Chapter 3

After surgery, I woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating.

When I checked it, I saw a message from Lucy.

[I packed up your favorite spicy shrimp pasta.]

Another message came right after. It was an itemized bill.

[Spicy shrimp pasta: 16]

[Takeout fee: 1]

[Transportation: 10]

[Just give me 13.]

[As your wife, I’ll cover half.]

The doctor had already told me to stick to a bland diet after surgery.

Lucy had even forgotten that I was allergic to shrimp.

My wound still hurt. I did not have the energy to argue with her.

I said nothing and transferred 27 to her.

When I got home, it was already late at night. The room I had cleaned that morning was a complete mess.

Papers were scattered everywhere. They covered the wedding photo we had taken years ago.

A few drops of oil had even stained it.

Lucy and Yale sat side by side and talked in low voices.

Warm yellow light filled the room. Their shadows were close together. They looked like a couple in love.

When they heard me come in, Yale turned around and gave me an apologetic smile.

“Colin, you’re back. The company is about to open, and I can’t handle everything by myself. I had to ask Lucy for help.

“I hope you don’t mind me borrowing your wife for a while.”

Lucy glanced at Yale. “Don’t worry, Colin is much more understanding than you are. He understands that work comes first.”

She had thought that all my post-surgery precautions had been a hassle. Even so, she had been willing to stay up all night to help Yale plan his new business and assess the risks. She wanted to make sure he had everything under control.

Yale smiled warmly. “I’ll gladly lend it to you. Colin, you haven’t had dinner yet, have you? I’ve brought you some spicy shrimp pasta. It’s on the table.

“I just tried some. They’re really good. You should have some.”

I shook my head. “I’m not hungry.”

“Colin...” Yale lowered his head. “Are you refusing because I already ate some?”

Lucy frowned and looked at me with disapproval. “Yale went out of his way to bring those back for you. The least you can do is have a couple of bites.”

I dug my fingernails into my palm and forced myself to swallow two bites.

I looked at Lucy. “Is that enough?”

A burning pain spread through my stomach. Red blotches started appearing all over my neck.

I forced myself to take the divorce papers out of my bag and held them out to her.

“Lucy, let’s—”

“I’m busy. Don’t bother me.”

She cut me off.

She took the papers from me and signed them without even looking at them. “I’ll make time tomorrow to take you to the hospital for your surgery.”

Then she went right back to discussing the business with Yale. They went back and forth with ease. They understood each other perfectly.

I could not get a word in.

I stood there and looked at the divorce papers with her signature on them.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

She had no idea that my surgery was already over. She had no idea that I was leaving too.

I had just had surgery, yet I ate spicy food and something I was allergic to.

That night, the pain was so bad that cold sweat covered my body. I curled up at the foot of the bed and shook uncontrollably.

After two hours, I could not take it any longer. I asked for help.

“Lucy... Lucy...”

I called her name again and again, but Yale’s voice drowned mine out every time.

I forced myself out of bed and reached for the glass of water on the nightstand.

The loud crash finally got their attention.

“My stomach hurts so badly. Could you... get me some painkillers?”

Lucy frowned. “Do you really have to bother me with something this minor?”

She did not even look at me. She tapped on her phone with an impatient look.

“I ordered a delivery. It’s 25.60.

“That’s a personal expense. It’s not a shared household expense. You’re paying for it yourself.”

A moment later, my phone chimed. She had sent me a screenshot of the payment.

I gave a bitter smile. “Forget it. I don’t need it.

“I’ll take care of it myself.”

Lucy frowned. Her voice was cold. “Colin, can’t you just be reasonable?

“Yale and I are dealing with business matters. The company opens tomorrow, and we’re already short on time. Stop acting like a child and making a fuss.”

She took Yale with her and left.

I curled up at the foot of the bed and shivered from the pain.

Eventually, I managed to close my eyes. But all I saw in my dreams was the horrific scene from the car accident.

Blood covered the ground. The air was filled with desperate screams and the shrill sound of sirens.

I woke up with a start. Cold sweat covered my body.

The space beside me was still cold and empty. From time to time, I heard a man and a woman talking in the study.

I silently stared into the darkness outside the window.

I did not sleep at all the entire night.