Chapter 2

I had a severe stomach ulcer and couldn't tolerate even the slightest amount of spice. Four years ago, I'd accidentally eaten a bite of food containing hot sauce and ended up in the emergency room.

Audrey had stayed by my side all night. After that, she'd even made a habit of checking ingredient labels before buying any sauces to make sure they wouldn't upset my stomach.

Now, she frowned as if she'd only just remembered.

"We've sent the order."

She poured me a glass of ice water and pushed it toward me. "Besides, the spicy seafood platter is this restaurant's specialty. A non-spicy one would be bland. Just rinse your food in the water before eating. Having it once in a while won't hurt."

Nathan looked stricken with guilt, his fork frozen in midair.

"I completely forgot that Vincent can't eat spicy food. Audrey, how could you forget to remind me, too?"

He glanced at the platter before suggesting, "Shouldn't we change it to a non-spicy one? Otherwise, Vincent won't be able to eat anything."

Audrey sighed. "What's the point of changing it now? The food has already arrived."

She scooped up some seafood and placed it on Nathan's plate.

"He managed to sit on an economy-class train for 20 hours to get here. He's not that fragile. Just eat what's been ordered."

I lowered my eyes, picked up a piece of leafy green, and dipped it into the ice water.

The hot sauce solidified almost immediately in the cold water, forming a disgusting layer of congealed grease.

When Nathan jabbed his fork into a shrimp, hot, oily sauce splashed from the platter.

It landed on the back of my hand, burning my skin red almost instantly.

At the same time, Nathan let out a soft hiss. "Ouch, that's hot."

Audrey immediately grabbed his wrist and carefully dabbed at the barely visible red spot on the back of his hand, her voice filled with concern.

"How could you be so careless? Does it hurt?"

Sitting across from them, I watched as a blister slowly rose on the back of my own hand while the steam rising from the platter blurred my vision.

Just then, my phone vibrated once in my pocket, signaling the arrival of a new email.

"Dear Mr. Vincent Pierce, your application for a transfer to our Northbridge office has been approved. Please report to your new position next Monday."

To put an end to our three-year long-distance relationship, I'd spent countless nights working until dawn, pouring everything I had into two nearly flawless proposals just to secure this transfer.

Across from me, Audrey was still focused on Nathan, gently blowing on the back of his hand to soothe the burn.

I stared at the word "approved" on my screen, my fingertips slowly turning cold.

Then, without another thought, I submitted a request to cancel the transfer.

The moment the page refreshed, I heard something inside me shatter.

…

After dinner, we walked out of the seafood restaurant, and Audrey headed down to the underground parking garage to get the car.

"Vincent, would you mind sitting in the back? I get carsick, so I'm much more comfortable in the front."

Audrey turned on the seat heater for him before adding, "He just got off a plane. Let him have this seat."

I climbed into the back, where the aftereffects of my 20-hour train ride were finally catching up with me. My lower back throbbed as if someone were repeatedly crushing it with a blunt object.

Meanwhile, Nathan turned around with an enthusiastic smile.

"Audrey, I don't think this seafood restaurant is as good as the one we went to in Westland last month."

Audrey smiled faintly. "That place in Westland has a Michelin star. How could this one compare? Next time, I'll take you somewhere even better."

The previous month, I'd come down with a severe cold and a fever of 102.2°F. I'd gone to the hospital alone in the middle of the night for an IV drip.

I'd called Audrey and asked if she could come to me, but her voice had been cold over the phone.

"Vincent, I'm busy. Don't make me go back and forth for nothing. Remember to drink plenty of warm water."

Now, Nathan's cheerful laughter filled the car while I pressed a hand against my aching lower back and remained silent.

It turned out she hadn't been too busy to make time for me. She'd simply been saving her free time for someone else.

When an explanation came a month too late, there was no point asking for it anymore.

The car pulled up outside Audrey's apartment building, and Nathan fished a key out of his bag to unlock the door.

I stared at the key, stunned.

Audrey paused while changing her shoes and turned to look at me. "Why are you standing outside? Come in," she said.

"How does he have a key to your apartment?"