Chapter 2

I had barely hung up when the restaurant manager’s voice drifted over from the entrance.

“Dr. Levingston, your table is ready. Please come this way.”

The moment I heard “Dr. Levingston,” I looked up on instinct.

I immediately spotted Audrey, and Ryan was with her.

The two of them entered side by side.

Audrey had taken off her white coat. The sleeves of her white button-down shirt were rolled up to her forearms, and the weariness on her face was impossible to miss.

Ryan turned toward her as they walked, saying something softly.

Whatever it was, it brought a smile to Audrey’s face.

The sight left a heavy ache in my chest.

Whenever Audrey came home from work, I would pull her into conversation, eager to tell her every interesting thing that happened during my day.

But she had always seemed uninterested. A smile was out of the question, and even a simple “mm-hmm” felt like she was humoring me.

I kept making excuses for her. I told myself she was exhausted from work and simply did not have the energy to respond.

Only then did I realize that even when she was tired, she could still smile.

She just never smiled at me.

“Luke?”

Ryan was the first to spot me. He strode over with a perfectly measured smile.

“What are you doing here all by yourself?”

I did not respond, but he began explaining himself anyway.

“There was a major accident today, and we had so many injured patients. Audrey and I have been working nonstop since this afternoon. We’ve just finished our last surgery, and we’re practically starving.

“Audrey suddenly remembered that this place served your favorite pan-seared cod. She insisted on bringing me here, saying she’d pack some up for you after dinner.”

When he finished, he turned to Audrey and smiled sweetly.

“Audrey really loves you. She’s always thinking about you.

“I’m honestly jealous. I wish I had someone who loved me this much.”

She really loved me?

Would someone who truly loved me forget our wedding anniversary?

Would someone who truly loved me come to such a romantic place this late at night with another man?

Would someone who truly loved me travel more than three hundred miles to perform surgery on someone else’s aunt, yet refuse to fight for Dad’s last chance at survival?

I looked up at Ryan. My voice rang cold.

“Whether she loves me or not has nothing to do with you.”

Ryan’s smile faded, little by little, and he became visibly flustered.

“I’m sorry… Did I say something wrong? I really only meant well…”

His voice grew softer, and his eyes even turned misty.

I had not said a single harsh word.

Then, Audrey moved in front of Ryan, putting herself between us.

That protective gesture made my eyes sting.

“Luke, you know he didn’t mean anything by it. Why are you being so harsh with him?”

Her voice was calm, but anger simmered beneath it.

“There were so many injured patients today, and everyone was giving everything they had. As the nurse manager, he’s been working all day without even having time to eat. Don’t be unreasonable.”

The people around us immediately started taking their side.

“Doctors and nurses really do have it tough…”

“She just finished surgery and is still thinking about bringing her husband dinner. What more do you want from her?”

“Some men are way too controlling. That kind of toxic masculinity is honestly scary.”

Fine. They were all the good ones. I was the only villain.

I did not want to argue any longer, so I turned and walked away.

But as I passed Audrey, she reached out and grabbed my wrist.

The familiar warmth of her touch made me hesitate for just a second.

Then, her voice cut through it.

“Apologize to Ryan first.”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard her.

“Excuse me?”

“You embarrassed him in public. Apologize.”

I looked at Ryan. He stood behind Audrey with reddened eyes, looking as helpless as a startled fawn.

Audrey remained between us. She stared at me like I was the enemy.

I chuckled.

“Tell me, Audrey. What exactly was wrong with what I said? What happens between a husband and wife has nothing to do with him. He’s just a coworker.”

I put extra emphasis on the words “just a coworker”.

Audrey spluttered. For once, she had no answer.

I pulled my hand free and walked out of the restaurant without looking back.

The cold night air washed over me, carrying away the resentment I had been holding inside.

I finally realized that the moment I took that step, nothing could keep me trapped anymore.

When I returned home, I printed out the divorce agreement.

By next Saturday, our marriage would be over.