Chapter 2

Sarah froze, her face hardened.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"How would I know anything about you and your wife?"

But her eyes still shot me a warning glance.

"Right?" Jason chuckled, covering his mouth. "You don't have to be embarrassed. These days, marriage is just a piece of paper, nowhere near as practical as a limited edition watch, right?"

His words were clearly pointed, and everyone around us exchanged curious glances.

Once, I'd accidentally run into Jason at a store. To avoid revealing my identity, I'd lied, saying my wife gave me the watch. I hadn't expected him to remember.

I gave a small smile.

"Why would I be embarrassed if my wife bought me a watch?"

I asked Jason, "So concerned about my wife, are you trying to poach her?"

Jason's smile vanished instantly. He almost instinctively looked at Sarah, and my heart plummeted.

Did he know about Sarah and me?

That was even more sickening than him being clueless.

The room fell silent. His voice, when it came, was a fumbling mess.

"William, I didn't mean anything by it. I didn't know you were so sensitive about this topic... Don't be mad."

He suddenly grabbed Sarah's small drink, downed it in one go, then started coughing, tears streaming down his face as he collapsed into Sarah's arms.

Sarah's brow furrowed, and she turned to snap at me.

"Do you even realize how nasty you sound? Do you think it makes you look superior to maliciously slander someone?"

I stared at her, enunciating each word. "Who started the malicious slander first?"

"He was just curious!" Sarah's tone was icy. "Do you always have to be so aggressive?"

She shielded Jason in her arms, confronting me across the round table.

But *we* were supposed to be married.

Someone tried to smooth things over.

"William, don't mind Jason, he's young and speaks without thinking."

"Sarah's clearly on his side now, William. Just drop it."

"Don't fight, guys, it's not worth it. We know you're not like that."

Sarah's lips pressed into a thin line.

That was her tell, right before she exploded.

For a guy like that.

She used to stand in front of me, defending me when I was wronged. Now she was protecting Jason, who'd just slandered me.

Fatigue washed over me, a relentless tide threatening to drag me under.

I was truly fed up with this marriage.

I took one last, long look at Sarah, then turned and left the hotel, leaving Jason sniffling behind me.