Chapter 3

3.

"Serena, I finally finished up. I'll be home soon. Do you want me to bring you a late-night snack?"

"I remember you love the garlic shrimp from that Spanish place. Should I bring some back for you?"

If I hadn't just seen the pictures on my phone, I might have actually been touched by his "thoughtfulness."

He always remembered my favorites. Or rather, what he thought were my favorites.

"No, thanks. I don't feel like that anymore."

"How is that possible? You were just talking about it the other night. Don't worry about troubling me, you're my wife. I already had them make it. I'll be home soon!"

He hung up before I could refuse.

I stared at my phone screen, my heart a dead weight in my chest.

In the photo, a man wearing a wedding ring was cutting a cake. The cake clearly said "Finn & Cora."

The picture was attached to a taunting text message:

[He's so demanding, making me eat cake and high-calorie garlic shrimp this late at night. I'm going to get fat. Guess I'll have to punish him by making him do a full night of cardio with me~]

In the corner of the photo was a half-eaten plate of Spanish garlic shrimp.

A wave of intense anger washed over me. I was his legal wife, the asset he paraded around in his social circle.

But Finn had split everything in two, even portioning out his time with precision. The most laughable part? Cora always came first.

I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood.

When Finn returned, my eyes were already red.

He walked in enthusiastically, setting down the takeout bag and taking my hand, then frowning. "Serena, your hands are so cold. You should turn up the heat, even when I'm not home. Let me make you some hot tea to warm you up."

He rambled on, closing the window and heading toward the open-plan kitchen.

A few moments later, the doorbell rang.

Standing outside was his assistant, Cora, holding a box of tea bags and handing them to Finn.

She wore a coat that looked casual but was meticulously chosen. Her gaze went past Finn, landing on me with a smile.

"I'm so envious of Serena for having such a considerate husband. I wonder if I'll ever be lucky enough to marry someone who dotes on me like that."

Every word was a thinly veiled jab.

I instinctively looked up, sizing this woman up. I’d heard her name in rumors, but this was our first face-to-face encounter.

She was pretty, a classic sweetheart type, with golden wavy hair cascading over her shoulders.

"Since you're here, why don't you come in for a cup of tea?" I offered flatly.

Cora readily agreed, making herself comfortable in the armchair across from me.

When Finn came over with the hot tea, he first touched my forehead, then gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

Cora's eyes flickered, her tone probing. "You're so lucky. Finn is so good to you."

Before I could respond, Finn had opened the takeout container, peeled a shrimp, and handed it to Cora.

"Eat your food and talk less."

There wasn't a hint of a boss's sternness in his voice. It was full of affection.

Cora took the shrimp, chewing as she feigned surprise. "This is it! My absolute favorite!"

I watched Cora with a cold stare. A moment later, it dawned on Finn what he had done.

He instinctively shifted his body to block my view and peeled another shrimp, placing it on my plate. His voice was a bit stiff. "Serena, you have some too, while it's hot."

I picked up the shrimp and took a bite. The overpowering garlic flavor instantly filled my mouth, and my stomach churned. I quickly spit it out into a napkin.