Chapter 1

I loved my wife deeply, even though she claimed she suffered from gender identity disorder.

I married her without hesitation.

After our wedding, I always respected her boundaries. We never shared any physical intimacy.

Until today, when I found a used condom and black lace lingerie in the living room trash can.

I was about to text her and ask what was going on, but then I saw a post on SnapChat from her college junior.

"Rushing across the country for love is a gift only true lovers have."

The photo showed Daisy lying on a bed with white sheets, viewed from behind, wearing nothing but a sheer, backless nightgown.

It turned out she was capable of true love—just not with me.

I silently locked my phone and contacted a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement.

...

While cleaning the living room, I spotted a black lace teddy in the trash can.

Resting right on top was a crumpled condom, the cloudy liquid inside making it painfully obvious what had just happened here.

I froze, my entire body going rigid.

When Daisy and I first started dating, she told me she had a severe form of gender identity disorder. She claimed any emotional or physical stimulation would trigger it and make her condition worse, so I had to avoid physical touch as much as possible.

Back then, Daisy was the only light in my dark world. I believed every word.

So for five years of marriage, I never touched her. Even our hugs could be counted on one hand.

Yet the scene before my eyes hit me like a sledgehammer.

When we first got married, so that Daisy could always have fresh, home-cooked meals, I took a remote data clerk job. I didn't have to waste time commuting; the only time I spent outside was an hour a day running grocery errands.

I truly never imagined that in the single hour I spent grocery shopping, Daisy would bring another man into our home to mess around.

I pulled out my phone, wanting to ask Daisy to come home so we could talk face-to-face.

"Are you free to come home right now? We need to talk."

The second the message sent, Daisy's reply popped up.

"I have to work late today. Can't make it back. As for your dad, just go visit the cemetery by yourself. I'll go with you another day."

"By the way, I'm heading into a meeting. Don't bother me with texts."

Today was the anniversary of my father's death. He had been gone for five years.

For the past four years, Daisy had always come back to accompany me to the cemetery.

Not for any grand reason, but because my father was the man who had saved her life.

I thought this year would be the same. I hadn't expected her to preemptively shut me down before I even asked.

She had promised me she would stand by my side every year so I wouldn't have to endure that crushing grief alone.

Yet now she used work as an excuse to brush me off. There was only one explanation: someone more important had entered her life.

I swiped on my phone and happened to see a new SnapChat story from Daisy’s college junior, Chase.

When I saw the caption, my heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand blades. I could barely breathe.

"Rushing across the country for love is a gift only true lovers have. Big Sister Daisy took a three-hour flight just to be by my side for my thesis defense."

Attached was a photo of Daisy lying on a bed, viewed from behind, wearing only a sheer silk slip that exposed her entire back.

What kind of overtime work ended up in a college kid's bed?

Her supposed "work" was nothing more than a pathetic excuse to brush me off.

I let out a bitter laugh. The last shred of trust I had for Daisy vanished completely.

Wiping away my tears, I stared at the only photo I had left of my father on my phone.

Five years ago, Daisy nearly drowned while swimming at the beach. My dad, working as a lifeguard at the resort, jumped into the roaring ocean without even grabbing a life vest to save her.

Daisy survived. My dad was left behind forever in those freezing waters.

At the memorial service, I cried until I could hardly breathe.

I grew up in a single-parent home; my dad raised me all by himself. Losing him shattered my entire world.

Back then, Daisy knelt in front of his memorial photo, sobbing as she held my shoulders, murmuring to my father's picture,

"Mr. York, you gave me this second chance at life. You are like a parent to me. Please rest in peace. I will marry Liam and love him with all my heart. We will support each other for the rest of our lives. I promise you can rest easy now."

Stunned, I looked up at Daisy. She wiped her tears and gave me a faint, bitter smile.

"Liam, from now on, I'm your only family. You'll never be alone again. I will always be your rock."

I admit, I was moved. My heart surrendered to her, and from that moment on, I fell hopelessly, unconditionally in love with her.

Yet that blissful chapter lasted only a few months. Once we tied the knot, my relationship with Daisy began an irreversible downward spiral.

Daisy started staying out all night using work as an excuse. She told me she suffered from gender identity disorder, claiming that any physical touch with me would worsen her trauma and ruin her ability to live a normal life.

My heart ached for her. I never doubted her for a second. I read every book, tried every method to help her heal, only to be met with her cold remark:

"Stop wasting your energy on me. Just worry about yourself."

She moved out of our master bedroom. Every time she came home, she reeked of men's cologne, sporting obvious hickeys on her neck.

Countless times, I waited for her to come clean. I waited for her to break the ice between us.

I repeatedly lowered my standards. As long as Daisy was willing to confess everything, I would have forgiven her. Because I always believed that loving someone meant not only loving their strengths, but also embracing their flaws and darkest sides.

I asked Daisy countless times,

"Is there anything you want to tell me? No matter what you did, I won't blame you."

Daisy only looked at me with disgust and impatience.

"If you're so bored, get a real job outside. Stop being so paranoid all day! Do you think I'm like you, cooped up inside the house twenty-four seven? I have a career. I deal with all kinds of people. If you can't handle that, maybe we should just split up."

I didn't dare bring it up again. Daisy acted without fear because she knew damn well she was my only reason to keep living.

I originally wanted to keep my eyes closed and keep loving her blindly. But what I saw today made that impossible.

If that was the case, it was time to cut the cord on this toxic marriage.