Chapter 2

Back at the home I shared with Gideon, I looked around the small, damp room. For the first time, I realized how much hardship I endured for a man, having grown up with wealth and privilege.

To be with him, I left home and moved thousands of miles away to Seattle. Here, I had no friends or family, only Gideon. But he...

Wiping the tears from the corners of my eyes, I went to the bedroom to pack my bags. My elbow accidentally bumped Gideon's mouse. The computer screen lit up, revealing his SnapChat chat box. It was his chat with Nora.

I squinted, mechanically scrolling through the messages. The more I read, the colder my heart grew.

[Brother Gideon, want to go out for drinks tonight?]

[Is Adeline upset again? Women are like that, they like to throw little tantrums. Just coax her.]

[My stockings tore, can you buy me a pair downstairs? Don't overthink it, I see you as a brother.]

[The coffee you had was nice, save the rest for me. I got you a milk tea and left it on your desk.]

...

After reading the chat, I was filled with anger, my body swaying. I barely steadied myself by holding onto the desk, my nails digging into the wood. Tears splashed onto the desk, creating little water droplets.

Memories of Gideon's proposal replayed in my mind. He'd knelt before me with a huge bouquet of red roses, solemnly swearing, "From now on, I only love Adeline Harper."

"I won't let Adeline Harper suffer any grievance or shed a single tear."

"Heaven and earth as witness, I have no divided loyalties."

He broke his promise.

I bit my lower lip hard, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. The wedding photo on the wall suddenly fell with a loud crash. I walked over and picked it up, my fingers tracing the photo.

When we first got married, we were tight on money, only getting the marriage certificate without a wedding. Later, when things got a bit better, Gideon spent a month's salary to take wedding photos with me.

In the photo, Gideon was holding me with eyes full of love, his lips pressed against my forehead. It was all so ironic.

Numbly, I picked up scissors and cut the photo into pieces, tossing them into the trash. I heard a sound from the entrance; Gideon had returned.

Seeing me at home, Gideon pressed his lips into a thin line. "Nora is missing."

"Mm," I responded.

He frowned, "Why are you acting like this?"

My eyelashes trembled, "How should I act, then?"

Gideon closed his eyes, took a deep breath. When he opened them, they were filled with disappointment. "Adeline Harper, you feel like a stranger to me."

"The old you was kind and forgiving, always helping those in need. But now, what have you become..."

I interrupted, clenching my fingers, "As you said, that was before."

"I've changed, okay?"

The living room fell into silence. I threw our marriage certificate in front of him, calmly meeting his eyes, "Let's go get a divorce now."

Gideon seemed exasperated, "How many times do I have to say it? I'm not divorcing you."

"How can you give up on our thirteen years together so easily!"

I slapped him, my eyes red and voice choked, "You were the one who gave up first."

His hearing aid fell to the floor. Gideon stood there, dumbfounded, covering his face, speechless for a long time.

He silently bent down, picked up the hearing aid, and put it back on. Ignoring my resistance, he pulled me into his arms, "I'm really in a tough spot. Please, understand me, honey."

Pain spread in my chest, and I wanted to push him away, but my body felt too heavy to lift my hand.

"Nora is young and fragile. It's easy for her to spiral in this situation..."

"I'll stay with her for now, until she's in a better place."

"Could you keep your distance from her in the future?"

I was so shocked that I couldn't speak.

An abrupt phone ringing interrupted us. Gideon looked puzzled as he took out his phone and answered it.

The next second, his pupils shrank, "What did you say?!"