Chapter 3

Coming home from work, the housekeeper had already prepared dinner. I looked at the empty chair across from me and asked, "Is Caleb not coming home for dinner tonight?"

"Mr. Caleb said he was tied up with a business dinner, very busy."

I didn't say anything, eating alone before lying in bed, not an ounce of sleep in me.

Caleb's "business dinners" were growing more frequent, and the strange perfume clinging to him was becoming unbearably sharp.

In the dark, I counted every tick of the clock.

It felt like an eternity before I finally heard the familiar click of the keypad lock outside.

I sat up, ready to head to the living room.

"Aurora, this is far enough. You've had too much to drink, I'll have the driver take you home."

Aurora's voice, laced with a faint, almost desperate joy, said, "Caleb, I can't believe you still have my access code saved..."

"I just tried it on a whim, and it actually worked... I'm so sorry."

I leaned weakly against the door. Hearing those words, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart by a hurricane.

A few minutes of silence passed outside. Then Caleb spoke, his voice flat. "You should go home. It's late."

"Caleb, I'm really scared. Every night, I'm haunted by those painful memories. Can I just stay here tonight?"

"You once told me you'd always keep a room for me here. Is it... still available?"

Aurora's voice cracked, raw with a vulnerability that would make anyone instinctively pity her.

And Caleb, after a few drinks, was even more susceptible.

Caleb was silent for a moment, his voice hoarse. "I'm married."

They were locked in a stalemate outside.

Another stretch of silence, then Aurora's broken sobs grew louder. Caleb sighed softly. "Keep it down, don't wake Vivian. And that room... yes, it was always meant for you..."

"Thank you, Caleb..."

Aurora's joyful tone made the bitterness in my heart spread even further.

When we were decorating this house, I'd wondered why that room was as large as our master bedroom. When I'd asked him, he'd explained it was for close friends or his parents when they visited.

Now, it was clear he had lied to me.

My tears streamed down uncontrollably.

Caleb's actions outside only deepened my disappointment.

I heard him say, "Go get some sleep. Vivian doesn't usually wake up until eight. I'll wake you at six, so you won't run into her."

In those few short sentences, Caleb was determined to keep me completely in the dark.

Any last flicker of hope in my heart was mercilessly extinguished by his words.