Chapter 4

Chloe nodded a greeting to me, then naturally took off her shoes and entered the living room.

"Don't misunderstand, Miss Sophia. I'm just here to help with Mr. Samuel's treatment.

"Mr. Samuel described being troubled by memories from the past, or memories that don't exist. So I came to look at the home environment, which can actually have a big impact on one's mental state."

Her smile was open, her words professional. Facing me, she was completely different from the coquettish woman by Samuel's side earlier - very proper and dignified.

It almost made me feel like her intimacy with Samuel had been my imagination.

But the next second, her eyes met Samuel's, and she flashed a meaningful smile, full of their private understanding.

"Get rid of these few things, and redesign the sofa layout over here..."

Her red lips opened and closed, but by the end I could no longer make out what she was saying.

I only saw our carefully decorated home being completely changed by her.

Her gaze turned smug and challenging as she lifted her chin to look at me:

"One must always look forward. It's best to throw away old things."

She took a charm off her bag and hung it by the front door, her tone coy:

"Mr. Samuel, seeing something bright and colorful before leaving home will improve your mood."

"This is our marital home..."

I watched Samuel's lips curl up involuntarily as he reluctantly saw Chloe off. Then I spoke up, my lips trembling.

"What's wrong?" he asked, puzzled.

Our carefully designed marital home - how could you just bring another woman back here, casually rearrange our decor, and leave her traces behind?

"Sophia, Dr. Chloe is a professional. If things aren't arranged properly, they should be changed. I'm sick - should I just stay sick?"

His tone was a bit exasperated. But I could hear the underlying impatience.

"Don't be so stubborn. If you don't like the current arrangement, we can change it again later based on your preferences."

Bitterness welled up in my throat. I took a deep breath and forced a smile:

"Samuel, aren't we supposed to get our marriage license next month?

"Do you still want to go through with it?"

Samuel frowned:

"What are you going on about? Just because Chloe came to look at the house? Sophia, I think you have too much free time on your hands.

"If you have nothing to do, go find something. Stop obsessing over me and jumping to conclusions. Now you're even saying such things."

He was about to say more, but froze in place.

My tone was very flat and cold:

"Let's call it off."

Just three words, but I struggled to get them out.

Samuel didn't react at first, confusion in his eyes: "What did you say?"

As he spoke, his voice trembled slightly, as if suppressing some joy.

I suddenly remembered what he had said in front of Chloe:

"She's always clinging to me, like bad luck by my side. How could I not have problems?"

The tears pooled in my eyes, but I held them back.

Instead, a wave of grief and anger rushed to my head. The cold blood seemed to ignite, and I let out a silent laugh:

"What? Are you satisfied that I said we should call off the wedding?

"Samuel, you haven't really fallen for someone else, have you? Are you that eager to get rid of me?"

Realizing I seemed to be joking and toying with him, his face instantly darkened, his expression frightening:

"Sophia, I think you're the one with mental problems. Is this funny to you?

"No wonder my condition has been poor lately. Turns out you've been affecting me."

He looked down at me imperiously, angrily tossed his coat aside, and went to sleep in the guest room.

Silence fell over the living room again, but that oppressive feeling lingered. I looked up at the ceiling, and the tears I had held back for so long didn't retreat, but rushed out in a flood.

After that day, things became even more strained between Samuel and me.

He began openly going to see Chloe.

Faced with my heartbroken questioning, he just looked at me coldly, his expression mocking:

"Then why don't you give up on me? Go ahead and call it off.

"Your world doesn't revolve around just me."

He was so calm, making me look like the crazy one.

I was left speechless.

I couldn't accept it.

I had invested four lifetimes. My sunk costs were too great - so great that I didn't have the courage to give up everything from before.

I kept thinking I should wait a bit longer, until the day we were supposed to get our marriage license.