Chapter 4

Sure enough, the next day I received a message from Brandon.

Just a hotel name and one sentence.

“Come alone.”

I twitched my eyelid, then resolutely brought Luna with me.

Brandon, that man, he really plays a twisted game.

He and Chloe sat opposite each other at a table by the hotel’s outdoor pool. Chloe was wearing a sexy, revealing bikini, an outfit I had never seen her in before.

*Slap!* I clapped my hand over Luna’s eyes.

“Don’t look. Filth.”

Luna’s body stiffened, but she remained obediently covered.

She reached up and squeezed my shoulder, her voice hesitant.

“Alex, don’t be sad. Let’s just observe a little longer.”

I nodded, a wave of bitterness rising in my chest.

Luna and I were hidden by lush greenery, a distance away from Brandon and Chloe.

Chloe had her back to us, completely unaware that there were two more people in the courtyard.

Brandon, however, seemed to sense something, frequently casting ambiguous smiles in our direction.

I stood frozen, my breath catching in my throat.

That was Chloe. The woman I had loved for half my life.

Brandon stood up, gallantly pouring Chloe a drink. I couldn't hear what they were saying.

But after pouring the water, Brandon casually took Chloe's hand and sat beside her.

Chloe, without a moment's hesitation, leaned back into his embrace.

I closed my dry, aching eyes, a sudden, physiological nausea surging through me.

I clapped a hand over my mouth, quickly pulling Luna away.

I vomited until I was dizzy and disoriented, physiological tears streaming from my eyes.

Luna stood behind me, distraught, her eyes red, seemingly even more upset than I was.

After I finished, Luna cautiously reached out, her fingers trembling.

She said, “Alex, can I hold you again?”

I looked up. In the streetlight’s glow, the tears in her eyes were crystalline and blinding.

Her eyes still held pure affection and a thick, unshakeable guilt.

So I buried my head in her embrace, my tears soaking her neck.

“Ch-Chloe…”

I choked out the name, holding Luna incredibly tight, losing control in despair for the first time.

“Chloe, you really did cheat… Chloe…”

Today was supposed to be the day Chloe returned from her business trip. She’d told me she’d booked the wrong flight and would be back tomorrow.

Yet, here she was, secretly meeting Brandon at a hotel.

More than the photos, the truth I witnessed with my own eyes was what ripped my heart apart.

Luna’s hand gently patted my back, again and again.

She kept repeating, “Alex, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Luna was utterly serious.

“Alex, let’s get a divorce. I’ll help you.”

“My Alex doesn’t deserve this kind of humiliation.”

I dizzily opened my eyes to look at her.

How could a person change so drastically? Nineteen-year-old Chloe, who had loved me so genuinely. It hit me then: love truly can just… fade away.

I nodded silently.

Luna cupped my face, gently leaning down to kiss away my tears.

But her own tears fell on my face.

She said:

“Alex, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t know how things ended up like this…”

If life could always be as it was at first sight, what would be the sorrow of autumn winds?

Casual change is human nature; yet, hearts easily betray.

When I married Chloe against all odds, my uncle said it was life teaching me a lesson, and its name was regret.

It was a lesson so profound, I would never forget it.

I was disoriented last night; Luna was the one who brought me home.

When I woke up, Luna wasn’t there.

Instead, Chloe sat in the living room, her face ashen.

She was still wearing the dress I bought her.

I sat down after a moment of silence.