Chapter 2

Kayden's POV

We had been dating for two years and married for seven. I wanted to leave this relationship with at least a shred of dignity.

Fingering the donation withdrawal form in my bag, I tried to weigh my words carefully. "I went to the hospital today—"

"Can't this wait until after dinner?" Sienna interrupted me with an impatient sigh. "Kayden, I don't have time to waste on this."

I froze, staring at her in sheer disbelief.

It felt like a lump of cotton was wedged in my throat, choking back my words.

Wasting time. I'd said those words before.

Back then, Sienna had pursued me with relentless passion. She would show up outside my lecture hall, in the cafeteria, and on the running track.

I lost count of how many love letters she gave me, but I turned her down all the same. "I don't want to be in a relationship right now. Stop wasting your time."

"How could it be a waste of time?"

18-year-old Sienna would smile so warmly that her eyes seemed to glow. In them, I saw my own reflection.

"Catching the same breeze, looking at the same tree, and soaking in the same sunlight all make me happy just because I'm with you," she'd said. "Listening to you talk feels like heaven even if you're turning me down."

Back then, my heart had pounded like a drum, and my face had burned red.

Now, as I looked at the cold, detached face before me, she felt like a complete stranger.

When did Sienna stop giving me even a single moment to speak?

"Professor Waller, if your husband didn't buy groceries, let's just forget about it," Ivan said with a grin, nudging Sienna by the waist toward the kitchen. "I actually really miss those mushroom and pork ravioli you made last time."

A smile tugged at the corner of Sienna's lips. She tied on an apron before turning back to affectionately ruffle Ivan's hair. "Lucky for you, I made extra last time and froze them."

"Professor Waller, you're the best!"

They laughed and joked as they walked past me, making me feel completely invisible.

A self-deprecating laugh escaped my lips.

So those mushroom ravioli were never meant for me in the first place. I had just eaten the experimental batch Ivan didn't even want.

I forced myself to calm down. Wanting to spare Sienna some dignity, I decided against starting a scene in front of Ivan.

I didn't want to look so pathetic.

…

They ate ravioli and chatted away about trivial nonsense in the dining room. They went from thesis topics to the changing weather, to the snowfall in Halverin and the autumn leaves in Mount Gryndale.

Sienna, who was usually so stingy with her words, offered a warm response to everything Ivan said.

I sat in silence in the bedroom, feeling my once-warm heart slowly freeze over.

It wasn't until sunset that Sienna finally opened the bedroom door.

Smoothing her hair back, she handed me a takeout bag. "You're severely anemic lately. You need to eat."

It was chicken noodle soup from my absolute favorite spot. Back before they offered delivery, Sienna used to wake up early every single day just to pick it up for me.

"You seemed off today. Why were you being so aggressive toward Ivan?" she asked.

"Aggressive?" I let out a bitter laugh and looked straight at her. "He's into you. Can't you tell? You brought him into our home, let him wear my clothes, and let him spray alcohol in my face. Even though you know I'm allergic to mushrooms, you froze a batch of mushroom ravioli for him—"

"Enough!"

Sienna's expression darkened. Her brow furrowed deep with blatant disdain as she looked at me.

"Ivan is the top student in my research group. What's wrong with having him over for dinner? Stop measuring people with your narrow mindset. He has drive and ambition. He's nothing like a man with no career like you."

A bone-chilling cold seeped into my chest, shattering my heart into icy bits.

I stared at her in utter disbelief, my entire body trembling. "Sienna, you were the one who begged me not to work!"

She was the one who said she couldn't stand seeing me work such grueling hours and hated that we barely had any time together. She promised she'd provide while I managed the house, and I trusted her.

Out of love and trust, I gave up my career and my dignity just to support hers.

Sienna looked at my furrowed brow and let out a long sigh after a pause. "Fine, I spoke too harshly. Your health isn't great, so try not to get so worked up."

She headed for the front door. "It's raining outside. I need to drive Ivan home. We'll talk when I get back."

I didn't try to stop her. I couldn't even if I wanted to.

Right then, a message from Caleb popped up. "Kayden, the divorce papers are ready. I booked two tickets abroad. Come clear your head with me."

Without a second thought, I typed back. "Okay."

I waited on the couch for Sienna, ready to talk through the divorce. I tried calling her dozens of times, but every single call went unanswered.

It wasn't until 7:00 am the next day that she finally unlocked the door.

Catching sight of me, Sienna looked genuinely surprised. "Kayden, why are you sitting there? It rained pretty hard last night, and Ivan slipped on the stairs and twisted his ankle. I took him to the hospital and stayed to look after him."

"Sienna…"

After a sleepless night, my voice was hoarse beyond recognition. "Is sending a text really that hard? Is picking up the phone really that hard? Is listening to me say one single sentence… really that hard?"