Chapter 2

2.

“Fine. Good to know,” I replied coldly.

“Glad you finally understand,” Natalie huffed.

“Stop making a scene out of nothing. If I wanted to cheat on you, I would’ve done it years ago!”

“Now get out of here.”

The moment she turned back to Landon, her sharp tone instantly melted into pure tenderness.

“Landon, go back inside, it’s cold out here.”

“We’ll finish our roleplay scene in a minute.”

Natalie had always had a fiery, volatile temper with me.

I used to convince myself that was just her personality.

Only now did I realize that she was capable of being gentle―just not with me.

Watching her smile sweetly as she held Landon’s hand, a sharp pain tore through my chest.

I turned on my heel and walked away.

She yelled after me, ordering me to pick up her favorite iced boba tea on my way back.

I didn't answer.

My heart had turned to ice.

The second I walked through our front door, my phone rang.

Natalie’s shrill voice blasted through the speaker.

“Where’s the tea I asked for?”

“Sean, what’s with your attitude lately?”

“I was just enjoying my hobby!”

I knew she loved cosplay.

She posted photos from shoots on Instagram every single day.

I wasn't blind to the scene.

“Natalie, don’t use cosplay as a shield,” I said evenly.

“You crossed the line. You cheated.”

“I’ll give you one last chance. Come home right now and cut all ties with Landon, and I’ll pretend today never happened.”

I knew she was reckless and loved attention.

Part of me wanted to believe this was just a stupid game to her.

Besides, our daughter was only a few months old, and I didn't want her growing up in a broken home.

“Sean, do you have shit for brains?” she screamed into the phone.

“You’re an impossible old relic! You don’t understand art, and you just project your insecure crap onto me!”

“Your art involves kissing another man on the lips?”

“Don’t take me for a fool, Natalie.”

My voice finally began to tremble.

I had loved this woman for a decade.

Today was supposed to be our tenth anniversary.

We had weathered so many storms together, yet here she was, treating our vows like trash.

“Fine! Don’t believe me then!” she spat.

“I’m bringing Maya over to explain it to your thick skull!”

She hung up abruptly.

Maya was her best friend, another hardcore cosplayer who shared her exact mindset.