Chapter 3

A torrential downpour had just passed outside.

I fell hard into a pool of mud. The rain-slick pavement beneath me was too slippery.

I struggled several times to stand, but failed every time. My pathetic state amused Emily.

"Anthony, see that?"

I looked back at her blankly, and she sneered.

"Without me, you can't even get back on your feet. If you divorce me, where else could you possibly go?"

Before I could answer, the car door slammed shut.

The vehicle shot past me like an arrow released from a bow, splashing muddy water across my face.

My vision gradually blurred, but memories of my past with Emily flickered through my mind like scenes from a film.

After divorcing my ex-wife, I fell into severe depression and couldn't stop hurting myself. Whenever I cut myself once, Emily would stab herself twice after finding out.

When I couldn't sleep through the night, she had the roof of the villa torn open. She replaced it with a skylight and held me while counting stars with me until dawn.

When I couldn't eat, she starved herself alongside me.

With her by my side, I slowly recovered after a year. Little by little, I learned to trust her.

The day we decided to be together, she stood there with reddened eyes and promised she would never betray me for the rest of her life.

But I never expected… that the "lifetime" she had promised me would be so short.

Not even a year later, her promise had already expired.

When I finally came back to my senses, I wiped the grime from my face and forced myself upright against the pavement.

My clumsy movements drew laughter from passersby.

Humiliated and at a loss, I hurriedly waved for a taxi.

But I was too filthy. After standing in the rain for an entire hour, one driver finally agreed to take me—on the condition that I paid upfront and added an extra fifty bucks.

I immediately agreed.

But when I tried to pay, I was told my card had been frozen. I couldn't access a single cent.

And that, too, was Emily's punishment for me.

The moment I was shoved out of the taxi, the rain had started pouring again. The icy drops struck my body, leaving me numb with pain.

I didn't know how long I walked before I finally made it back to the home I shared with Emily.

The moment I pushed open the door, my mind went blank.

A pair of high heels and men's dress shoes lay tangled together on the floor. Black lace lingerie was strewn together with a dark suit.

By the window, Emily stood wrapped in Dylan's arms as they kissed passionately.

For a split second, the scene before me overlapped with the memory from five years ago.

An inhuman, broken sound tore from my throat before I could stop it. My hands and legs trembled uncontrollably.

The noise disturbed the couple.

Emily frowned impatiently.

"What are you making such a fuss about? It's not like you haven't been through this before."

Dylan let out a mocking laugh.

"Long time no see, Anthony. I was wrong on the phone earlier—Emily's way better than your ex-wife."

His words clearly pleased her.

"At least you've got good taste."

Smiling faintly, Emily rose and walked toward me.

But the closer she came, the harder I shook.

Finally, just as she reached out to touch me, I doubled over and vomited uncontrollably.

For a brief instant, Emily seemed to freeze.

Then a chilling voice sounded beside my ear.

"Anthony… do you find me disgusting?"