Chapter 2

"Divorce?

"Gerold, you can't just act like a jealous prick! Just because I come home late, you throw around the word divorce? That just makes me dislike you more!"

Natalia grabbed the soup bowl and smashed it on the floor.

"And I'm your wife, not your pet. I don't need your permission to see people!

"Instead of watching me like a hawk every day, you should spend some time improving yourself!"

She yelled and then stormed into the bedroom, slamming and locking the door behind her.

The heart I thought could no longer ache twisted painfully once more.

For nine years, I cooked for her because of her poor stomach.

Every holiday, I never forgot to give her gifts.

Whatever she wanted, I went out of my way to provide.

Yet none of that could replace the photo of her childhood sweetheart on her desk at work.

"Enough is enough," I sighed deeply and began to pack my bags.

[Gerold, it's been so long. Why haven't you come to make up with me?]

[No matter how mad I was, you never left me alone for more than 10 minutes. Do you really not want me anymore?]

I could visualize her tear-stained, pitiful face from the texts on my phone.

I remembered the weekend last month when she lied about working overtime. I saw her at a 24-hour bar, nestled in Jason's arms, their embrace too intimate for just friends.

At that moment, I felt insane with jealousy as I grabbed Jason by the collar to confront him.

Natalia frantically pushed me away, protecting Jason.

"He's just a good friend! Let's talk about it when we get back. Don't embarrass Jason right here!"

Her determination to defend Jason mirrored the way I had always defended her.

Later, she left with Jason, leaving me stranded, a husband watching his wife walk away with another man. It felt like a cruel joke.

That incident had planted the idea of divorce in my mind.

But when I brought it up, Natalia locked herself in the bedroom, crying.

She claimed I was the one she loved most. She didn't want to upset me, which was why she hid her meetings with an old friend.

Then, she said she had stomach pains from drinking.

After nine years of love, her tears shattered my resolve.

I chose to believe her one more time.

But there would not be a second.

"Gerold, you know I can't sleep. Why didn't you come to coax me?

"Nothing happened between Jason and me, I swear. From now on, I won't hide our meetings to avoid your suspicions.

"My stomach hurts again. I didn't drink much of the soup. Could you make me another bowl, please?"

When Natalia came to me with tears in her eyes, I was writing her a note.

It listed her favorite recipes, her menstrual cycle schedule, where the stomach medicine was kept, and the dosage she needed...

She had never paid attention to these details, accustomed to my constant care.

"Didn't I already tell you how to make the soup?" I handed her the note.

"From now on... you'll need to learn to take care of yourself."