Chapter 3

Another day, Izzy came home very late. The moment she walked in, she headed straight for the bathroom.

My heart ached for how much she sacrificed for us, so I went to the kitchen to cook her some noodles. As I turned, I saw her phone sitting on the table.

Izzy had never kept secrets from me. Our passwords were each other’s birthdays, for crying out loud, but I rarely looked at her phone.

Suddenly, I remembered we'd just switched internet providers and I hadn't connected her phone or laptop yet.

After a few taps, I was about to turn off the screen when I saw a notification pop up:

"Learn these tricks to make your husband think he's your soulmate."

I almost laughed. Izzy and I were already so in love. She always said I was her first love, her only man. Why would she need tips on that?

I was about to swipe it away, but accidentally tapped the page instead. The search questions at the top were:

"How to fake interest in your husband?"

"What excuses to use to refuse sex with your husband?"

"Can't stand husband's closeness, what to do if you feel sick?"

The steam rising from the pot blurred my vision, making the words on the screen harder to see.

"Why are you holding my phone?"

Izzy came out in her pajamas, a modest and reserved style that covered her from her neck to her calves.

I'd always thought she was a traditional woman, maybe that's how she felt secure.

"Our internet contract expired. We got a new one, just updating your password."

I calmly handed her the phone back.

"Don't touch my phone without my permission! I don't snoop through yours. Didn't we agree on having our own space?"

She ate her noodles, bite by bite. I watched her for a long time, my expression unreadable.

Inside, I was seething, wanting to confront her, but also scoffing.

She was such a good actress, playing it off like nothing happened.

"Babe, we haven't been intimate in ages. I want to…"

"I'm too tired today! I need to rest. Maybe another time?"

She firmly pressed down on my hand, stopping me from moving.

"Izzy, you're just too beautiful. I can't help myself."

I leaned down to find her lips. Remembering my earlier suspicions, I pressed my mouth harder against hers.

"Honey, my stomach hurts!"

Her soft, sweet whine instantly made my heart ache.

But looking into her clear eyes, devoid of any lust, I knew it was just another excuse.