Chapter 3

"Then I want to get a job."

He stopped in his tracks and looked at me like I was a child throwing a tantrum.

"You cannot even keep up with the things that need to be done at home. What could you possibly do out there? And what are you going to put on your résumé? Seven years as a stay-at-home wife? What company is going to hire you?

"All right, that’s enough. I have been really busy with work lately and I am exhausted."

As he spoke, he rested his head against my shoulder. The scent of flowers filled my nose again.

Suddenly, my stomach churned.

I shoved him away and rushed into the bathroom, where I leaned over the toilet and dry-heaved for several minutes.

When I came back out, Joshua's face was grim.

"What is wrong with you? Are you pregnant?

"Lucia, have I ever told you that I am at a crucial stage in my career right now? This is not a good time to have a child. Go to the hospital tomorrow and schedule the procedure."

I was not pregnant.

However, his coldness still hit me like a bucket of ice water, finally jolting me awake.

"I am not pregnant."

I could see the relief wash over his face.

"Joshua, let’s get divorced."

For a moment, he just stared at me.

Then, the corners of his mouth lifted into a mocking smile.

"Nice. I guess you have been watching too many soap operas. You are even coming up with new tricks now.

"However, if you think playing hard to get is going to make me chase after you, forget it."

When I said nothing, his expression softened slightly.

"All right. I know I have been neglecting you because of work lately. Once things calm down, I will take some time off and go visit your parents with you.

"I have an early meeting tomorrow. I am going to bed.

"Oh, and make the food lighter these next few days. My stomach has been bothering me."

With that, he went into the master bedroom.

I sat alone on the couch, a deep sadness rising inside me.

So, this was what it was like when the person I loved no longer cared about me.

I could ask for a divorce right to his face and he could still completely ignore me.

…

Perhaps to make it up to me, Joshua really did take a day off to drive me to my parents' home.

In our seven years of marriage, there had not been many times when he had willingly offered to come home with me to visit my parents.

As such, even though I had already made up my mind to leave him, I still nodded and agreed.

However, barely minutes after we got on the highway, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and immediately declined the call.

Thirty seconds later, it rang again. He declined it again.

When it rang a third time, he finally answered, lowering his voice.

"Hello? I am driving. What is it? We can talk later."

I did not know what the person on the other end said. However, I saw Joshua's fingers tighten around the steering wheel. His voice suddenly became tense.

"Stay right there. Do not move. I will turn around at the next exit."

The moment he hung up, he turned to me. His tone left no room for argument.

"A friend has encountered an emergency. I need to go deal with it. I will drop you off at the next rest stop. You can call a ride and go home yourself.

"I will take you to see your parents another time."

I stared at the man behind the wheel in disbelief. "This is a highway. Where am I supposed to find a ride?"

He ignored my question. He kicked me out of the car at the next rest stop, then drove away without another word.

I asked eighteen people for a ride. Only one person was willing to take me part of the way back into town.

I did not go home. Instead, I went straight to Whitney's flower shop.

Sure enough, she was not there.

I sat in the café next door and waited. It was almost four in the afternoon when the lights in the flower shop finally came on.

When I pushed open the door, Whitney was touching up her makeup. Her lipstick was glossy and bright.

When she saw me, she smiled.

"You actually came to buy flowers from my shop today.

"I went out with my boyfriend to look at a few storefronts today, so I just got back. He has not had time to order the flowers yet."