Chapter 3

3.

After Yvonne changed and came downstairs, she saw me holding a box of cold medicine.

Surprisingly, she poured a glass of warm water and handed it to me.

I stared down at the clear glass, a faint ripple stirring in my heart.

In our three years together, I was always the one taking care of her.

She had never done a single thing for me, not even pouring a glass of water.

This was the first time.

And it would be the last.

I tilted my head back, swallowed the pills, and put the glass down to head for bed.

Yvonne followed right behind me, matching my steps.

I was no longer foolish enough to believe she did this out of care.

I stopped on the stairs and asked, “Is there anything else?”

Yvonne was fidgeting with her nails, but when I spoke, she instantly beamed with a bright smile.

“It’s nothing major. It’s just that my childhood friend just got back from overseas. Since we haven’t seen each other in years, I thought I’d take him on a road trip around Chicago.”

That so-called childhood friend was Zack.

Her first love.

She had always been bossy and never reported her schedule to me.

For her to act so accommodating today meant something bigger was going on.

But I didn't care to dig any deeper.

“Go ahead.”

I turned to walk up, but Yvonne stepped in front of me, complaining, “I’m not done yet! Taking Zack around will definitely mess up our schedule for the pre-wedding photoshoot. Why don't we just skip the photos entirely?”

I agreed without hesitation. “Sure.”

“Zack wants to hit quite a few scenic spots, so it might take a while. We’ll be back the day before the wedding.”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Don't worry, a few other friends are coming along too.”

I took a deep look at her and smiled calmly. “Okay.”

Honestly, none of it mattered anymore.

She didn't need to explain anything, because I no longer cared.

Yvonne was stunned by how easily I agreed, and in her excitement, she threw her arms around my neck and jumped onto me.

Frowning, I reflexively caught her.

She looped her arms around my neck and leaned in for a kiss.

I turned my head away, and her soft lips landed squarely on my cheek.

The vivid image of her making out with Zack flashed in my mind, making me sick to my stomach.

Yvonne’s smile vanished instantly into rage.

She scrambled down, assuming I was backing out, and glared at me with blazing eyes.

“What is your problem, Gabe? Didn't you just agree to everything?”

I wiped my cheek and said flatly, “I have a cold. I don't want to pass it to you.”

Hearing that explanation, her hostility faded, replaced by satisfaction.

“Two more things.”

“Go on.”

“Zack will be staying at our place for a few days. You should move out for now. He likes peace and quiet, and I’m afraid you’ll disturb him. Also, the bridal shop said the tuxedo you were supposed to wear had a defect, so I took the liberty of switching it for another one.”

As she spoke, her gaze flickered, refusing to look me in the eye.

It was utterly ridiculous.

She knew damn well what happened to that tuxedo.

Yvonne clearly expected me to throw a fit, to interrogate her, or make a scene.

She never expected me to remain so calm.

When she looked up, I simply gave a decisive nod.

“I’ll move out tomorrow.”

Without another word, I walked into the guest bedroom, shut the door, and locked it.

It was the first time I had ever treated Yvonne with such cold indifference, and it drove her into a frenzy.

She pounded furiously on the door, screaming curses at the top of her lungs.

The insults that came out of her mouth were disgusting beyond belief.

It was truly an eye-opener.

When the hallway finally fell silent and I was about to sleep, my phone lit up with a text from her.

[Don't forget what you promised! Get the fuck out tomorrow morning!]

I replied with a simple “Got it” and turned off the phone.

A while back, Yvonne had banned me from sharing a bed with her on the excuse that she wasn’t feeling well, exiling me to the guest room.

I had been so devastated back then, begging her not to push me away.

I told her I would gladly sleep on the floor just to spend time in the same room.

I genuinely had no ulterior motives.

Yet she had sneered, calling me a pathetic animal controlled by his lower half, and threw my duvet straight into the bathtub.

And now, I didn't even have the right to sleep in the guest room.

If I had known it would end like this, I should have packed my bags and walked out the day she kicked me out of the master bedroom.

At least that would have saved me some dignity.