Chapter 3

By the time I got home, it was already late at night. I got into the house and pulled a drawer open, only to find a dusty cigarette pack inside.

Ever since Theodore was born, I had forced myself to quit smoking, worried it would affect his health.

I dared not smoke around him and could only swallow the craving every time I saw it in the past. But now that I could smoke again, the sight of it only brought tears to my eyes.

I went to the kitchen and made myself some scrambled eggs. Just as I was about to dig in, the sound of a key turning came from the entryway.

Jocelyn walked in carrying a suitcase.

I found it strange, as she hadn't come home in a long time since Levi got sick.

"Why are you back? Don't you need to be with Levi?" I asked.

Jocelyn dragged the suitcase straight into the bedroom and said casually, "Since I'm marrying Levi, I came back to pick up my things. Saves me the trouble later."

I hummed in acknowledgment, but my mind drifted back to Levi's words.

"Our wedding is set for a week from now. You're more than welcome to come. Oh, and bring the baby along!"

Right, there were only a few days left. If she didn't take her things now, it'd be a hassle for her to come back to collect them.

Tears fell onto my food, disappearing without a trace—just like Jocelyn's love for me.

But it hadn't always been this way. She had once looked forward to our child's birth, and we had once been happy for so long.

As I lowered my head to eat, Jocelyn, who was done packing, suddenly spoke up. "You made scrambled eggs? What a coincidence—Levi hasn't had dinner yet. This will be perfect."

With that, she walked over and took the plate right out of my hands.

I stared at my now-empty hands, momentarily forgetting to react. It wasn't until she pulled out a clean lunch box that I managed to say, "That's my dinner."

Jocelyn didn't even look up as she packed the food. "Isn't there a pack of cigarettes in the drawer? I remember you used to just smoke a couple when you skipped dinner."

My gaze fell on the cigarette pack, and a bitter smile tugged at the corner of my lips with a touch of irony. "We can't have Teddy exposed to cigarette smoke."

Jocelyn paused, then set the lunch box down. "Well… maybe just smoke a little less? It's not like Teddy has any serious health conditions. A little cigarette smoke every now and then isn't that big of a deal."

When I heard that, I felt my nose sting. I lifted my head, unwilling to let the tears fall. "Yeah. It isn't a big deal."

Theodore was already dead. Of course it didn't matter anymore.

Perhaps sensing my sadness, Jocelyn sighed and gave me a brief, awkward hug.

"Eli, just hang in there a little longer, okay? Once the wedding is over, I promise I'll spend more time with you. Just bear with it a bit longer, alright?"

I hummed in agreement, but memories of the past rose uncontrollably in my mind.

"Eli, Levi can't be left alone. Once he's in a better mood, I'll take Teddy for his checkup."

"Eli, Levi has a fever. Once he's done with his tests, I'll call you."

"Eli, Levi won't let me leave. Once he falls asleep, I'll come home to you and Teddy."

Just when would Jocelyn finally come to see that I simply couldn't afford to wait any longer?

I stepped out of her embrace and handed her the lunch box. "You should go."

She should go and not look back.

Just as she was about to leave, I called out, "Jocelyn, do you remember how many times you've asked me for a divorce?"

Her back stiffened. Before she could answer, I continued, "That text message was the hundredth time, and today is the hundred and first time. I'll see you at the courthouse tomorrow."

With that, I walked to the door and firmly closed it.