Chapter 5

It was Chloe's handwriting on the cover.

Nathaniel's Hundred Wishes.

I stared at the words for a long moment, my fingers resting on the edge of the notebook.

I knew I shouldn't open it.

But I did.

The first page was filled with dates and neatly written wishes. Some had little hearts beside them, while others were crossed out with a satisfied check mark.

March 2nd — My birthday. Watch the northern lights together and kiss for ten full minutes beneath them.

May 20th — Watch fireworks over the water. I want him to propose right there, in front of everyone, so the whole world knows I'm the woman he loves.

July 14th — Skydive over New Zealand in a wedding dress. Fifteen thousand feet in the air. I want a memory he'll never forget.

I turned the page.

Then another.

And another.

There were dozens of wishes, each one more extravagant than the last. Private island getaways. Expensive jewelry. Surprise parties. Romantic dinners in places I'd only ever seen in magazines.

My fingers tightened around the pages.

I remembered the last time I'd asked him to take a day off for us.

He'd barely looked up from his laptop.

"We're not young anymore, Vivi. We don't need to spend money on pointless romantic gestures. We have a good life. Isn't that enough?"

I'd felt guilty for even asking.

I thought he was right. We had been married for five years. Perhaps the butterflies and grand gestures were things people eventually outgrew. Perhaps real love was quieter, less demanding. Perhaps I was being childish for wanting him to look at me the way he used to.

Whenever another couple's engagement went viral online, I'd sometimes show him the pictures and joke that he should take notes.

He'd roll his eyes.

"Why do you care so much about what other people do? We don't need to prove anything to anyone."

I'd laughed it off, even when his words stung.

He hadn't stopped being romantic. He'd just stopped being romantic with me.

I lowered my eyes to the final page, but the words blurred before I could finish reading them.

For a moment, I couldn't even cry. I just sat there, staring at the little hearts, trying to understand when my marriage had become something I was the only person fighting to save.

I closed the notebook and returned it to the exact place where I'd found it.

Then I wiped my eyes.

I wasn't going to let him see me cry over something he clearly didn't consider worth hiding.

When Nathaniel got into the car, he glanced at me.

"Vivi, have you been crying?"

"No." I turned toward the window. "Something got in my eye."

He watched me for another second before starting the engine.

He didn't ask again.

Neither of us spoke during the drive.

I wondered whether he was thinking about Chloe.

Two turns from my aunt's house, his phone rang.

He answered through the car's speaker.

"Hello?"

I couldn't hear the other person clearly, but I caught the words smoke alarm, guest room, and no answer at the door.

Nathaniel's expression changed instantly.

"Is anyone inside?"

He listened for a few seconds, his hands tightening around the steering wheel.

He pulled over so abruptly that my seat belt dug into my shoulder.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"The smoke alarm is going off at the house. They can't get anyone to answer the door."

"Then call the fire department."

""Chloe's there alone. What if something's happened to her?"

He looked at me as if I'd suggested something ridiculous.

"Vivi, I have to go. she could be in danger."

I stared at him.

For a brief, foolish moment, I waited for him to add that he'd drop me off first. My aunt's house wasn't far from our original route. He could have taken me there, made sure I arrived safely, and then gone home.

Instead, he reached across me, released my seat belt, and pushed open the passenger door.

"Take a taxi from here. I'll call you later."

"Wait, Nathaniel!"

But he'd already hurried around the car.

I stood on the shoulder, watching his taillights grow smaller until they disappeared around the bend.

He hadn't even looked back.

The road stretched in both directions, almost empty. Cars passed occasionally, their headlights sweeping over me before disappearing into the distance.

I pulled out my phone and opened our conversation.

My last message was still there.

Don't forget, we're having dinner with Aunt Dana today. She really wants to see you.

He'd replied with a simple Okay that morning.

I stared at it, then locked my phone.

If he cared enough to worry about leaving me alone on the roadside, he wouldn't have left in the first place.

I put my phone away and started walking.

My aunt and uncle lived in a quiet residential neighborhood, far enough from the main road that taxis rarely passed through. My shoes pinched my feet, and the afternoon sun beat down on my shoulders.

I swear I won’t waste any more of my emotions on this jerk!

By the time I reached my aunt's house, my feet were aching, and I no longer had the energy to be angry.

I rang the doorbell.

My aunt, Dana, opened the door. Relief flashed across her face, quickly replaced by worry.

