Chapter 5

Once, Lily and I both had high fevers that wouldn’t break. He took all my fever medicine to her and told me to drink more water.

There had been so many incidents over the years that I couldn’t even be bothered to keep track.

After all of it, I was completely exhausted.

I wanted no part in this three-person love story anymore.

But when I said I wasn’t angry, he wasn’t happy.

He took the moral high ground and accused me. “The last project fell through because you wouldn’t let me go.”

“I lost thousands in bonus money.”

As if he’d been capable of closing that deal in the first place.

Our competitors had been watching closely.

I might not want him anymore, but I wasn’t taking the blame for that.

“What, do all your business meetings happen at your assistant’s apartment?”

“You left your messages open on the computer. You’d even pinned her invitation to dinner.”

Lily couldn’t cook, but she had a housekeeper.

As it happened, Ethan paid for that housekeeper.

I couldn’t cook either, at first. To save money, I’d taught myself using online videos.

I’d cut my hands so many times, leaving scar after scar.

All the money I’d saved for him had gone to another woman.

Ethan looked at me without a trace of shame. “Deals get made over dinner. You don’t understand these things.”

He’d even convinced himself.

I didn’t want to hear another word, so I hurried him along. “Just go. Wait any longer and who knows how many more presents she’ll talk you into buying.”

His eyes flickered. “Stop sitting at home imagining things. It really is work. I’ll be back soon.”

In the beginning, I’d truly believed he was going out for business.

I’d sympathized with how hard he worked and taken care of every chore myself.

Only now did I see that the man I’d been lifting up was worthless.

The door closed. His footsteps slowly faded.

I didn’t lie awake anymore. I didn’t wait.

I slept soundly.

As if I were getting used to eternal peace.

I’d thought that once everything was out in the open, we could get divorced quickly and smoothly.

But days passed without any divorce papers. I couldn’t even catch him in person.

He’d started living elsewhere openly.

Today, I’d had enough. I got the address from Lily and went straight there.

“Could you wait until he’s divorced before playing happy couple?”

“We can file today and finalize it in a month. It takes a little longer, but at least it’ll be legitimate.”

“Or do you prefer the thrill of sneaking around?”

Lily wanted me to make a scene so she could take my place as soon as possible.

The moment she heard me outside, she rushed to let me in. For the first time, I entered his other home.

An enormous wedding portrait of the two of them faced the entrance. The studio watermark belonged to the place I’d once decided was too expensive for us.

Inside, Ethan was celebrating her birthday. The cake was huge and beautifully decorated. Someone had clearly put thought into buying it.

I held back my anger. “So this is what you mean by being busy with work.”