Chapter 2

"Why is it so loud in here?"

Carter was back.

He casually took off his scarf, revealing red marks on his neck that were even more prominent and shameless than Chloe's.

I felt a sudden tightness in my chest, forcing me to take deep, gasping breaths.

Chloe rushed to his side immediately, looking incredibly aggrieved.

"Carter, I think Sera misunderstood something."

"They're calling me a home-wrecker."

As soon as she finished speaking, tears began to stream down her face.

She looked up at Carter with red, tearful eyes, pouting as if she had suffered the ultimate injustice.

Carter gently wiped the tears from her face.

As he did, a very clear bite mark on his hand caught my eye.

My heart felt as though it were being violently ripped apart.

After comforting her, Carter turned his cold gaze on me.

His face darkened with intense annoyance. "Apologize to her," he commanded coldly.

I clenched my fists and shot back,

"I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?"

"Besides, what did I 'misunderstand'?"

"Did I misunderstand the hickeys on your necks, or that bite mark on your hand?"

Hearing this, Carter looked slightly guilty and quickly pulled up his collar.

"That's a separate issue. No matter what, you don't talk to her like that."

"Don't you know how much words like that can hurt someone?"

I let out a bitter, mocking laugh.

Words can hurt?

Did their actions not hurt me at all?

Why was I always the one who had to compromise?

Seeing that I remained silent, Carter lost his patience. He grabbed my arm in a tight, painful grip and snarled,

"Are you going to apologize or not?!"

I stared back at him, my eyes welling with tears.

"No!"

Seeing the tension, Chloe quickly stepped in and pulled his arm away, acting like an angel.

"Carter, let it go."

"I'm sure Sera didn't mean it. It's just that you haven't been home lately and you're always with me. It’s natural for her to overthink."

"Sera hasn't eaten yet. Let's sit down and eat together."

Only then did Carter let go of my arm. He sat down and sighed heavily.

"Chloe, you're always the reasonable one."

Chloe smiled and opened her takeout boxes, calling out to me,

"Sera, come and eat!"

I cast a brief glance at the dishes. Every single one of them contained ingredients I was severely allergic to.

I couldn't help but marvel at her dedication. She had actually managed to gather all my allergens in one meal.

Seeing me stand there without moving, Chloe urged,

"Sera, what's wrong?"

"Is the food not to your liking? Let me go heat up the dishes you made."

She started to stand up, but Carter grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down.

"Don't spoil her. She's lucky to have food at all."

"Why should you heat up her food? She's just being dramatic."

My heart felt completely dead. But those dishes on the stove... I had kept them warm, heating them up over and over again just for him.

He had probably forgotten who used to have such a sensitive stomach that he couldn't touch anything cold. Since then, I had always made sure a hot meal was waiting for him.

But even when the food had turned to mush from being reheated so many times, he never came home.

I forced myself to remain calm and said quietly,

"I'm not hungry. I'm going to bed."

Carter slammed his hand on the table, instantly standing up. He swept the dishes off the table, sending them crashing to the floor, and roared,

"I don't give a shit if you eat or not!"

"Starting today, I am never coming back here!"

With that, he grabbed Chloe's hand and stormed out.

The moment the heavy front door slammed shut, my tears finally poured down.

"Martha," I choked out.

Martha looked at me with deep concern.

"Miss Vance, please don't be too sad."

I wiped my tears away.

"Seven years, Martha. How could I not be sad?"

"But I regret it. I regret ever loving him."

The more I loved him, the more out of reach he became.

Perhaps I should have realized this a long time ago.