Chapter 2

Louie said, "Even a criminal has the right to know what he did wrong, right? Honey, just tell me what I did to upset you. I'll change, okay?

"I spent eight years pursuing you before I finally married you. We've only been married a year, and you already want out? You might as well just kill me."

Melanie scoffed, her eyes welling up again instantly. "When you married me, you swore you'd treat me right for the rest of your life. But it's only been a year, and I don't even matter to you anymore.

"You're constantly consumed by work. Half the month, you're not even around."

The more Melanie vented, the more devastated she became. Tears started streaming down her face.

Meanwhile, all the color drained from my own.

Louie was always busy with work, spending most of the month away from home. He was either traveling for business or working late.

I hated seeing him exhaust himself. I'd constantly change up my recipes to cook for him, waking up at 5:00 am just to make his soup. But it turned out…

Melanie started listing every offense. "Three years ago when I went abroad, you promised you'd wait for me. But six months in, you forgot to text me goodnight."

Three years ago was when Louie and I first met.

He told me it was love at first sight. Countless times in our intimate moments, he would kiss my brows and eyes, his gaze brimming with devoted love.

"Last Valentine's Day, I told you I wanted custard buns from the south. You made your assistant go buy them instead of waiting in line yourself."

That day, Louie had told me he had to work late and didn't come home all night.

When he finally walked through the door, he was holding a box of stone-cold custard buns. Knowing how long the lines were for that spot, I had thrown my arms around him, deeply moved.

"And last week, when I said my stomach was hurting, you didn't rush right home to make me soup! It took you two whole hours to get back!"

That was the day I had a raging fever and called Louie to take me to the hospital.

Shortly after arriving, he checked his phone, claimed an urgent work matter came up, and left me with nothing but a box of fever meds.

I was burning with fever and drenched in cold sweat. With no water, I chewed the bitter tablets raw and curled up on the bed, suffering through the night alone.

My vision grew blurry. Every single word Melanie uttered cut straight into my heart like a needle.

I dug my nails deep into my palms, but I couldn't feel the pain.

"I never used to peel my own shrimp, but this morning, you forgot to peel them for me. You've fallen out of love with me. I don't want to be with you anymore. We're getting a divorce!"

Melanie sobbed, looking every bit like a spoiled, aggrieved princess.

Louie's face was filled with heartbreak as he wiped her tears away. "I walked away from a multi-billion-dollar deal just to run over here, and you're still saying I don't love you? I'll cut back on work from now on and spend more time with you, okay?

"Please don't cry. It's breaking my heart. I'm sorry. I promise I'll do better."

After endless coaxing from Louie, Melanie finally softened her tone. "Fine. I'll give you one last chance. But if you make me mad again, I won't forgive you."

Wrapped around each other, they were about to leave.

Suddenly, Melanie remembered something and turned around in my direction. "Honey, look at her. Doesn't she look just like me?"

When Louie glanced up, his pupils contracted instantly.

A few seconds later, he averted his gaze, his face a mask of calm. "I don't see it. You're way prettier."

Melanie gave him a playful, affectionate glare.

I stood frozen in place, a chill settling over me.

I dragged my numb body back home. But when I unlocked the door, I saw the last person I expected to find inside—Louie.

He sat with his legs crossed, still dressed in his tailored suit. He looked entirely out of place in our cramped apartment.