Chapter 2

By the time she returned, it was already the morning of the eighth day since her mother passed away.

Sydney pushed the door open and casually kicked off her high heels.

"Chase, go make me a bowl of oatmeal."

I leaned back on the sofa, staring at the TV. I remained completely unmoved, as if I hadn't heard a thing.

Normally, when Sydney came home, I would have delicious food ready. I would even run a hot bath to help her relieve her fatigue.

But right now, I just wasn't in the mood.

Sydney was always nitpicking. She'd say I didn't understand romance or living a good life like Declan did, calling me a block of wood.

Since that was the case, why should I keep kissing up to someone who treated me like dirt?

Nobody wants to do a thankless job.

Seeing that I didn't move, Sydney knitted her beautiful brows.

"Why are you acting like this now? You won't even say a single word. Whatever, marrying you was truly the biggest mistake of my life."

She dug out a stale bagel from the fridge and sat down to gnaw on it. When she couldn't stomach the rest, she ended up making instant ramen for herself.

"Your mom passed away, and I feel terrible about it too. It is really not appropriate for us to be fighting at a time like this."

Not appropriate?

It was actually the perfect time.

I wanted to laugh, but the sound wouldn't come out.

Thinking of my mother-in-law, who treated me like her own biological son, left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Even on her deathbed, she was still worrying about this daughter who was out drinking and partying in Cabo.

She didn't even get to see her for the last time.

"What exactly do you mean by 'a time like this'? And what makes it so inappropriate?"

Sydney froze when she heard my words.

"Isn't today the one-week anniversary of your mom's passing? I will go lay flowers at her grave with you later."

That one-week anniversary had already passed.

There were some things I just didn't know how to begin saying.

Should I curse at her?

I was just too tired and drained.

Ever since Sydney gave up on this relationship, none of this held any meaning anymore.

"Forget it. There's no need."

Sydney's delicate brows furrowed together.

"What do you mean there's no need? Chase, I know you're angry, but... whatever, let's just eat first."

"By the way, I brought you that watch you've been wanting. See if you like it."

I let out a scoff. Without even glancing at the beautifully wrapped box she slid over, I swept it right into the trash can.

I had seen this exact brand of watch on Declan's social media just yesterday. It was just a secondhand hand-me-down that he didn't want.

I had no use for her delayed guilt.

And I had even less use for secondhand trash.

Rather than calling these discarded items a compensation for me, it was more like Sydney was just trying to ease her own guilty conscience.

But none of these apologies or regrets mattered anymore. I even thought, with a sick sense of amusement, how priceless her expression would be when she learned the truth.

Sydney rubbed her temples and put down her chopsticks.

"Chase, you're forty years old. Are you really going to hold a grudge against a young kid over things like this?"

"I've told you already, he's just like a little brother to me. We strictly have a working relationship. Can't you just act your age?"

"How can you be less mature than a kid? Can't you just be sensible and save me a headache?"

I smiled and replied with utter calmness.

"Yeah, that is why I am setting you free."

"Let's end this."

She was already so well-versed in using these high-sounding excuses, and I couldn't even be bothered to expose her.

Who goes on a business trip bringing only one male assistant and books only one couples' suite?

And who refuses to come home every single day, just to mess around with their male assistant under the guise of work?

To make matters worse, she didn't even attend her own mother's funeral. She was out living it up abroad while I, her son-in-law, handled every single detail of the burial.

My silence seemed to enrage Sydney.

"You are always like this every single day! I can't even beat a word out of you!"

"Don't you feel like a complete loser?"

"I am out there constantly socializing and working hard to provide you with a good life. Yet you still throw tantrums and cause drama. Don't you know how much pressure I am under?"

Yeah, she was so busy entertaining her childhood sweetheart. The pressure must be astronomical.

I suddenly felt the room closing in on me, suffocating me to the point where I couldn't breathe. I stood up.

"I am going out for a walk. I will see you at the courthouse."

Sydney completely exploded.

"Chase, don't you dare!"

"If you leave me and walk out of this house, you will be absolutely nothing!"

"Are you planning to go find some sugar mama? You are already forty, do you really think you still have it?"

I walked to the door and paused my steps.

"Sydney, I really hope you won't regret this."

With those words, I pushed the door open and left.

In the past, I always chose to endure it, unwilling to let this family fall apart.

But that didn't mean Sydney was the only one who could come and go in this house as she pleased.