Chapter 3

I didn't move an inch. Julian let out a faint whimper of pain from the floor, playing the fragile victim to perfection.

Nicole immediately knelt down, helping him up with an agonizing amount of tenderness.

"Does it hurt?" she asked, her voice silky and soft—a world apart from the sharp tone she used with me.

"Nicole, please... explain things to Sean," Julian murmured, burying his face in her shoulder. "I... I don't want to come between your marriage."

"Why should I explain anything to him?" Nicole sneered. "He's nobody to me."

Once Julian was back on his feet, Nicole turned her glare back on me. "Apologize."

"Forget it, Nicole," Julian sniffled, leaning heavily against her. "Sean already dislikes me. If you force him, he'll only resent me more."

Nicole cupped his cheek, her eyes practically overflowing with devotion. "Who cares what he thinks? Julian, you don't need to waste a second worrying about irrelevant people. Isn't my love enough for you?"

My wife had just confessed her love to another man in front of a room full of people.

What a joke.

When Nicole was in a coma, I never saw Julian visit her hospital room once. The moment she woke up, he materialized to claim his prize.

A bitter wave of nausea washed over me.

"Nicole, don't say that... Sean will be furious," Julian whispered.

"I couldn't care less about him. You're the only one that matters to me."

They played off each other seamlessly. Without me uttering a single word, I had been slapped with two labels: a jealous, abusive husband and a cuckold.

Nicole's blatant favoritism gave Julian all the confidence in the world. He dropped the act, boldly wrapping his arm around her waist. "Thank you, Nicole. Thank you for always choosing me."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a dry smile. "You two truly are a match made in heaven. I can only admire such devotion."

I had endured enough of this circus. All I wanted was to breathe.

"I didn't realize you were so open-minded, Sean," someone in the crowd mocked.

"Enjoy your party," I said evenly. "I'm heading out."

No one stopped me this time. Nicole's entire world was centered on Julian; she didn't have a second glance to spare for me.

The cold night air hit my lungs the second I pushed through the bar doors, and I took deep, shuddering breaths.

Suddenly, a crisp voice cut through the silence behind me.

"Sean, our divorce isn't finalized yet. Are you that eager to push me into another man's arms? Did you think acting generous in front of everyone made you look like a hero?"

I spun around. Nicole was standing a few feet away, her arms crossed and her face shadowed with wrath.

I instinctively took two steps back.

"Am I that terrifying to you?" she spat.

"I just didn't expect you to be out here," I replied honestly. "Shouldn't you be inside comforting Julian?"

"Sean, do I need to remind you a second time?"

"No, you don't," I cut in immediately.

I wasn't so dense that I needed her to spell out that my presence was unwanted.

"I know I shouldn't pry into your business. Don't worry, I'll stay out of your sight. In three months, the moment the papers go through, I'll be gone."

Nicole's expression shifted from anger to something unreadable. "Are you really that desperate for the payout?"

"Weren't you the one who handed me the papers?"

Nicole let out a heavy breath, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach knot. For a split second, I almost had the delusion that she was regretting the divorce.

Then she laughed, a sharp, humorless sound. "Sean, will you never say no to anything I ask?"

Once upon a time, that had been true. If Nicole had asked for the moon, I would have found a way to drag it down for her.

"Silence means yes," she murmured. "Fine. You have three months left. Enjoy the lifestyle I'm giving you."

I knew she didn't care for me, but I had assumed she felt at least a shred of gratitude for three years of round-the-clock care. Yet the way she spoke sounded like she was punishing me.

Had I ever wronged her? Or was she punishing me for failing to bow down to Julian?

Nicole brushed past my shoulder and stalked away.

Across the street, in the dim shadows of the parking lot, a young man handed a piece of paper to a woman leaning against an Audi.

"Boss, here’s his contact information."

The woman glanced at the name on the napkin, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Sean... we'll be meeting again very soon."