Chapter 5

Sophia has been giving me the cold shoulder for the past couple of days.

This is her usual tactic, playing the victim and waiting for me to apologize first.

In the past, I would always give in, but now I'm tired of it.

I remember last winter when I had a bad cold, feeling weak all over with a splitting headache.

I lay in bed, weakly calling her, hoping she could buy some cold medicine for me.

Her tone was cold on the phone, saying she had to work overtime and couldn't get away.

I had to drag myself to the hospital alone. While getting an IV, I was idly scrolling through social media when I saw her post, tagged at the most expensive restaurant in New York.

In the photo, she and Lucas were sitting face to face, both holding coffee cups, seemingly celebrating something, looking quite happy.

The caption read: "So glad to have you."

And a while ago, when Lucas just slightly sprained his ankle, she was anxious like an ant on a hot pan, dropping all her work to take care of him for a whole week.

Making tea, serving water, cooking chicken soup - I realized then that she's not incapable of caring for others.

She's just incapable of caring for me.

At that moment, I clearly understood that in her heart, I would never measure up to Lucas.

This time, I won't be the first to back down.

Sophia's cold war lasted a whole week.

On the weekend, as usual, Sophia's parents called us to come home for dinner.

The meal tasted like chewing wax.

Sophia had a sour face throughout and barely touched her chopsticks.

Her mother reproached her somewhat complainingly:

"Sophia, are you throwing a tantrum again? James gave up his job in New York to stay here for you, why are you always quarreling with him?"

I smiled bitterly. Yes, for her, I gave up that high-paying job at a big company in New York, gave up my dreams, to stay in this unfamiliar city, just to be closer to her.

Seemingly remembering something, her expression softened a bit.

The doorbell rang abruptly, breaking the suffocating silence.

Sophia's mother went to open the door excitedly:

"Oh, it's Lucas! Come in quickly! You knew Sophia was coming back today, so you came to see her, right?"

Lucas walked in smiling, greeting Sophia's parents familiarly, as if this was his home.

After sitting down, his gaze naturally fell on Sophia:

"Sophia, want to go watch a movie tonight? That new one you've been wanting to see."

Sophia glanced at me furtively, her eyes somewhat evasive. I didn't say anything.

So she said stiffly:

"No, we have plans tonight."

Lucas didn't seem surprised. He turned to look at me, feigning enthusiasm:

"James, why don't you come too? We're all friends, let's have some fun together."

I could clearly see the smugness and showing off in his eyes.

He didn't care at all whether I was there or not, he just wanted to display his "care" for Sophia in front of me.

Sophia's parents also joined in persuading:

"Go together, it's good for young people to hang out."

I looked at them all chiming in, as if I were the outsider in this family.

I stood up, grabbing my coat: "You all go ahead, I'm a bit tired, I'll head back first."

"Honey!" Sophia called out to me, her eyes flickering,

"Drive safely, I'll be home early."

Huh, another perfunctory line.

I smiled self-mockingly, turned and left, leaving them to continue their "family gathering".

Sophia didn't come home all night again.

I lay on the empty double bed, staring at the ceiling, laughing sardonically.

On our wedding anniversary, she also came back this late, carrying a branded handbag, reeking of strong perfume, saying she had been entertaining clients.

Huh, which client needs entertaining until 3 AM?