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Chapter 4

Author: That's All
The old me would have burst into tears on the spot and demanded that Xavier explain himself.

But today? Other than feeling pretty pissed off by his comment about my intelligence, all I could think about was that diner Morgan had mentioned!

Xavier was right after all. Opening yourself up to new people really did have its perks. Suddenly, everything felt a lot less triggering.

My silence made Xavier frown, but before he could say anything, Rayna spoke up. "Professor, aren't we supposed to be heading to the lab? We might run out of time."

Xavier nodded. "Yeah. You're right. Let's go."

He set the cake on the table and turned to me. "It's peak season at work, Maddie. You should be trying to lighten my burden, not add to it."

He and Rayna left in a hurry.

Morgan came downstairs with his bag in hand. "Um, I'm ready now!"

His voice snapped me out of my daze. I hurried to wash up, then headed out to breakfast with him, the whole incident already forgotten.

…

For the rest of the month, Xavier hardly came home.

I had so much free time that Morgan and I went out on all kinds of excursions every day. We shopped, watched movies, and went on food trips. There was never a dull day.

One evening, as Morgan walked me home, he suddenly said hesitantly, "I'm sorry, Maddie. I lied about something."

I blinked in surprise. "What?"

"Remember the first morning we had breakfast together? I'd actually been ready for a while. I just didn't want to come downstairs because I saw you talking to a man. Is he... your husband?"

I nodded.

Pity and sadness filled Morgan's eyes.

"He treats you poorly. Even I know you don't like strawberry-flavored things, but he bought you a strawberry cake. And that other girl with him was obviously into him, yet he didn't even try to distance himself from her!" His voice grew quicker and started to tremble. "I just... I don't think he loves you."

I stood there in stunned silence for a long moment. "He... doesn't love me?"

He had been one of the students my parents sponsored. The first time I met him, he was wearing a crisp white collared shirt, his shoulders squared and his back perfectly straight.

It was love at first sight.

I pursued him. After countless advances, he finally agreed to date me. Before long, we got married.

All these years, I had never once asked whether he truly loved me. He had never told me on his own, either.

The question lingered in my mind as I opened the door. To my surprise, Xavier, who hadn't come home in a month, was sitting on the couch with a stormy expression.

He glared at me and asked, "Who was that?"

I changed into my casual clothes and answered, "Morgan. I told you about him before, didn't I? He's a new friend I made."

His expression darkened. He shot to his feet and grabbed my wrist. "Do people spend every day hanging out with a 'new friend' they just met? Do they stay out until after dark every single day?

"Do you even know who he is, Madeline? Do you know where he comes from, what his background is, or anything about him at all? Aren't you worried he's just after your money?"

"You don't see me sticking my nose into your business, so why can't you do the same for me?!" With that, I stormed into my room and locked the door.

Then I texted Morgan: [Ugh! Professor Shithead just snapped at me for no reason!]

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  • The Perks of Opening Up   Chapter 11

    I no longer had to hear Xavier rush out of the house in the middle of the night after all. I no longer had to watch Reyna subtly brag about the time she spent with her "beloved mentor."Every day, I woke up whenever I wanted without setting an alarm.Morgan always made me breakfast. After that, he headed to his classes while I either watched dramas at home, went shopping, or spent the day at a spa getting facial treatments.When his classes ended, he always came back with something delicious for me. Sometimes, it was something he had made himself. Other times, he picked up treats from new eateries.In the evenings, we watched movies together on the couch. He was even more prone to crying than I was. He secretly wiped away his tears, thinking I never noticed.It was a calm, ordinary, comfortable life.Then, one day, Morgan didn't show up for breakfast. He texted to say Xavier wanted to talk to him, so he wouldn't be able to see me until much later. I told him it was fine.…That

