Chapter 3

Until the day I was discharged, Chloe never contacted me once.

She was consistent as always. If I didn't make the first move, she could go forever without sparing me a single thought.

In this marriage, I was the only one ever trying.

Meanwhile, she was risking everything for another man, even taking a leave of absence from her beloved career just to take care of him.

Dr. Evans looked at me with confusion. "Wait, you didn't know? Dr. Miller said her mother fell ill, so she took a leave of absence to take care of her."

He sighed and patted my shoulder sympathetically. "As her husband, you should be understanding. Be supportive."

I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. Using her deceased mother as an excuse just to play nurse for Julian... what a grand, beautiful love story.

When we got married, I asked her to take a few days off for a honeymoon, but Chloe had rejected me righteously:

"Ethan, my patients need me. I can't just abandon them for personal pleasure."

Back then, I actually felt guilty for being so selfish.

In Chloe's world, Julian was the only one who could surpass her job and take first place. I was nothing but a permanent backup.

I walked back into our home with the divorce papers in hand, only to find Chloe already there.

She ran to the foyer, a bright smile on her face.

She was wearing an apron, holding a spatula.

Seeing my pampered wife, who had never cooked a meal in her life, standing in the kitchen for me, my hardened heart softened instantly.

The delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen warmed my soul. She actually remembered the day I was being discharged.

I tightened my grip on my suitcase, suddenly feeling relieved that I hadn't taken the divorce papers out of my bag yet.

Otherwise, she’d cry and make a scene.

I was lost in my own guilt, completely failing to notice that Chloe's smile had frozen.

"Chloe, I bought the soy sauce. It's pouring out there, I got completely soaked!"

A sudden crack of thunder shook me out of my thoughts.

I turned around slowly, my body freezing as I saw Julian walking in, wearing my clothes and looking perfectly at home.

The heart that had just warmed up plunged straight into a deep, icy abyss.

Julian blinked in surprise when he saw me at the door, but he quickly recovered, flashing a friendly grin as he patted my shoulder.

"Oh, you're back? Perfect timing. We're making dinner. Let's celebrate your discharge together."

He sounded so casual and self-assured, as if he were the master of this house.

I turned my gaze to Chloe. She stood there awkwardly, nervously shifting the spatula from one hand to another.

"Today is Julian's birthday, and he's all alone. Since you just got discharged today too, we can celebrate both. Two birds with one stone, right?"

The smell of burning food began to fill the air.

Chloe and Julian rushed back into the kitchen in perfect harmony.

On one side of the dining table sat two neatly set plates and forks.

An awkwardly shaped cake sat prominently in the center—handmade by Chloe herself.

In our four years together, she had never once put this much effort into celebrating my birthday.

Two birds with one stone... Ha.

My grip on my suitcase tightened as a bitter laugh escaped my lips.

They probably wished I had died in that hospital bed so they could have their happy ending without interruption.

Julian set a third plate directly opposite them, looking up at me with a mocking smile.

"Come sit down. Don't be shy. The soup is almost ready."

I threw my suitcase aside, stepped forward, and slammed my fist right into Julian's face.

Hearing the crash, Chloe immediately rushed out and threw herself between us.

"What are you doing?! Julian is struggling with clinical depression! How could you trigger him like this?"

Staring at Chloe standing defensively in front of him, my chest throbbed with a suffocating pain.

For another man, she was treating me like a monster.

"This is our home! You brought another man into my house to play house, and you think you're in the right?"