Chapter 2 I Am His Second Choice

Calvin opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

I pushed him away and went back to the bedroom.

My medication usually put me to sleep quickly. That night, however, I tossed and turned until dawn.

I found myself thinking about the year I first became a full-time housewife.

Back then, a drawing I had drawn on a whim won an award. It was only a trivial award, but Elizabeth published a post accusing me of plagiarism.

That was when the endless online harassment began.

After all, between a famous artist and a housewife, everyone thought it was obvious who must have copied whom.

It was the first time I had ever faced so much hatred from so many strangers.

But even then, I didn't break. It wasn't until I saw the news that Elizabeth had returned to the country and that Calvin had personally gone to welcome her back that I finally did.

Suddenly, everyone was talking about how they had grown up together. People even began speculating that Calvin's mysterious wife—the woman he had secretly married—must be Elizabeth.

When reporters asked Calvin about his thoughts on the plagiarism scandal, he merely said, "I believe Elizabeth."

That was the first time I truly understood what heartbreak felt like. His answer shattered almost everything I had been holding on to.

At that time, I confronted Calvin.

After all, he knew I hadn't plagiarized anything, so I didn't understand why he would say something like that.

However, his answer was simple. He said that I was just a full-time housewife, so how could someone like me possibly know how to draw?

After that day, I became quiet. I stopped taking care of myself, and eventually, even getting out of bed felt impossible.

Calvin didn't realize anything was wrong until he noticed that his shirts hadn't been washed in three days.

The day I was diagnosed with severe depression was the first time I ever saw Calvin cry.

"I'm sorry, Melissa," he said through his tears. "I really didn't know my words would affect you this badly…"

As I looked at the tears in his eyes, I relented.

Since it was the first time he had ever cried in front of me, I forgave him. But somehow, I was never able to forgive myself.

Gradually, the sky outside began to brighten. Then, I heard the sound of cooking coming from the kitchen.

I dragged myself out of bed and opened the door. Calvin was making breakfast for two.

It was the first time I had ever seen him cook, and despite everything, hope flared uncontrollably inside me.

I sat down at the dining table and waited, but the food never came. Eventually, I looked toward the kitchen and decided to bring the breakfast over myself.

Before I could touch it, Calvin stopped me.

"Don't. I'm taking both of these to the office."

Hearing his words, I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and said, "Both of them? Neither one is for me?"

Calvin ruffled my hair gently and said, "You're staying home all day anyway. Make yourself something, okay?"

I could only stand there and watch as he packed both breakfasts into the lunch boxes labelled "For Elizabeth Only."

Suddenly, I barely had the strength left to stand.