  • The Perks of Opening Up   Chapter 10

    Now? I just didn't care anymore."I called my department head. Reyna is being transferred off my team and onto someone else's. So this is good, right? We can still be—""What, together?" I interjected. "Xavier, are you just worried that I don't want you anymore?"I watched him visibly reel and spoke calmly. "You're the one who doesn't want me anymore. Ever since we got together, I've spent countless birthdays alone. I ate alone. I cried alone."You always told me to be more understanding or stop being so 'small-hearted.' You told me to go explore the world and find myself."I did exactly that, and now you're upset. I started wondering how I could ease your pain. Maybe the only way is for me to disappear from your life. I just don't know, Xavier."His lips trembled. "I'm not unhappy when I'm with you! I love you! I've always loved you!"The three words I had always wanted to hear finally came."But Maddie, do you still love me?" His voice was so hoarse I could barely hear it.I

  • The Perks of Opening Up   Chapter 9

    "Please consider divorcing Professor Bates, Maddie," Morgan said.I didn't answer."I mean it," he said earnestly. "If this marriage can't make you happy, then why hold onto it? Why keep suffering?"He got out of the car, opened the door for me like a gentleman, and walked me to the front door. At last, he said, "Have a good night, Maddie."I watched him leave as his shadow stretched longer and longer beneath the streetlight.Then I turned around and opened the door.A heavy stench of alcohol hit me immediately. The living room was dark, but I could make out the silhouette of a man.Xavier was still wearing the clothes he had on earlier that day, but his collar was already unbuttoned, and his tie was gone.Empty beer bottles littered the coffee table and the floor. The moment he saw me, he lurched to his feet, only to nearly collapse back onto the couch.He had drunk a lot. That was ironic, considering what he had once told me. He used to say alcohol impaired a person's judgme

  • The Perks of Opening Up   Chapter 8

    "Please stop coming to campus to look for him, okay? It's pretty emasculating for him. Everyone in our program has been saying you're not a very understanding wife. All you seem to do is spend money on your own indulgences. I'm telling you this for your own good."Reyna left me alone after that. I stood there, watching the students come and go, and suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to cry.So I did. I wandered across the street from the college and ended up sobbing beneath a streetlamp.By the time I finished crying and returned home, Xavier still had not come back. I washed my face, put on a facial mask, ordered something scrumptious for delivery, watched two episodes of a drama series, and then went to bed alone.He came home the next day without offering any explanation. I did not ask about it or comment.By then, I had gradually stopped throwing fits. There was no point. He simply came and went as he pleased.I honestly thought no one had seen me that winter. I had no idea h

  • The Perks of Opening Up   Chapter 7

    Morgan had excitedly told me how long the college had spent preparing it and how he had even taken dance lessons so he would not step on my toes. I told him I would not mind if he did, but he insisted he never would because my feet were too precious to be hurt.At the thought, I took his hand. "Hey, wait up! I've spent more than an hour on my makeup, Morgan. It'd be such a waste if I didn't go!"He turned around, his eyes lighting up. Then he shot Xavier a hesitant glance and muttered, "But what about Professor—""Meh, he's not relevant here."Xavier stepped into my path again, his voice hoarse. "Madeline Bates! I am your husband!"His eyes were red.Suddenly, I felt as though I did not know him. The Xavier I knew was always perfectly composed, elegant, scholarly, and calm. He had never thrown a fit. He had never even cracked.Even when I threw the biggest bitch fit I could manage, all he ever did was frown and sigh. "Please stop this already."I had never seen him like this.

  • The Perks of Opening Up   Chapter 6

    Xavier released me. The hurt in his eyes gave way to shock.Morgan walked into the house wearing a perfectly tailored suit. A small white rose peeked from his breast pocket. He looked effortlessly gallant and charming.The sight of Xavier clearly caught him off guard, though he quickly recovered with a gentlemanly smile. "Ah, Professor Bates! What a coincidence!"Xavier went pale. His voice seemed to catch in his throat. "You?! You're the Morgan she was talking about?!"My eyes darted between them, completely nonplussed. "Uh... do you two know each other?"Morgan stepped over to me, then tilted his head as he looked at me."Didn't I mention that? Professor Bates is my mentor," he replied, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.I searched my memory. He had told me he was a postgraduate student. He had also mentioned that his mentor was a rather renowned researcher. But I didn't remember him ever mentioning his name.Maybe he had, and I had simply forgotten.

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