Chapter 2

2.

I took off my soaked coat and sat by the entryway to change my shoes.

Seeing that I didn’t reply, Yvonne finally bothered to get up.

She walked over and looked down at me with disdain.

“Where the hell did you go? You’re dripping wet and filthy! Get your ass into the shower right now and don't ruin my new cashmere rug!”

I looked up at her, really studying her expression for the first time.

Her eyes held nothing but disgust and condescension.

There was not a single shred of love.

Such an obvious truth, yet I had somehow been blind to it for three whole years.

I had genuinely believed she loved me as deeply as I loved her.

In the end, it was nothing more than my own foolish delusion.

Maybe I had noticed the warning signs long ago.

I was just so hopelessly in love that I willingly ignored every red flag.

But now, I refused to lie to myself any longer.

I braced myself against the doorframe and stood up. “Got it.”

With that, I turned and headed toward the downstairs bathroom.

Perhaps my indifferent attitude caught her off guard, because Yvonne suddenly exploded.

She ripped off her face mask, hurled it at my chest, and yanked my collar.

“What kind of attitude is that, Gabe?”

“If it weren’t for marrying you, do you think I’d waste an entire evening exhausting myself trying on dresses? You, on the other hand, went out fooling around! Did you simmer my gourmet broth? Did you order the imported wagyu ribeye I wanted for tomorrow?”

Looking at her arrogant, entitled face, a bitter chill washed over me.

Over the past three years, I had put her on a pedestal.

I never raised my voice at her.

I never questioned any of her demands.

I complied with everything and fulfilled every single whim.

My friends used to tell me I was too whipped, that I had lost all my self-respect.

Back then, I defended her, saying Yvonne was worth it and that she loved me to death.

I even mocked them for being chronically single and clueless about real love.

Looking back, I was the biggest clown in the room.

“I’m tired. If you want gourmet broth, make it yourself.”

I brushed her hand off my collar and dragged my heavy feet toward the bathroom.

Having soaked in the rain for so long, my entire body ached with a feverish weakness.

Yvonne had no intention of letting it go.

Furious, she chased after me and shoved my shoulder hard.

“Gabe, you’ve got some nerve! You dare push me? If you don't want to get married, we can call the whole damn wedding off!”

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, the custom ringtone she assigned exclusively to Zack went off.

She instantly let go of me, her voice turning into a sugary, sweet purr.

“Hey, Zacky…”

Noticing my gaze on her, she quickly covered the mic with her hand.

She glared at me coldly. “What are you staring at? Get lost!”

Rolling her eyes, she hurried up to the master bedroom on the second floor and slammed the door shut.

I knew that was her usual tantrum.

And I knew that only Zack held the cure to soothe her temper.

The old me would have groveled to make amends, but I was finally awake.

I soaked in the warm tub for a long time, yet my body kept shivering from the fever.

Just as I was drifting into an exhausted sleep, Yvonne suddenly kicked the bathroom door open.

She raised her hand and slapped me across the face, her expression venomous.

“Gabe, if you want to die, go jump off a bridge! Don’t die in my house and ruin my property value!”

Her house?

I had paid for this penthouse in full with my own money, and she had the audacity to call it her house.

I grabbed a towel to cover myself and sneered.

“Don’t worry, I won't die. I wouldn’t dare drag down your property value.”

My sharp sarcasm startled her.

She furrowed her brows, looking defensive. “What are you covering up for? As if there’s any part of you I haven’t seen.”

Because of the steam and splashing water, her silk nightgown clung tightly to her chest.

The fresh hickeys blooming on her collarbone were painfully obvious.

I glanced at them and met her eyes. “Are you sure you want to pick a fight with me looking like that?”

Yvonne looked down at herself, then quickly crossed her arms in panic.

Her eyes darted around nervously. “The bridal fabric was just too stiff. It chafed my skin red, that’s all.”

I let out a cold smirk. “Whatever you say.”