Chapter 3

3

Ever since I married Valerie, I catered to her in every way, adapting my diet entirely to her tastes.

She loved blazing hot spices, while I preferred light, mild foods.

For her sake, I tolerated it.

Yet my tolerance only made her take my sacrifices for granted.

The last time my stomach flared up, Valerie dragged me to an ultra-spicy restaurant anyway.

When I was hospitalized that night, she mocked me for being fragile, claiming Chase had an iron stomach and that her high spice tolerance was built from growing up eating with him.

I had been foolish enough to believe I could replace her childhood friend in her heart.

If a woman truly loved you, would she compare you to another man while you lay in a hospital bed?

"Stomach issues, Luke? My bad, man!" Chase chimed in with fake remorse. "I just love spicy food, and Val always accommodates me."

Hearing the barb hidden in his words, I simply smiled.

"Yeah. She clearly cares about you a lot."

Valerie's face instantly darkened, and she slammed her fork onto the table.

Angry? I was stating the truth. What right did she have to be upset?

My plain soup arrived, and I ate quietly.

Unexpectedly, Valerie stood up and moved over to sit next to me in the booth.

That left Chase sitting alone across from us, grinding his teeth as he glared at me.

Neither of them spoke another word, and the rest of the meal passed in dead silence.

The second I finished, I stood up to leave, but Valerie caught my wrist. "We agreed to talk."

"Val, my parents just texted saying they miss you and want me to bring you over. Are you free tonight?" Chase interrupted, casually resting his hand on her shoulder.

Surprisingly, Valerie pulled away, leaving his hand hanging awkwardly in mid-air.

She ignored Chase and kept her eyes fixed on me.

I asked flatly, "Did you read the news link I sent you yesterday?"

She froze, hurriedly pulling out her phone to check our chat.

As the color drained from her face, I spoke slowly.

"Valerie, yesterday while my plane was falling from the sky and I worried about your heartbreak, where were you? If I had died, how many days would it have taken for you to notice?"

Leaving her standing there in stunned shock, I hailed a cab and went to my parents' place.

After careful thought, I told my parents everything about my decision to divorce and the years of emotional neglect I had suffered.

My honesty was met with immediate understanding and love.

All they ever wanted was for me to be happy.

For the next few days, I stayed at my parents' house.

I had neglected them for so long just to center my entire world around Valerie.

Facing death had finally made me see clearly: if affection isn't mutual and unconditional, it isn't worth keeping.

During those days, Valerie showed up at my parents' doorstep right after work every evening.

She brought expensive health supplements, fussed over my parents, and asked my mom to teach her how to cook my favorite mild dishes.

These were domestic chores she used to look down on, claiming they compromised her status as an independent career woman.

She even bought me gifts―a designer tie and luxury cologne.

I barely glanced at the boxes.

"Don't you like them?" Valerie asked cautiously.

It was the first time she had ever spoken to me in such a timid, humble tone.

I looked at her with amusement.

"Have you ever seen me wear a tie like this? And the cologne is far too strong for my taste."

Seeing her face stiffen, I pointed out bluntly, "Chase recommended these, didn't he? Sorry, but I don't like sharing another man's taste."

If this were the past, receiving any gift from her would have made me ecstatic.

Valerie bit her lip before snapping, sweeping the gifts off the table in a sudden burst of rage.

"Do you really have to be so sarcastic? Hiking with Chase was planned weeks in advance, and I couldn't control a mechanical failure on your plane! Besides, you're standing right here completely fine, aren't you?"