Chapter 1

Melody has an eating disorder and can only consume food I prepare.

To ensure she has hot meals on time, I quit my job to cook for her.

Later, I accidentally overheard her conversation with a friend.

"Melody, why did you lie to Ethan about having an eating disorder?"

I heard her chuckle softly and say, "How else would he be willing to quit his job?"

"At the time, he was an obstacle to my junior's career. I'd do anything as long as my junior could achieve his goals."

It turns out that what I thought was a mutual commitment was, from beginning to end, just my one-sided love.

Well then, I'll let go and wish you both the best.

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1

I stand at the doorway, clutching the thermos flask in my hand, feeling chilled to the bone.

I know the junior Melody mentioned. His name is Donavan, Melody's college junior and my former rival.

Back then, we were competing for the same project. Securing it would have guaranteed a promotion.

After that, Melody, whom I had been pursuing for years, finally paid attention to me.

She said she had an eating disorder and could only stomach food I prepared. She asked if I'd marry her and cook for her every day.

The person I'd been dreaming of suddenly reciprocated my feelings, and things escalated quickly to marriage. Overwhelmed with joy, I agreed immediately.

After we tied the knot, we briefly became the perfect couple in everyone's eyes.

I tried to balance work and family, but Melody felt I was always focused on my job, neglecting her. She complained that meals weren't prepared on time, and she even fainted from low blood sugar because of it.

Then she asked if I could quit my job and focus solely on her.

I hesitated because I had just secured the project and was waiting for my promotion.Melody sensed my hesitation.

She hurled the throw pillow in her hand at me. "Ethan, didn't you say you loved me before? Am I really worth less to you than your job?"

"You know you're all I have. What am I supposed to do if you don't agree?"

She gazed at me with puppy dog eyes, tears threatening to spill over.

The next day, I submitted my resignation.

From that day on, my most frequent attire changed from suits to aprons.

I became a house husband.

Some people complained, "Melody, treating Ethan like this isn't fair to him."

Melody replied nonchalantly, "As long as Donavan's future remains bright, I'm willing to do anything."

"Besides, he's doing this of his own free will. I didn't force him."

I heard a gentle male voice say, "Melody, doing this will make Brother Ethan sad."

It was Donavan's voice.

Melody reassured him, "I've already married him, sacrificing my marriage. What more does he want?"

"Most importantly, you have a broader world to conquer, and I'm willing to always be your guardian."Someone asked her, "What if Ethan finds out and wants a divorce?"

Melody scoffed, "He chased after me for five years. He was grateful just to marry me. How could he possibly divorce me over something so trivial?"

"I just have to beckon, and he'll come running like a dog."

People were egging her on, saying she and Donavan were a match made in heaven.

Melody's words were like a dull knife, carving into my heart over and over.

If Donavan hadn't called me to say Melody was drunk at a friend's gathering and asked me to pick her up, I wouldn't have heard any of this.

It turns out the love I thought was a mutual commitment was just my one-sided devotion.

The thermos in my hand suddenly felt impossibly heavy. I couldn't hold it anymore, and it fell to the ground, rolling away with a clatter.

The hangover soup I had specially prepared spilled everywhere.

Hearing the commotion, everyone in the private room turned to look.

They saw me standing in the doorway.

The teasing expressions on their faces hadn't yet faded, now looking absurdly out of place.I saw Melody and Donavan seated at the center of the table in the place of honor, behaving intimately like a couple deeply in love.

When she noticed me, Melody instinctively increased the distance between herself and Donavan.

The atmosphere became unbearably awkward. In the end, it was Melody who broke the silence first.