Chapter 2

2

Sienna didn't come home until after three in the morning.

She had a lingering smile on her face, completely failing to notice that a button was missing from her collar.

When she saw me sitting on the couch, she walked over slowly.

She reached out her hand and touched the back of my neck.

"I'm sorry. I didn't talk to you before changing the lead piece today, but I felt our photo didn't have enough visual impact. It would have ruined the flow of the show."

"When I find a better theme, I'll display the photo we took together. Is that okay with you?"

I looked up at her. She was still wearing those gloves.

She was deliberately keeping a certain distance from me.

"Ethan, today is our fourth wedding anniversary. Why don't you go take a shower, and then later..."

Hearing that, I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.

We had been together for so many years.

Kissing, hugging, and the things normal couples did―Sienna never initiated them.

If she ever brought it up, it was only as an apology for a mistake.

Or rather, it was like she was giving me a piece of charity.

I didn't say anything. I just grabbed the bottle of disinfectant on the table, which made her chuckle.

Sienna took off her gloves and playfully reached for my chin.

"It's okay. My OCD isn't as bad as it used to be. You don't have to be so careful anymore."

Just as her fingertips were about to touch me, I raised my arm and blocked her.

Sienna's eyes widened, clearly shocked by my reaction.

"Ethan, I told you I don't mind. There's no need to be so cautious, right?"

I shook my head slowly.

"No... I mind."

The moment I said that, Sienna's face twitched visibly.

It was as if she thought she had heard me wrong.

Soon, her trembling eyes regained their composure.

"The things I said at the exhibition were just to add some hype to the work. Do you really think my twenty years of OCD would just vanish because of Sterling?"

"Ethan, I thought you weren't so narrow-minded. Are you really giving me an attitude over a single photograph?"

I didn't respond. I just stood up and went to the guest room.

I locked the door behind me.

Sienna always complained about being a light sleeper. She said even me turning over in bed would wake her up.

To make sure she rested well, I had slept in this tiny, windowless room for four years.

Even now, she didn't realize it.

A heart doesn't turn cold all at once.