Chapter 2

The moment I unlocked the front door, the scent of burnt food hit my nose.

Brandon was clutching his stomach, running out of the kitchen the second he heard me.

"Serena, your soup is the only thing that works. I tried making it myself, but it's completely off."

He was fishing for me to step into the kitchen and take over.

I took a wide step around him and brushed past him coolly. "I'm exhausted. Order takeout."

Over our seven years of marriage, no matter how furious I got, I always worried about him.

He had a terrible stomach, and though I used to never step foot in a kitchen, I spent years mastering home-cooked recipes.

The only reason I did it was to get him to stay home with me a little longer.

He clearly never expected me to stop caring about his health. He grabbed a luxury skincare gift set off the dining table and cornered me by the television.

"You're always complaining about dull skin. Here, this is for you."

I raised my eyes, my expression utterly blank.

Brandon held the box out like he was bestowing an enormous favor on a peasant. "Go on, take it. This set costs more than your entire vanity."

I took the box. Then, right in front of him, I slid open the media drawer. The space where my painkillers belonged was still completely empty.

"Brandon, do you honestly have no idea what I actually need?"

Without another word, I dropped the luxury skincare set straight into the trash can.

Chloe had posted the exact same luxury brand on Ins earlier. Her set was designed for youthful hydration and plumping.

Mine was targeted strictly for deep wrinkles and severe anti-aging.

I knew I wasn't young and radiant anymore.

That didn't mean I was pathetic enough to throw away my remaining dignity.

"Enough, Serena! Fine, I admit it! I went over to Chloe's place last night, but I left the second I caught the bugs!"

His patience evaporated, and he barked the words right into my face. "You're a grown woman. Are you seriously going to pout and hold a grudge over something this ridiculous?"

"Brandon, I'm not angry. I've never been clearer in my entire life."

He didn't believe a word. He accused me of playing games, of using the silent treatment to manipulate him.

He sneered that I was so sick with jealousy over Chloe that I was acting like a bitter, menopausal shrew.

It wasn't the first time I had swallowed those vile insults.

In the past, hearing those words would reduce me to hysterical tears. I had been terrified of him looking down on me, terrified of him abandoning me. No matter how deep the cut went, I would swallow my pride and crawl back to apologize.

Right now, I only felt like laughing.

"If that's how you feel, let's just get a divorce. That way, you're free to pursue Chloe's youth and beauty."

I had planned to wait until the police closed the kidnapping case before bringing up the paperwork.

But I didn't have the stomach to wait another single second.

Brandon stood frozen for a long time before his brain caught up. "Serena, stop saying crazy things you don't mean."

His voice dropped into a coaxing whisper, and he stepped in to hug me.

I instinctively backed away. Right then, my phone rang.

It was the police detective on my case.

"Mrs. Serena Miller? We've successfully apprehended every suspect involved in your abduction. If you're up to it, could you come down to the station for a lineup?"

As I hung up, the tension on Brandon's face relaxed into a look of absolute, sneering disdain.

"Serena, don't you feel cheap doing this? If you actually went through with a divorce, maybe I'd have an ounce of respect for you."

"First you fake a kidnapping, now you threaten divorce. Do you honestly take me for an idiot who can't see right through your games?"

I gave him one flat look, turned around, and walked into the bedroom to change.

He sat back down on the sofa with a smirk.

He was utterly convinced that just like every other time, I would sit on the stairwell crying for an hour before meekly walking back through the door.

He had no idea.

This time, I was actually going to the police precinct.

"So, to clarify the timeline: the kidnappers initially targeted your husband. You noticed them lying in wait, rushed forward to warn him, but the suspects intercepted you and shoved you into their van instead?"

I nodded.

The officer's face darkened with righteous anger. "And your husband witnessed you being dragged into that van, but he assumed you were staging a scene and never bothered to dial 911?"

I nodded again.

I had been so unhinged in the past, pulling so many reckless stunts just to keep Brandon from walking away.

Never again.

Not ever again.

"You two started dating back during our sophomore year of college, right? I remember you guys being so in love..."

Julian asked the question carefully, keeping his eyes on my face to gauge my reaction.

I smiled, completely unbothered. "People change! Ask whatever you need for your story, Julian. Don't hold back."

Julian was an old college classmate of mine who went into investigative journalism after graduation. With my consent, he was writing an exposé on the kidnapping ring.

I was fine with it. The consulting fee from the publication would give me a solid financial cushion once the divorce was finalized.

"There are just a few small details left. For instance, when you ran over to warn Brandon, he was standing inside a pet boutique buying a kitten?"

Julian tapped his pen against the desk. "I clearly remember you being severely allergic to cat dander. There's no way Brandon didn't know that, right?"

He obviously wasn't buying that cat for me.

Still, a small question nagged at me. "He probably forgot about my allergy years ago. How do you still remember it so clearly?"

Julian gave a slightly sheepish smile and smoothly changed the subject.

By the time I walked back through my front door, it was already one in the morning.

Brandon sat on the living room sofa under the dim lights, his face dark as a storm cloud.

I kicked off my sneakers and headed straight for the hallway bathroom.

He cut me off, seething with anger. "Why are you getting home this late?"

"Things came up. I was busy."

The moment the words left my lips, silence descended upon the room.

In the past, I was the one who sat up waiting until dawn.

He was the one stumbling in late, tossing out lazy excuses.

"I'm sorry, Serena..." Brandon's gaze turned earnest, pleading. "From now on, whenever I'm running late, I promise I'll call and tell you exactly where I am, okay?"

He looked at me with absolute sincerity.

I had lived that exact agonizing routine for seven whole years. He had endured it for a single day, and he was already falling apart.

I opened my mouth to tell him not to bother, but the air caught in my throat.

Between his fingers, I noticed several fine strands of orange cat fur.

And five hours ago, Chloe had posted a picture of herself carrying a new orange tabby on Ins.

My heart seized with utter disgust. I shoved him away with all my strength.

This divorce couldn't wait another single day.