Chapter 2

Matt quickly left, changing his shoes and closing the door in one swift motion.

My reflection appeared on the black screen of the TV.

I remained silent as I threw the remaining chips into the trash.

After midnight, Faye posted a new update on Instagram.

"Mr. Miller took me to karaoke. But does my singing really put people to sleep?"

In the video, the lighting was dim. She was singing into the camera.

Her voice through the microphone was deafening. Startled the moment I clicked into the video, I quickly muted my phone.

Then she flipped the camera, showing Matt asleep on the couch.

At home, he wouldn't even let me move an inch of his pillow.

Any little change would keep him awake.

However, even with the loud karaoke on, he had dozed off right then. He was resting his head on his arm, one of his legs hanging from the couch.

Not even Faye's singing could wake him up.

I realized at that moment that he could tolerate noise, after all. He just couldn't stand my voice.

I pitied myself. But having been silent for six years, I found myself unable to utter a single word.

Sleep eluded me all night.

At the first light of dawn, I contacted housekeeping to remove all the carpets in the house.

The agent asked in surprise, "Didn't you say your husband had trouble sleeping, and the carpets helped reduce noise?"

I hummed in reply and said, "We're getting divorced. That has nothing to do with me now."

That night, when Matt came home, he stopped before his feet could touch the floor.

"What happened to the carpets?"

"I removed them."

"Oh." He gave a curt reply, then walked inside. "Get thicker ones. The old carpets were too thin. You could still hear footsteps."

Since I was busy working in the living room, I replied without looking up, "I don't plan to get any new ones."

His eyelids twitched slightly. While loosening his tie, he noticed the automotive project proposal on my laptop.

His voice laced with irritation, he said, "So it's still about the collaboration. I told you this concerns the launch of our new beauty brand. I have to be responsible for the company."

I nodded.

"I get it. That's why I've decided to end our collaboration and find a new project. I have to be responsible for my company as well. I can't waste time on a project that will never succeed."

Matt pursed his lips, his face dark.

"Yelena, this is official work, not some kindergarten art project. You can't just end it because you want to."

I stared at his face, remembering the short videos I had come across on Faye's account that afternoon.

"Mr. Miller is such an awesome boss. He cuts me fruits and orders me coffee during working hours. He even set me up with a membership account just because I mentioned wanting to watch some dramas. On top of that, he sneaks me candy during meetings, too. He totally spoils me."

The comments left beneath the videos were filled with envy.

"They say if you love your girlfriend, you should spoil them like a child. Your boss sure knows what he's doing."

A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it down.

"Back at you, Mr. Miller. We've been working on this project for six months, and you just put it on hold."

The tie around Matt's neck was a crumpled mess.

He looked away and said, "Yelena, we're adults. Grow up. I looked at your draft proposal. The first version was alright. We'll talk more at my office tomorrow."

Having said that, he turned to leave.

"You make a lot of noise without the carpets. I'll stay at the office for a few days," he added. "I'll come back once you get thicker ones."

I hadn't even stood up.

He left again, anyway.

The next morning, I brought my team to the meeting.

To show fairness, he didn't comment at all, nor did he participate in the voting.

Half an hour later, the first draft was approved unanimously.

My colleagues were so excited that they insisted on a celebration dinner. I was forced to join them.

In the private room, Faye was seated next to Matt.

When someone approached her with a glass of wine, he stopped her before she could raise hers.

"She can't drink."

Faye blushed in embarrassment, hiding behind him with a smile.

The employees around her teased, "Mr. Miller truly has changed a lot since Faye joined us."