Chapter 2

The sky was gray and overcast. Before long, it started raining.

Ava's husband came to pick her up.

When she saw him, she asked in surprise, "Didn't I tell you not to come?"

He replied, "How could I not come, sweetheart? I'd never let you get caught in the rain. Hello, Shirley. Come with us. I'll give you a ride home."

I smiled and shook my head. "You two go ahead. I'm going to sit here a little longer."

I used to envy the genuine care and affection they showed each other. Why was it that we were both married, but there always seemed to be an invisible wall between Jayden and me?

Why?

The answer was simple—he simply didn't love me enough. I had lied to myself for so long, convincing myself that he didn't know how to love.

When the rain eased up a little, I got up and walked outside.

Just then, I saw a familiar car slowly pull over to the curb.

The woman in the passenger seat wore a cream-colored dress. Her softly curled hair framed her gentle, elegant features.

Jayden got out from the other side and walked toward the cafe, looking as though he had simply stopped by to buy a cup of coffee. When he saw me, his expression didn't change. He merely raised an eyebrow slightly.

He probably thought I would take the initiative to greet him, but I only lowered my head and checked the ride I had requested on my app.

I must have been distracted, because the next moment, I missed a step and twisted my ankle.

Jayden glanced at me again and frowned without saying a single word. He then walked into the cafe and left me there.

Enduring the pain in my ankle, I continued waiting for my ride by the roadside.

A short while later, Jayden came out carrying two cups of coffee to go.

"Let's go. Didn't you do that just to get me to give you a ride?" His tone carried a trace of annoyed indifference.

"No, I didn't," I mumbled.

Jayden couldn't be bothered to say anything more. He simply grabbed me and pulled me into the car. Then, he handed me one of the coffees.

I didn't take it, so he casually set it aside.

No one spoke, so the atmosphere inside the car was stifling.

Wynona suddenly pressed a hand to her forehead and complained, "Jayden, I think my low blood sugar is acting up. Do you have anything sweet?"

Jayden reflexively took a piece of chocolate out of the center console and handed it to her. "How many times have I reminded you to be mindful of your condition? You just never remember."

Wynona accepted it, her smile gentle. "I forget whenever I get busy. It's a good thing I have you."

Their conversation naturally drifted to the past, to people they had both known and experiences they had shared. There was an unspoken understanding between them that needed no explanation.

Meanwhile, I sat in the back seat like an out-of-place listener.

The scenery outside the window rushed by. When we passed the central park, the giant Ferris wheel turned slowly in the distance.

That was where Jayden and I had gone on our first date. Legend had it that couples who kissed at the very top of the Ferris wheel would stay happy together forever.

I'd kissed him back then. At that time, he had stared at me in surprise for a long while.

I thought that was one of the few sweet memories we truly shared.

It was only later that I learned Jayden's greatest regret was never getting to take Wynona on that Ferris wheel ride.

Countless memories flashed through my groggy mind. Most of them were of my one-sided expectations and his perfunctory responses.

I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

When I opened them again, the car had already stopped downstairs at our apartment building.

At some point, Wynona had already gotten out.

Jayden unfastened his seat belt and turned to look at my swollen ankle, his brows furrowed.

He asked in a low voice, "Did you really have to do this?"

I looked up at him, confused.

He went on, "If you wanted me to pick you up, you could've just said so. Did you really have to use such a stupid trick to get my attention?"

His voice remained calm, but there was an underlying irritation that was hard to miss.

I didn't know what he was irritated about. I figured he blamed me for interrupting his time alone with the woman he truly loved.

"You're overthinking it. I never asked you to give me a ride," I replied.

He probably thought I was just being stubborn, so he let out a mocking laugh. "Oh? Then were you planning to crawl home like that?"

I looked at him and said evenly, "I could've taken a taxi. It's not like I can't live without you, you know? I used to cling to you because I loved you. That didn't mean I'd become helpless without you."

Jayden shot back, "So you want to leave? Go ahead and try leaving me. Let's see if I'd ever come crawling back to beg you."

His gaze darkened once more.

I had no desire to waste another word on him.

After all, once the divorce agreement reached his hands, he would know that I wasn't throwing a tantrum this time.

I was serious.