Chapter 3

3.

The next morning, I woke up early to prepare for the monthly executive meeting.

Miraculously, Beckett was standing in the kitchen cooking breakfast.

I was momentarily dazed.

I only knew he could cook because of Jasmine's social media posts.

Young girls loved documenting their lives.

She posted every little thing Beckett did for her online.

Whenever they worked late, he cooked her favorite spicy noodles.

Whenever it rained, he personally drove her to and from work.

On holidays and birthdays, he meticulously selected gifts she adored.

Just like this trending star incident, it was merely because Jasmine whined that she wanted a star of her own.

And he generously gave it to her.

That night, I had masochistically scrolled through her entire feed, reading their story from the day they met, witnessing his endless favoritism over and over again.

"Elena, come eat breakfast. I made your favorite oatmeal," Beckett said, taking my hand and pulling me toward the table.

I picked up the spoon, took a single bite, and set it down.

Beckett looked at me in confusion when I stopped eating.

Looking at the bowl of savory oatmeal, I said softly:

"I only eat my oatmeal sweet."

Someone once told me that sweet treats trigger dopamine release.

Ever since my dark days, I had developed an insatiable sweet tooth.

Beckett froze for a few seconds before scrambling to recover.

"There are fried eggs in the kitchen. Let me grab them for you."

I shook my head quietly. "No need. I am in a hurry."

Jasmine had posted yesterday:

"Yay! Beckett promised to bring me breakfast tomorrow. I want sunny-side-up eggs and savory meat oatmeal!"

Beckett caught my arm as I turned toward the door, his brow furrowed tightly.

"Are you mad at me because I could not make dinner yesterday?"

"An emergency came up at the observatory. I already apologized."

"Our project is wrapping up. As the lead researcher, I cannot abandon my duties for personal romance."

"You have supported my career for all these years. Why are you throwing a tantrum all of a sudden?"

He was right; this was how we had lived for years.

Because I loved him, I tolerated everything.

Even when he forgot my birthday or our anniversary, or stayed away from home for days, I never complained.

I knew his research was his lifelong dream.

Until one day, after finishing a project milestone, he came to my office to wait for me.

His phone buzzed incessantly.

A man who always claimed texting was tedious was typing away with a giddy, radiant grin on his face.

That was the first time I heard Jasmine's name from his lips.

A clumsy, needy little intern.

That was also when I realized he did not hate texting.

I was simply not the person he wanted to waste his time on.

I pulled my hand out of his grip.

Looking at him with empty eyes, I said, "I am tired after all these years."

"Let us get a div―"

Before I could finish, his phone rang loudly.

It was his custom ringtone for her.

Without even checking the caller ID, he answered:

"Hello? What is wrong?"

Beckett probably did not realize how soft his voice instantly became.

Jasmine's playful, whiny voice echoed from the speaker:

"Beckett, I am starving!"

"When are you getting here? If I starve, you will have to take care of me forever!"

Beckett chuckled affectionately.

"Did not you eat a massive pile of crawfish last night? How are you hungry already?"

"Alright, I am heading over right now."

I let out a cold, bitter smirk.

As if sensing something, the girl on the other end piped up: "By the way, bring your wife along for lunch sometime."

"I stole her star on your anniversary and dragged you out for late-night snacks. I owe her a lavish meal to thank her properly!"