Chapter 2

At first, Mia had sworn up and down that she was only going back to get revenge on Ryan.

But as her returns home became fewer and fewer, and she came back later and later, I started to sense something was wrong.

Then one day, a text about a hotel room came to my phone.

I called Mia. No answer.

So I kept calling.

When I finally got through, I heard soft, coquettish breathing. Mia hurriedly explained that she was out getting a foot massage, then immediately hung up. Afraid I might hear even one more second.

We were all adults. Of course I knew what they were doing.

But I still deceived myself and thought that was Mia’s way of getting revenge on Ryan.

All I needed was to wait. I believed Mia. I loved her. I understood her.

What I waited for was the growing distance between husband and wife.

It was the constant fights between us. It was her saying that back then, Ryan had been forced into it too, that he hadn’t meant to run off with the money. He had depression.

And the phrase that came up more and more often: we’re just friends.

...

Mia on the other end was clearly at a loss. I gave my final ultimatum:

“Mia, if you don’t come home tonight, then don’t ever come back!” Then I hung up.

I printed the divorce agreement on the home printer and scrolled through the few photos I had with Mia in my phone album.

Actually, she loved taking photos. Back when she was with Ryan, she couldn’t wait to post pictures of the two of them on her feed every day.

She just didn’t want to take pictures with me.

It was already 4:30 in the morning, and I still hadn’t seen Mia come back.

My stomach churned, and the unbearable pain forced me to rest.

When I woke up after dawn, Mia still wasn’t in the house.

Just as I was hesitating over whether to call her, the door opened.

Mia came in smiling, carrying a big bag of groceries. “Ethan, I bought lamb to help you recover.”

She rarely cooked at home, and the few times she did were only when I was really angry, and she reluctantly made a few dishes to coax me.

Even though I knew every apology Mia made was just lip service, I still chose to forgive her.

I thought that one day, she would come back.

But this time, I was suddenly tired.

I tiredly took the groceries from her hands, forced down the discomfort in my stomach, and smiled weakly. “Mia, did you forget? I’m allergic to lamb.”

There were so many other vegetables at the market, and yet she had chosen the lamb I was allergic to!

What reason did I have to believe she had really realized her mistake?

“Really?” Mia gave me an awkward smile. “Aren’t you just not feeling well? You have so many dietary restrictions, this can’t have, that can’t have. I just forgot for a moment...”

“We’ve been married three years. I went into the hospital once because lamb made me have trouble breathing, and once I was covered in a rash and had to rest for three days. Don’t you remember any of that?”

Mia shot me an impatient look.

“I have so many things to remember. How am I supposed to keep track of all that? Ethan, do you really have to nitpick over something this small?”

I didn’t want to keep arguing over something so pointless.

So I stayed silent.

My eyes fell on the other bag in Mia’s hand. It was also filled with groceries, a huge variety of them. She had packed it full as if worried he wouldn’t have enough to eat.

But what Mia said sent me plummeting into an ice cave, my body starting to shake.

Her eyes curved as she smiled.

“Ryan’s coming over in a bit. I was afraid he might not be used to the food here, so I thought I’d make him something myself.”

“He can’t eat a lot of things, and he likes spicy food. He doesn’t like it when there’s too much ginger and garlic...”

As she talked about it, Mia seemed to open a floodgate and had a lot more to say.

Every word was a knife, stabbing hard into my chest.

I couldn’t help yelling, “Enough! Is he your husband or am I your husband?”

“Bro, how can you yell at Mia like that?”

Suddenly, a tall figure stormed into the kitchen and shoved me hard toward the island. It was Ryan.

I clutched my waist where I had hit it, pain flickering there, and a wave of dizziness washed over me.

“This is our home. What does it mean for you to call him over like this, Mia!”

Hearing my accusing tone, Mia got angry too.

“I told you, we’re friends. What’s wrong with inviting a friend over? Besides, Ryan came here this time to apologize to you. Why are you being so aggressive?”

“Yeah, bro,” Ryan stepped closer and patted my shoulder. “It’s all because of me that you and Mia keep fighting.”

“If I weren’t all alone in this city, unfamiliar with everything, with barely any friends...”

As Ryan spoke, he lowered his head sadly.

Then I heard him continue:

“I should just leave here. It’s my fault for disturbing your lives. Mia is such a good person. She shouldn’t have to...”

He hadn’t finished when Mia wrapped her arms around him.

Right in front of me, she gently patted his back.

Mia shot me a glare. “It’s not your fault, Ryan.”

“It’s some people who are too petty. They’re worried about everything all day and checking up on people eight hundred times!”

Ryan shot me a smug look out of the corner of his eye. He took Mia’s hand. “Mia, I think bro is just worried about you too... Concern makes people lose their heads.”

I stepped back, using my right hand to brace myself against the island.

I forced myself not to show my weakness. The taste of blood, rusty and metallic, rose in my throat.

I looked at the two of them clinging together and closed my eyes. “Mia, let’s get divorced.”

“I’ve already printed the divorce agreement and put it on the table. Sign it later.”

Hearing that, Mia looked up at me in disbelief.

“Divorce? Ethan, are you crazy?”

“All because of this little thing, you want a divorce from me?”

Mia asked several questions in a row, and I met her gaze with complete certainty and nodded.

“Yes. Divorce.”

“Do it for you two.”

I turned and walked out of the kitchen, never looking back at that pair of scumbags. Behind me came Mia’s furious voice: “I told you, Ryan and I are just friends. What are you talking about!”

“Divorce? Ethan, you’ll regret this!”

Seeing that I didn’t react, Mia got even angrier. She chased after me and pointed at my nose, cursing,

“I’ve had enough of you! Don’t you have any friends of your own?”

“I told you, Ryan and I have nothing going on. You’re just jealous because he’s doing well! He has depression and no friends, and he has no one to rely on here, so I’m just looking after him. Why are you so petty?”