Chapter 2

Earlier today, I did something rare. I didn't report my schedule to Ethan. Instead, I took my best friend, Harper Brooks, to the luxury mall downtown.

His birthday was coming up.

I wanted to buy him a navy blue bow tie.

"Rhi, why don't we check out some other stores?"

Harper suddenly blocked my path, her eyes darting around in panic.

"What's wrong? You just said this bow tie was the best one here. Plus, we've already walked through the whole mall."

I laughed, grabbing her hand to walk forward.

But the moment I looked ahead, I froze.

A woman was holding her phone, laughing beautifully.

The man beside her held her hand tightly, leaning down to listen to her. The warmth and indulgence in his eyes were practically overflowing.

The two of them looked like they were bound by an invisible, romantic thread, completely shut off from the rest of the world.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

Just a few hours ago, Ethan had sent me a picture of himself working at his desk.

He had even ordered a bouquet of roses to be delivered to me.

The card read:

"A little surprise for today."

I hid behind a marble pillar, my fingers trembling as I sent Ethan a message on Snapchat.

"Ethan, are you at work?"

A minute passed. No reply.

Usually, he replied within seconds.

The woman clung to his arm like a delicate doll, swaying gently and speaking in a sweet, soft voice.

"Ethan, look! That puppy is so cute. Can we get one?"

"You go home so late every day, and that big apartment gets so lonely. I want a dog to keep me company."

Under the warm mall lights, the tiny dark mole near the corner of his eye was clearly visible.

I loved that mole.

Whenever we were in bed, he would use it to tease and seduce me.

I gripped my phone so hard my knuckles turned white.

His deep voice drifted over, filled with a tenderness he rarely showed me.

"Chloe, how many times have you asked for a pet? You lose interest in three minutes. I'm not cleaning up your mess."

"Besides, we're in the office together every day. Isn't my company enough for you?"

Chloe blushed, trying to pull her hand away, but Ethan grabbed it back and held it tighter.

"Alright, alright. I promise we can get one."

The woman was his assistant, Chloe Miller.

I leaned against the pillar, feeling all the strength drain from my body.

My heart felt like it was being violently squeezed. It hurt so much I couldn't breathe.

Ethan had always hated pets.

I had once asked him if we could get a puppy.

He had smiled gently, kissing my forehead.

"Rhi, having you is enough for me. Where would I get the energy to care for a pet? Besides, I'm allergic."

It turned out he wasn't allergic at all. He just didn't want to raise one with me.

He had plenty of energy for someone else.

"By the way, Ethan, I think your wife went out today," Chloe murmured.

Ethan frowned.

"Did she not submit a request to you?"

Chloe shook her head.

"That won't do," Ethan said coldly. "Mark it as an unexcused absence. She needs to learn her lesson."

Listening to them, my tears finally spilled over.

I ended up letting out a bitter, silent laugh.

So, the lightning-fast replies I used to get were actually sent by Chloe.

He had completely handed his phone over to her.

Even Chloe knew all about our ridiculous "household rules."

My phone screen remained dark.

Ethan’s reply never came.