This scene was like a boulder, crushing my heart. We once loved each other like that too. In the first few years of dating, we'd miss each other after just a second apart.

The moment we'd meet, we'd want to be intimate, sometimes not even making it through the door before starting.

He would always cling to me, wanting more and more. He'd always say I was the one he loved most, that he wanted to possess me completely.

I thought he would love me for a lifetime, just as I could love him for a lifetime.

That's why I refused Lorne's arrangement and stayed in the country to marry him.

During those early years when he was starting his business, I accompanied him to business talks and contract negotiations, drinking myself sick. That's when the roots of my stomach problems were planted.

But after ten years of marriage, I couldn't even keep his heart.

The door finally opened, and he was surprised to see me in the first second.

He looked back nervously for a moment, and after making sure no one was there, his tone turned accusatory:

"Why didn't you open the door when you're home!"

After sending Lily back to her room, he kicked the luggage beside him towards my feet:

"Since you're doing laundry, wash these too."

Out of habit, I opened the suitcase, crouched down to sort the clothes into the washing machine, but found a box of opened condoms in the corner of the suitcase.

I could hardly breathe. As I stood up and glanced towards the balcony, I saw Melody standing downstairs.

The next second, Alec behind me began his performance. "Alec, why is the house such a mess? Don't you clean when you're home?"

Alec furrowed his brow, clearly displeased.

He had severe germaphobia and strict standards for the cleanliness of their home.

That's why I always cleaned personally.

"Look at how poorly you've cleaned. I'm breaking out in hives!"

Alec lifted his shirt, pretending to scratch himself.

But in those few seconds, I clearly saw that it wasn't hives on his body, but hickeys.

A wave of dizziness hit the back of my head, and I felt unsteady on my feet.

Now I realized that his previous "allergic reactions" weren't allergies at all, but traces of their encounters.

I suddenly felt like a fool, played like a puppet in his hands.

All that devotion and effort had become a joke.

"After you do the laundry, clean up properly. Let me know when it's spotless."

Alec turned, opened the door, and left.

Watching his retreating figure, I felt a lump in my throat:

"Take this with you."

My steps were unsteady, and I could barely walk.

I shoved the condom into his hand. He froze, his face turning red.

After my three years of fighting cancer, we hardly used these things anymore.

He always said we'd wait until I felt better.

He knew very well who these belonged to and who had used them.