Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Just taking medication isn't enough," I said, my voice empty of emotion.

"You can also massage her, hold her close when you sleep at night and keep her hands and feet warm."

Yvonne’s face flushed a deep crimson.

"Mary, I didn't mean it like that..."

Tony, however, assumed my well-intentioned advice was just me throwing a tantrum out of spite.

His tone turned icy as he asked, "Are you still throwing a fit? Just because I didn't report my business trip to you?"

Two weeks ago, on his birthday.

I worked frantically, grueling overtime to finish a project just so I could clear my schedule.

I personally cooked a table full of his favorite dishes and picked up a custom-made gift that I had ordered months in advance.

I did it all just to celebrate his birthday.

I waited until midnight but Tony never came home.

I didn't know until I saw Yvonne’s social media post.

Tony had left the country for an overseas medical exchange program.

When I finally reached him, Tony brushed it off completely.

“It’s just a business trip, there was no need to consult you.”

“Birthdays happen every year but opportunities like this project don’t. I thought you’d be able to distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s not.

“Don’t you have your own things to worry about? Why are you always obsessing over my itinerary?”

The accumulated disappointment crashed over me like a tidal wave.

I couldn't stop myself from questioning him.

“Tony, is it true that in your hierarchy of importance, I will always be the least urgent, the least significant and the most expendable one?!”

Compared to my hysteria, Tony remained utterly composed. He said just one thing before hanging up.

“You’re not calm right now. We’ll talk when I get back.”

-

After I had calmed down, I signed the transfer agreement to relocate to a branch office.

My manager hesitated and looked at me with concern.

"Relocating means moving to a completely different city! For something this major, you should really discuss it with your boyfriend.

“You have a partner, you don't have to make such a serious decision."

I signed my name swiftly, without a shred of hesitation. "No need."

The last time I changed jobs. As I was having two job offers, I asked for Tony's opinion.

Tony merely glanced at the job offers.

“This is your life. Why should I choose for you?”

But he patiently guided Yvonne through her college applications.

He helped her get accepted into the country's top medical school so that she could become his junior.

Tony always said I wasn't independent enough, that I was constantly complaining and I was too clingy.

Whenever I excitedly tried to share a funny story with him, he would put on his headphones to listen to medical podcasts.

He kept treating me as if I were invisible.

When I was running late for work, he would refuse to drive me.

He would emphasize that his schedule could not be disrupted for my sake.

If I wanted to join his gatherings with friends, he would tell me I needed to build my own social circle.

For a long time, I genuinely believed Tony was just naturally distant and cold.

And I thought that if I tried hard enough, I would eventually become the exception.

Until Yvonne appeared.

She was the daughter of an old family friend of Tony’s parents.

She was entrusted to his care.

I thought he would see her as a nuisance but he agreed to look after her without a second thought.

I never expected that she would be the actual exception.

Tony replied to every single one of her rants about her roommates.

Whenever she craved a trending dessert on a busy workday, he would drive across the city just to deliver it to her.

During her hospital internship, he proactively introduced her to everyone.

“This is my junior. Please look out for her.”

Every time I fought with Tony over this, he would frown with deep disappointment.

“She’s a kid, are you a kid too?”

“I look after her out of responsibility. Are you seriously throwing a jealous fit over this?”

“How old is she, and how old are you? Why don't you compare yourself to a newborn baby while you're at it?”

But the "kid" he spoke of was only three years younger than me.

All the excuses I had once made for him, that it was just his personality, that he was too busy with work, that he hated clingy people...

Every single one of them shattered into pieces in the face of the patience he showed to another woman.

But that was fine.

My surgery would be over tomorrow and I would leave this city.

Then, Tony and I would have absolutely nothing to do with each other anymore.

—

My best friend, Gina, found out about my surgery and took a day off just to accompany me.

"Hurry up and clean out the guest bedroom to welcome your gold-medal nanny!" she texted.

I replied with a smile, "The guest room has already been cleaned twice and I bought you brand new bedsheets.

“I guarantee you'll enjoy your stay.”