He Doesn’t Love Me

“Don’t worry. I’ll cover the whole cost.”I had found myself a lawyer after the family banquet ended that day.Sharon had poured a bucket of scalding water onto the old camphor tree right in front of me and given me a smug look.“Let’s see if Charles still wants you when you can no longer make him any sleep balm.”Charles always carried the sleep balm I made him. She was jealous, but there was nothing she could do about it.I panicked and tried to save the tree, but in the process, I accidentally pushed her.Unexpectedly, Charles ordered his men to tie me to the camphor tree all night after he witnessed it.No matter how much I cried and screamed, he only said, “Reflect on this,” and walked away with Sharon in his arms.I struggled until midnight. My hands turned a frightening purple from the lack of blood circulation.The camphor tree seemed to sense my despair because its thick branch snapped…I clung to my last ray of hope and called Charles.The call went through, but he

Before I blocked him, I picked up his call one last time.There was chaos on the other end before his voice cut through. He sounded a little surprised. “Are you done causing trouble? I’m out of sleep balms. You need to make more.”“It’s only a sleep balm. If you can’t buy one, get Sharon to make you some. You own an entire spice estate. Surely, that’s enough for you.” “Can you stop being so bitter? How long are you going to hold on to this? What do I have to do to satisfy you?” I no longer wanted to argue with himEvery time we had a conflict, he avoided discussing the cause. Instead, he would placate me with money, gifts, and property. It was as if once I benefited from these material things, I should swallow my grievances and never speak of them again.I could not help but laugh bitterly. “Not everything can be solved with money. That tree helped you for seven years. Even a dog would show gratitude after that long. How do you manage to feel nothing?” He fell silent, and it

“Did I force her to use my work? Did I force her to replace my name with hers? Now that you’ve been caught, you want me to take the fall? Are you two a pair of calculators? You certainly know how to compute your interests.”Charles was momentarily stunned before he took a deep breath and spoke with finality. “Hazel, you created those pieces. If Sharon gets in trouble, you can’t wash your hands off it!”I almost admired his arrogance. Had I built him so high up that he had forgotten who he was?“That’s not what you said before, Charles. You were the one who declared that all employee designs belong to the company and have nothing to do with any former staff member.”“How dare you?!” He was furious, but he could not refute it. “Hazel, I know you’re angry, but please be rational. Once this is settled, I’ll make it up to you by taking you to Bali.”It was the same trick. He would hit me with a stick and then give me a carrot.A year ago, I had wanted to visit Bali for our honeymoon.

He had gathered all the used sleep balm cases and put them there. According to him, they were proof of my love for him.Time had stripped them of their color, just as it had stripped my love for him. It had left them cracked and faded. Then, I walked him to the garden where the camphor tree was. He stood and stared at the withered tree in shock. “Didn’t you want a sleep balm? Bring the tree back to life first.” “How… How could this be?” I ignored his disbelief.“How could it not? Charles, hot water could produce smoke… but so could sulfuric acid. You should know that much chemistry.” My mocking words struck him like a bolt of lightning, and he was left speechless. “Do you still think I’m divorcing you over a tree?” He lowered his head in silence. After a moment, I heard low and stifled sobs from him. Seven years of devotion, and all I got in return was a single sentence at that family banquet, “You chose this. I didn’t force you.”He did not deserve my forgiveness.