Chapter 3

When Cecelia finally dragged herself home, it was already dark.

To her surprise, the lights were on in the living room. Francis was actually home.

When he saw her come home, he set down his tablet and got up to greet her. He reached out naturally to take her bag. "You're back. Why do you look so pale?"

She dodged his hand, her voice dry. "Where's Melody?"

Francis froze for a second, then explained, "Oh, Melody just got back from overseas. She said she didn't have anyone to go with her to a dinner event, and I happened to be free, so I went to give her a hand.

"Her new apartment still smells from the renovations, and staying in a hotel isn't convenient, so I let her stay at the villa in the countryside for a few days. You know, it's tough for her to be on her own, especially since she was a public figure…"

He trailed off, watching Cecelia for her reaction before adding, "Don't worry, it's only for a few days. She'll be gone soon."

"She's staying at the villa? In the countryside?" Cecelia's head snapped up, her voice trembling.

"That's our marital home, Francis! We picked it out together, decorated it together! You didn't even ask me before letting her stay there?"

Every piece of furniture and every detail carried her hopes and dreams for their marriage and future.

However, they bought a small apartment downtown for the sake of Francis's work. Cecelia had never complained, always willing to move back and forth for him.

And now, he had let another woman walk right in and take over the only place that still felt like home to her, just like that.

A flash of annoyance flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by deep disappointment.

"Melody's just staying in the guest room for a few days. We grew up together, and her family helped me a lot back then. Now that she needs help, of course I'm going to give her a hand. You don't have to be so jealous."

"Jealous?" Tears welled up in Cecilia's eyes, but she forced them back through sheer will. That sounded like the worst joke she had ever heard.

The cold that filled her heart spread to every part of her body, leaving even her fingertips numb.

She looked at this man who was once so familiar yet now so distant, and saw nothing but disappointment in his eyes.

It was as if she were the unreasonable and narrow-minded one. Every bit of anger, pain, and resentment was suspended in that look of his.

Cecelia didn't even have the strength to argue.

In his mind, even this little bit of emotion was a mistake.

The night grew late.

After his shower, Francis got into bed, thinking Cecelia was still angry at him. He pulled her into his arms from behind, trying to tease her in the sweet voice he always used. Suddenly, his phone lit up in the dark.

It was a call from Melody.

He quickly got out of bed.

Cecelia could vaguely hear his deliberately lowered but still gentle voice.

"Melody? What's wrong? The villa's too big and you're scared? Alright, don't worry, I'll come over right now…"

His footsteps faded, and the master bedroom door was quietly pushed open. He came over, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to Cecelia's forehead, his breath warm.

"Something came up at work. I must go handle it. Don't wait up. Get some sleep."

He softly closed the door, and his footsteps faded into the distance.

In the darkness, Cecelia lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling. That kiss on her forehead was still burning.

Her feelings as a wife, and even her existence, meant nothing before Melody.

Cecelia suddenly got up, then pulled out her suitcase. She didn't touch any of the expensive clothes or jewelry Francis had given her. She just packed her own things one by one, silently and carefully.

After she had finished, she put the suitcase in the closet. She then sat back down on the cold bed and waited for the sky outside the window to slowly turn bright.

The first light of morning crept through the heavy curtains. Francis hadn't come home all night.

Cecelia walked barefoot across the cold floor to the corner of the study, walking to a place she rarely entered, and stopped in front of Francis's safe.

Without thinking, she tried the date of Melody's birthday as the password.

Click.

The lock opened.

Her heart clenched, like she was torturing herself on purpose.