Chapter 2

Matthew's POV

I saw Julia in the photo Bradley had just posted on his social media account. She was wearing a radiant smile as she sat next to him and cut steak for him.

Although we had been married for five years, I had no idea that someone as proud as she was would be willing to cut steak for someone else. She had never done this for me, even when our relationship was harmonious, since she was severely allergic to seafood.

And yet, she was willing to risk having an allergic reaction just to do for Bradley.

Julia's behavior made it too easy to tell whether she loved or didn't love a person.

I stared at the photo for a long time before finally deciding to let her go. I didn't want her name to be carved on my tombstone since she didn't care about me.

Our marriage had been a marriage of convenience. The Snow family was facing a severe financial crisis and desperately needed help. Julia and her mother had shown up at our doorstep and explained that they were willing to marry our families together.

I had liked Julia since I was a child, so I immediately agreed when I heard that she was willing to marry me.

Our first year of marriage was good. We even had a baby together. However, everything changed during our wedding anniversary when Julia was three months along.

I waited for her at home all day that day. But she didn't come back until late that night, with cold air around her and her face furious and anguished.

I had never seen Julia like that. She swept the red wine, fresh flowers, and steak that I had prepared to the floor before hysterically shouting, "How could you be so shameless? I'm already with you and was willing to have a child with you. Why did you force Bradley to leave the country? How could you treat me like this? How could you treat him like that?"

I shook my head with a bewildered expression as I stared at her distressed face. "What are you talking about, Julia? I don't understand."

My words agitated Julia even more. She rushed toward me and grabbed a fistful of my collar with bloodshot eyes.

"Drop the act, Matthew. The Sawyer family stood on the sidelines and did nothing when the Snow family was facing a financial crisis because you wanted to force me to abandon Bradley and marry you, right?"

My heart ached as I took in the hatred in Julia's eyes. Suppressing the cold sensation that was spreading through my chest, I asked, "So, the person you love is Bradley, Julia?"

Julia bit her lip harshly as she nodded. "That's right. I love Bradley. I love him the most."

It turned out that the person who Julia truly loved was Bradley. My ardent love for her slowly died when I heard her words.

Ignoring the way my eyes were stinging, I asked, "So, you've never loved me. Am I right?"

"Love you?" Julia asked with a scoff. "I want nothing more than for you to drop dead."