"Vivian, thank goodness you're here. Grandma fell earlier. Her blood pressure is dangerously high, and your uncle has taken her to the hospital."

"Is she all right?"

"She's conscious, but the doctor wants to keep her under observation."

I immediately followed my aunt to the hospital.

Grandma was lying in bed with an IV in her arm. She looked so pale that my heart sank.

"Grandma."

Her eyes slowly opened.

"Vivian? What are you doing here? Don't you have things to do?"

I took her hand. "Nothing is more important than you."

She gave me a weak smile,"Don't fuss over an old woman. I'm all right."

Thankfully, the fall hadn't caused any serious injuries. The doctor just wanted to monitor her blood pressure and adjust her medication.

I stayed with her until she fell asleep, then promised my aunt I'd return the next day.

By the time I left the hospital, it was already evening.

My phone showed several missed calls from Nathaniel.

I stared at his name for a moment before putting the phone away.

Not after the diary. Not after the roadside. Not when I had spent the entire afternoon worrying about Grandma while my husband had apparently forgotten I existed.

I hadn't gone far when a familiar black Rolls-Royce slowed beside me.

I stopped.

I recognized that car. It belonged to the man who had saved me from being hit by a car outside the hospital a few days ago.

The rear window remained closed, and the man himself didn't appear. Instead, his assistant stepped out and approached me.

"Mrs. Lowe?"

I nodded, confused.

"Mr. Gray asked me to pass along a message." He glanced briefly toward the car before continuing. "He hopes you'll be careful with your words and actions over the next few days. Don't rush into anything, and don't let anyone know what you're thinking."

I frowned. "Why? What does he know?"

The assistant didn't answer directly.

"Mr. Gray believes everything will work out. You just need to be patient."

I looked toward the Rolls-Royce, but the tinted windows gave nothing away.

"Could you tell him I appreciate the concern?"

"Of course, Mrs. Lowe."

The assistant gave me a polite nod before returning to the car.

A moment later, the Rolls-Royce pulled away.

I stood there, watching it disappear down the road.

What a strange man.

We'd only met once, and yet he seemed to know more about my situation than someone who barely knew me should.

I didn't understand his warning, but something told me I should take it seriously.

For now, I decided to keep quiet.

After all, if Nathaniel thought I was still the same trusting wife who knew nothing, perhaps it was better to let him keep believing that.

When I finally opened the front door, the first thing I heard was laughter.

Nathaniel was sitting on the living room couch with Chloe curled up beside him. They were sharing a carton of instant noodles, watching television as if they were a young couple enjoying a lazy evening together.

Chloe said something I couldn't quite hear.

Nathaniel laughed.

It was a familiar sound, one I hadn't heard directed at me in months.

He used to complain whenever I bought instant noodles.

"That stuff is garbage, Vivi. Let me take you somewhere proper."

I'd thought it was sweet that he wanted to take care of me.

Now I watched him share the same food with Chloe, laughing as she stole noodles from his carton.

He noticed me standing by the door.

His smile vanished.

"Vivi!"

He scrambled to his feet, nearly spilling the noodles.

"You're back. I’m so worried about you."

I set my bag down beside the door.

"Really? I didn't notice that at all."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Things got complicated. Chloe twisted her ankle, and I had to help her. Then I lost track of time."

I looked at Chloe's leg. A bandage was wrapped around her ankle, but she was sitting comfortably on the couch with a cushion beneath her foot.

"How did she twist it?"

"I slipped on the stairs," Chloe answered before Nathaniel could speak. She gave me an apologetic smile. "Nathaniel caught me before I fell, but I still hurt my ankle. He's been taking care of me all afternoon."

I was so tired that even the thought of arguing made my head ache.

"Fine," I said, turning toward the stairs.

"Vivi, wait."

Nathaniel caught up with me and gently grabbed my sleeve.

"There's something else I need to discuss with you."

I stopped but didn't turn around.

"What is it?"

He hesitated.

"Chloe was burning some old photographs upstairs. The curtains in the guest room caught fire, and there's quite a bit of damage. The room needs to be repaired before anyone can use it."

I slowly turned to face him.

"She was burning photographs in the house?"

"It was an accident," he said quickly. "The fire was put out before it spread. Nobody got hurt."

"And?"

He glanced at Chloe before continuing.

"With her ankle, she can't manage the stairs comfortably. I thought she could use our bedroom until the repairs are finished. We can move to the second floor for a while."

For a moment, I thought I'd misunderstood him.

"Our bedroom?"