Chapter 2

It didn't take long before Don's friends flooded the post with likes and comments.

"Nice! Finally got around to redeeming that coupon, huh? Ha! I bet someone's gonna be pissed out of her mind when she sees this!"

"Serves her right. Who told her to insist on marrying Don in the first place? If you marry a man who has an unforgettable first love, then you'll just have to live with it. After all, Taylor and Don are a match made in heaven."

"So, when are you going to redeem the 'Make a Baby' coupon? I can't wait!"

They made zero effort to hide their comments from me, fully aware that I could see the post.

In the five years we'd been together, Don's friends had constantly iced me out, convinced I had thrown myself at him just for his money. Even though I kept working after we got married and stayed financially independent, they still refused to accept me.

It was only later that I realized it was because of Taylor. They belonged to the same circle, while I was just the outsider who came later.

This time, I didn't take screenshots and send them to Don. I didn't blow up his phone, crying and demanding an explanation.

Instead, I just calmly hit the "Like" button and closed the app.

Then I texted a friend who worked at city hall.

"Is my replacement marriage certificate ready? I'll come pick it up tomorrow."

A second later, a message from my boss, Howard Reelkins, popped up.

"Denise, something urgent came up for tomorrow. We need someone to meet with a client in the next city over. Can you go?

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you land this deal, I'll promote you immediately! Don't turn me down again!"

I had worked hard over these past five years, and my success rate in contract negotiations was the highest in the company. But because I couldn't bear to leave Don behind, I almost never traveled for work.

I worried he wouldn't be able to find his suits or ties, that he'd skip breakfast, or that he wouldn't be able to sleep well.

Snapping back to the present, I texted back, "I can go. Don't worry, Mr. Reelkins."

Strangely enough, I didn't spend the night tossing and turning or overthinking until I cried myself to sleep. Instead, I slept peacefully until morning.

In fact, it was the sound of Don opening the front door that woke me up.

When he saw that I hadn't spent the night waiting for him in the living room, genuine surprise flashed across his face.

"I drank too much last night, so I crashed at the hotel. But nothing happened between Taylor and me! That post was just her messing around because she had too much to drink. I already told her to delete it. Don't overthink it."

I rubbed my eyes and nodded calmly. "Okay."

Then I got up, washed up, put on my makeup, and started getting dressed. The whole time, I paid no attention to how dark Don's expression had become.

When he came out of the shower and saw that I was heading out the door, he immediately grabbed me.

"Don't leave just yet," he said, his voice sounding strained. "I promised Taylor I'd go hiking with her today, so we'll have to skip our anniversary. I'll make it up to you later.

"She doesn't have many coupons left. Once she's used them all, this won't happen again. I—"

"Oh, okay. It's just as well. I'm leaving on a business trip anyway," I said with a smile as I gently pulled my hand out of his grip.

He finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Are you giving me the cold shoulder right now, Denise?" he asked coldly. "You never go on business trips. You promised me you wouldn't because I'd worry about you.

"Also, why aren't you arguing with me anymore? You weren't like this before."

I frowned, genuinely confused.

"You've never kept the promises you made to me, so why should I keep the promises I made to you? Besides, shouldn't you be happy that I'm not arguing with you anymore? Didn't you always say that I was just being unreasonable?"

I really didn't get it. Now that I was being understanding and agreeable, he was the one getting upset.

He opened his mouth to say something else, but I simply waved him off and headed out.

"I'm going to be late, so I'll take off first. When I get back, I have something to tell you."

In our five years of marriage, this was the first time I had backed out of our plans first, and the very first time I walked away without even looking back.

Previously, I was always the one clinging to him, demanding that we talk things through, but now, I didn't care to talk anymore.

Some things just couldn't be talked through. So, why bother?