Chapter 3

Even I was moved by that, let alone Grayson.

I heard the sound of kissing from inside, followed by Grayson's heartfelt confession, "Stephanie, I love you."

Stephanie answered, "I love you too."

Just as I was debating whether to go in, a nurse's voice came from behind me.

"Who are you? What are you doing standing at the door?"

The nurse's voice caught Stephanie and Grayson's attention.

Stephanie opened the door and met my gaze head-on.

Her face had been glowing with happiness, but the moment she saw me, her smile vanished, replaced by a look of disgust.

"Howard, do you have no shame? I told you Grayson needs rest. Why have you come here to bother us?"

Grayson got out of bed and walked over with a slightly unsteady gait, wearing an understanding smile. "Stephanie, Howard must have come to visit me. Don't talk to him like that."

I glanced at Grayson. Other than looking a little pale, he didn't look sick at all.

Especially his energy. He seemed livelier than me, and I was the one getting divorced.

Stephanie hurried to take Grayson's arm. "Only you would be this kind. Howard doesn't care about you at all."

Grayson waved me in, "Howard, come in and sit down."

I followed the two of them into the room.

Stephanie helped Grayson back into bed, then picked up a half-peeled apple and went on peeling it.

Watching Stephanie patiently peel that apple, I felt an indescribable sense of hurt well up inside me.

Grayson glanced at me, then quickly turned to the thermos on the table. "Stephanie, I'm a little hungry."

Stephanie immediately picked up the thermos. "Try the chicken soup I made you. I simmered it for hours."

The moment she opened the thermos, the aroma drifted over to me.

In five years of marriage, Stephanie had never once been this tender with me.

She even abandoned me when I needed her.

Like the last time I got sick. I had no energy and hadn't eaten in a long time, so I begged her to make me some porridge.

She refused without even glancing at me. "Why are you so dramatic? It's a fever. You're not dying, so is it really that big a deal? Just order takeout. You actually want me to cook for you? Dream on."

Then Stephanie left the house, leaving me home alone with a fever.

I had no energy at all, but I wanted to get up and go to the kitchen to make some porridge to get my strength back.

But while it was cooking, a wave of dizziness hit me. Before I knew what was happening, I collapsed straight onto the floor.

And the porridge in the pot kept on boiling.

I had no idea how much time passed before a sharp, acrid smell jolted me awake.

When I came to, my head was pounding like it was about to explode, but the will to survive drove me to keep pushing myself up.

I turned off the gas, whose flame had long since gone out, then used every last ounce of strength to call Stephanie.

Unfortunately, she didn't pick up.

Right before I blacked out, I managed to call a friend.

After that, I lost consciousness completely.

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital.

The doctor told me I was lucky I'd been brought in on time. Otherwise, I really would have died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Not long after I came to, Stephanie called me back.

The moment I answered, she started accusing me.

"Howard, are you sick in the head? Why did you call me for no reason? Didn't you know I was in a meeting?"

But the second she finished speaking, I heard Grayson's voice. It was faint, but I picked up on it right away.

"Stephanie, are you with Grayson?"