Chapter 3

After parting ways with the young girl, I went to inspect the port before heading home.

But I ran into Derek, who was just about to leave.

He saw me and frowned, "Why are you back so late?"

I sidestepped him and said, "I had some business to take care of."

Derek nodded, not asking further, "I need to go to the port to receive a shipment. I won't be back tonight."

"Be good at home, honey."

He leaned in to kiss me but stopped at arm's length.

"Why do you smell so strongly of cigarettes?"

"Didn't I tell you to smoke less?"

The man's furrowed brow and expression showed a hint of disgust.

Looking at his reaction, I remembered the young girl's smug smile earlier: "Sister, Derek loves the milky scent on me."

I suddenly felt a bitterness in my heart.

But wasn't it you, Derek, who gave me my first cigarette?

Standing in the darkness, I forced a smile, "Derek, why don't we break up?"

Derek's face changed instantly.

"Evelyn, are you going through menopause or something? What kind of nonsense is this?"

"Break up? Who else would want a wife like you who smokes, drinks, and has tattoos?"

"Look in the mirror. Do you still think you're eighteen?"

As he was berating me, his phone rang.

He picked it up, glanced at the screen irritably, but didn't hang up. Instead, he muted it.

Then he impatiently tossed a sentence at me: "The port is urging me. Stop having these ridiculous thoughts. Be good and don't give me trouble."

I remained silent, watching him leave.

Only when Derek's figure had completely disappeared did I lean against the wall and start vomiting.

Seeing the streaks of blood in the vomit, I laughed bitterly.

I had just come back from the port.

How could I not know whether there was a shipment tonight?