Chapter 2

By the time I came back to my senses, Carolyn had already thrown me hard onto the cold ground.

"Alex is far more precious than you. How dare you tell him to walk home? You're used to being out there, braving the elements. What's a little hardship to you? You can walk back by yourself!"

After spitting out those words viciously, Carolyn quickly climbed into the driver's seat.

She did not spare me another glance. Instead, she gently stroked Alex's head and said softly, "It's okay now. I'll take you home."

"You're the best, Carolyn," Alex said, his gaze flicking toward me for a brief moment.

Soon, the car's taillights disappeared from my sight.

I wandered aimlessly down the street, but my mind was filled with thoughts of Carolyn and her so-called brother, Alex.

Ironically, the way Carolyn and I first met was also during a police raid.

I had shut down an illegal foot massage parlor and brought all the suspects back to the station.

Among the crowd, one girl immediately caught my attention. There was a kind of innocence in her eyes, untouched by the world.

I was wondering how a girl like her had ended up there when a nervous-looking young boy suddenly rushed into the station.

"Please let my sister go!" the boy cried. "She only took this job so she could pay for my schooling!"

As he spoke, he dropped to his knees and repeatedly banged his head on the floor in front of the officers.

"Alex, go home. This isn't a place you should be in," Carolyn said.

She and Alex clung to each other, crying.

"Don't be afraid. I will make sure you get through college."

After asking around, I learned the truth: Alex's father had run away because of gambling debts, and Carolyn's mother was bedridden.

When Alex got accepted into college, the family did not even have a single cent to pay his tuition.

Without hesitation, I used my savings to pay for his mother's treatment and cover the tuition fees.

I persuaded Carolyn to quit that job and told her that if she ever had difficulties, she could come to me.

With tears in her eyes, she hugged me and poured out all her grievances.

I was deeply moved by that strong girl.

Naturally, Carolyn and I ended up together.

At our wedding, I was smiling like a child, completely unaware of the jealousy in Alex's eyes.

For the first three years of our marriage, Carolyn and I were the model couple in everyone's eyes.

However, good times would never last.

After Alex graduated and failed to find a job, he simply stayed in our home and refused to leave.

Before I knew it, I had walked all the way back to the apartment building.

Looking up at that familiar window, it suddenly felt incredibly strange.

After smoking several cigarettes downstairs, I finally went back up.

The moment I opened the door, Carolyn rushed out of the room before I could even finish changing my shoes.

"Can you keep your voice down? Alex was frightened today!"

I ignored her scolding and walked straight to the bedroom, starting to search for our family's legal documents.

When she realized what I was doing, Carolyn immediately changed her expression. She walked forward and grabbed my arm, speaking in a sweet, coaxing voice, "Dear husband, have you finally agreed to what I've asked you to do?"

I shook off her hand and said coldly, "Stop dreaming. I will never do something illegal like that."

The smile on Carolyn's face vanished instantly.

"What did you say? Do you even know how important this is for Alex? This concerns his entire future!"

To make it easier for Alex to secure a job, Carolyn had asked me to use my position to change his details in our paperwork.

Suppressing the anger in my chest, I said, "Carolyn, I'm a police officer. I can't knowingly break the law."

She refused to listen and raised her voice.

"Why are you looking for those anyway? Fine, if you won't help him, then forget it. Why can't I find someone else to help Alex? What good does ruining his future do for you?"

I looked at her and felt like I was staring at a stranger.

I was just about to make it clear that I was looking for our marriage license so I could file for divorce when a voice suddenly came from the bathroom.

"Carolyn, can you come help scrub my back?"

He knew perfectly well that I was home, yet he still dared to ask for the two of them to bathe together. Just how intimate could they be?

"Coming!" Carolyn answered without hesitation.

Yet, when I had been injured on duty and unable to wash myself, Carolyn had only looked at me with disgust.