Chapter 1

When Raymond Hudson pushed the door open and walked in, I was still on my knees, clutching his old cell phone. He held a cake from my favorite bakery on the south side of town, but the warm air inside the room was instantly scattered by the cold air he brought in with him.

The moment he spotted what was in my hand, he froze. The tenderness on his face completely cracked. "Who gave you permission to touch that cabinet?"

His voice was biting cold. He didn't explain himself or panic. His immediate reaction was to interrogate me.

I looked up. My eyes were dry and aching, yet I couldn't shed a single tear.

"We've been married for seven years, Raymond." My voice was terribly hoarse as I pointed at the screen. "Is everything written here true?"

Raymond strode up to me, seized my wrist, and snatched his phone away. He hastily switched it off, shoved it into his pocket, and knitted his brows together. "Everyone has a past, and everyone has things they'd rather keep to themselves. You've crossed the line, Linnea."

I almost laughed out loud, yet my heart throbbed. "Everyone has things they'd rather keep to themselves? You hid your feelings for another woman inside our marriage, and you call those things you'd rather keep to yourself? Did you only marry me to appease your family? Did you refuse to let me have a baby because you were afraid Monica would be hurt? Raymond Hudson, you truly make me sick!"

"That's enough!" he growled, tossing the cake onto the coffee table.

The box landed on its side, smearing frosting all over the table.

Raymond took a deep breath, as if he was suppressing his anger. Then, he reverted to that cold, rational demeanor of his. "As you know, Monica's frail; she's sensitive and can't be triggered. Besides, we've known each other for ages. If anything was ever going to happen between us, you wouldn't even be in the picture. I married you because you were a good fit, and because..."

He paused for a moment, a flicker of irritation crossing his eyes. "Because I didn't dislike you. Haven't I been good enough to you? I gave you the position of my wife and a credit card with no limit. What have I ever denied you?"

I gazed at the man in front of me. Merely yesterday, when my leg cramped in the middle of the night, he woke up immediately despite being fast asleep and massaged it until I drifted back to sleep.

On rainy days, he would park the car where the puddles were shallowest and carry me across them because he was afraid of getting my shoes wet. I thought that was love. Yet, it was all just an act.

"You don't dislike me…" I repeated under my breath, feeling as if a piece of my heart had been gouged out raw. "Raymond Hudson, is this really the answer you're giving me?"

He massaged his temples and reached out to pull me up. "Cut it out, Linnea. Moni had a run-in at the art exhibition today. She's in a bad mood, so I need to go check on her. Stay here and get a hold of yourself. We'll talk once you've thought things through and figured out what you should and shouldn't ask."

Having said his piece, he turned on his heel and left.

The hem of his overcoat brushed against my face, trailing a gust of cold air in his wake.

"Raymond Hudson!" I shouted after him. "If you walk out on me today, we're through!"

He came to a halt at the threshold, but he didn't turn around. "Don't threaten me with divorce, Linnea. Do you honestly think you'll have it this good without me? Stop being difficult and grow up!"