Chapter 2

Celeste and I dated for two years and have been married for five.

Before this incident, our relationship was good.

She worked while I handled house chores.

That was because her dad had cancer and needed someone to take care of him.

Celeste couldn't, so she forced me to quit my job.

I took care of her dad for two years, and when I returned to work, my position was taken.

Celeste said we didn't need kids yet and her earnings were enough.

So, she wanted me to continue managing the household.

She gave me $2,000 a month for groceries, which wasn't enough for rent and utilities.

I was embarrassed to keep asking, so I took on freelance design work.

Fortunately, my knowledge from back then helped, and I gradually became more financially stable, even saving $20,000.

I didn't feel I owed her anything.

But now, in Celeste's eyes, I'm just a man living off her.

Thinking back to her recent coldness, I felt something was off.

She must have reconnected with Finn, and I just noticed today.

I went downstairs, drove to the hotel, and punched Finn in the face when the door opened.

Finn and Celeste dated in college, but he dumped her for a rich girl.

He even badmouthed Celeste behind her back, calling her a desperate admirer.

Celeste was caught in a whirlwind of public opinion, almost getting depressed.

I helped her out of it, yet they conspired together again.

Finn lay on the ground, cursing at me, "Nolan, you really have the nerve to come here?"

"You, a man living off her, can't give Celeste happiness, and you dare hit me!"

I was furious, pummeling him and venting all my grievances.

Finn's defiance turned into low pleas for mercy.

Just as I was about to let him go, a sharp pain hit my head from behind.

Celeste smashed a vase over my head, without hesitation.

I collapsed amidst the vase shards.

Celeste didn't spare me a glance, helping Finn up with tears in her voice.

"Finn, are you okay? If you're hurt, my heart would break."

With the last bit of consciousness, I reached for my head, feeling blood on my hand.

My shoulder and arm were cut by the vase shards, and I let out a small cry of pain.

Celeste looked at me, her eyes full of malice and resentment.

She was barely dressed, just wrapped in a bathrobe, her rhythm disrupted by me.

"Nolan, let's divorce. I've wanted out for a while now. You brought this on yourself."

Finn, regaining his strength, kicked me, "If you hadn't interrupted, I'd be done by now. It's all your fault, damn it."

"You were acting tough earlier, weren't you? Come on, keep hitting."

On the verge of passing out, I struggled to pull out my phone to call for help.

Celeste thought I was calling the police and snatched it away.

"It's just a hit. Do you have to act like you're dying? Nolan, you're useless."

"I didn't even use much force, and you..."

She smashed my phone on the ground, shattering the screen.

My vision blurred, then I lost consciousness entirely.