Chapter 3

My throat felt like it had been scoured with sandpaper, every word tasting like blood.

He'd lied to me for so long.

At the very least, I wouldn’t let him die that easily.

Leaving the hospital, I wandered aimlessly down the street.

There was hurt in my heart, but even more, there was resentment.

We'd been together since our school days, from prom night to our wedding day.

Right after we graduated from college, he took my hand and we went to the courthouse to get married.

In that cramped, damp basement apartment, we spent several happy years.

Even when we had to rely on discounted food nearing its expiration date, I never complained, never felt it was a hardship.

Then, when he had his 'accident,' I used my slender shoulders to prop up the company we had built together.

For years, I'd been covering his parents' expenses and all our daily bills.

As a wife and a daughter-in-law, I'd done everything humanly possible, earning praise even from outsiders.

To treat Brandon's legs, I worked three part-time jobs a day, once even collapsing from exhaustion.

Looking back now, I was such a fool.

Sacrificing myself for a man full of lies—it wasn't worth it!

At ten that night, I returned to the dream home we’d prepared for our marriage.

A three-story, beautifully furnished house with a front and back garden.

I'd only helped with the decorating and buying furniture, but I'd never spent a single night there.

Most of the time, I'd slept in the hospital hallway or on my office sofa.

The moment I opened the door, I was stunned to find the interior completely redecorated.

The sleek, designer leather sofa was now buried under an assortment of plush toys and stuffed animals.

On the table, there was a new set of cartoon couple mugs, one pink, one blue—a sickeningly sweet, mismatched set.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to be patient as I walked into the bedroom.

Our wedding photos had been taken down and tossed haphazardly into a corner, covered in a thick layer of dust.

My clothes were all gone from the walk-in closet.

Even my treasured wedding gown, the one I loved most, had been cut into pieces and thrown into the trash.

My feet moved uncontrollably to the bed, gazing at the messy, wrinkled sheets.

I vaguely guessed what those two had been doing here not long ago.

Suppressing my disgust, I fished out a pair of women’s lace panties from between the sofa cushions.

No doubt, their activities hadn't been confined to just the bedroom.

Instantly, a surge of bitter bile rose in my stomach. I rushed to the bathroom, clutching the toilet bowl, and vomited for a long time.

It was only when my phone rang that I wiped away my tears and answered.

My usual butcher called, kindly reminding me.

"Ms. Vance, I saved you a prime cut of steak today. Perfect for your husband's grilled steak. When can you come by the market to pick it up?"

My voice was calm. "No need."

The butcher paused, sounding surprised. "That's not like you. You used to wait in the longest lines to get the freshest beef bones for him. What's wrong today? You don't want it, even when it's ready?"

A sharp pang went through me. "I won't be needing it anymore."

Soon after I hung up, I heard the front door downstairs open.

I held my breath, like a thief, and hid inside the empty closet.

As the sounds of intertwining moans and whispers grew closer, I peered through the crack and saw Brandon’s face.

And, the naked woman in his arms.