Chapter 3

Joseph's POV

Over the next few days, Cheryl started leaving early and coming home late. During the day, I sorted through the things I planned to take with me. We always missed each other.

One day, just as I was finishing up, she suddenly called me. I hesitated when I saw her caller ID, but ultimately answered. "What is it?"

Her tone was as businesslike as ever. "My clothes got wet. There's a black suit on the far right side of the closet. Bring it to me."

I didn't agree. Instead, I reached over and touched the suit out of habit. Something hard was hidden inside the pocket. My breathing hitched.

A soft laugh came from the other end. Cheryl's voice was casual and calm. "Found it?"

I froze for a moment before taking it out. It was a ring.

I gripped it harder than I should, the edges stabbing painfully into my palm. My throat felt dry and rough. "You…"

"Do you like it?" she asked in her usual steady voice, only slightly louder this time.

My heart suddenly raced. Cold sweat seeped out of my palms. I parted my lips but didn't answer right away. I couldn't quite name what I was feeling in that moment.

"Why would you—"

"Thank Henry. It was his idea," Cheryl said. "He's too kind—wanted me to apologize to you and ask for your forgiveness. I didn't want to disappoint him."

I stood there frozen, as if someone had run over just to dunk a bucket of cold water over me. The cold sank deep into my bones.

I stared at the ring on my palm as I gripped my shirt. A burning sensation surged in my throat, rendering it hard to breathe. "Cheryl, do you have to humiliate me like this?"

For a long time, there was no response from the other end. Then, after a brief silence, I heard her faint, unclear murmur. Henry's soft gasp followed.

"Dodging me again?" she muttered softly. "What are you afraid of? It's me."

The tone in her voice made it obvious. She had fallen for him.

My entire body stiffened, and I closed my eyes sharply.

I almost laughed at myself for still having expectations of her. From what I had learned, she had always been someone with almost no sex drive.

After a long while, Cheryl's voice came through again.

"Right. You saw the ring. Are you happy now? If you are, stop being upset with me. You've been ignoring me and avoiding me for days. Keeping this up won't do you any good, Joseph."

She paused before continuing, "If you agree, we can add another hour to our time together in the future."

My eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

I didn't hear a response from Cheryl. Instead, I heard Henry's voice.

"Ms. Sharpley, didn't you say you'd give the ring back to me after you used it to make things right with Joseph? When will you do that? My name is even engraved inside."

I froze. Suddenly, the ring in my hand felt scorching hot. I looked inside the ring, and sure enough, I saw "H.S."

A chill ran through my body. I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"You are utterly shameless, Cheryl!"

Her voice immediately turned cold. "Hey, I already tried to make it up to you. Why are you still unhappy? You called me shameless? Weren't you shameless when you begged me to spend more time with you in bed?"

My eyes were as wide as saucers. My lips moved, but I couldn't utter a single word.

Then I heard Cheryl comforting Henry. "Come on. I'll give it to him for now. I'll buy you a more expensive one next time."

He complained in his childish voice. She continued, "As long as you work hard, I'll give you whatever you want. Okay?"

I tossed the ring to the floor. By then, tears had started running down my face.

"How could you do this to me, Cheryl? Do you even remember what you said to me?"

When we first got married, Cheryl had curled up in my arms and said, "Don't worry, Joseph. I'll forever be your comfort person. One day, we'll have a child. They'll be as charming as you."

What now?

My body trembled. Only then did I realize she had hung up. My phone slipped from my hand and hit the floor. Even breathing started to feel hard.

The next second, I heard movement coming from the living room. I pushed the door open and rushed out. Someone was hanging up a wedding portrait.

They turned around and smiled, hoping to get some tips from the newlyweds.

"Congratulations on your marriage! Your wife really loves you, doesn't she? These photos weren't cheap. She didn't hesitate at all and booked the whole set. You two really do look like a perfect match."

I slowly raised my head, only to be slapped by reality.

In the wedding photos were Cheryl and Henry, not me.

I smiled bitterly. "Yeah. She never hesitates when it comes to spending money on her lover."

The workers froze.

I picked up my phone and dialed Cheryl again. "The wedding photos are here. Did you really have to humiliate me like this?"