Chapter 2

2.

I managed to land one punch before he kicked me squarely in the stomach.

The sharp pain dropped me to my knees, knocking the breath out of my lungs.

Seeing that I was actually fighting back, Yvette let go of Zachary.

Zachary grew even bolder, raining heavy fists down on my face and ribs.

I desperately tried to guard my head and strike back, but Yvette pinned my arms to the floor.

“You dare hit him?! Heath, are you out of your mind?!”

I originally had the strength to fight back.

Yet the moment I saw Yvette pinning me down to help him, all my strength drained away.

I stared blankly into her cold eyes.

She was actually teaming up with her lover to beat her own husband.

Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth, and an absurd laugh escaped my lips.

“You think you’re tough? You broke parasite! Since you can’t afford her, I’ll take care of her for you.”

Zachary spat on my face, then pulled Yvette back into the bedroom.

The moment the bedroom door slammed shut, muffled moans and giggles echoed out again.

I covered my ears in agony, the physical pain leaving me unable to stand.

I lay battered on the living room floor, staring at the ruined birthday cake beside me.

Inside the center of the cake was a small gift box containing a diamond necklace.

To buy that necklace, I had taken an advance on my entire next month’s salary from the team manager.

I dragged my bruised body inch by inch across the floor toward the cake.

Ignoring the sticky frosting, I fished out the box and gripped the necklace tightly in my fist.

As I dragged myself out the front door, covered in bruises, Yvette never once looked back.

When I returned to the esports team house in such a wrecked state, my teammates stared at me with concern, hesitant to speak.

I had no energy to explain anything and locked myself straight in my room.

I sat quietly by the window, holding our framed wedding photo in my hands.

In the picture, Yvette and I were smiling so brightly.

I had lifted her high into the air, her pristine white wedding gown cascading over my shoulders.

Yvette and I had known each other since high school.

She had been my desk mate back then, and we bonded over an ice-cold bottle of soda on a hot afternoon.

When I failed my college entrance exam and felt utterly lost, Yvette was the one who climbed onto my porch to comfort me.

She was the one who encouraged me to chase my pro-gaming dreams without caring what society thought.

The moment my fingers brushed against hers back then, both of our faces had flushed red.

Naturally, we ended up together. I chased my pro-gaming dreams while she built her career in venture capital.

Whenever she worked late, I would warm up dinner and prepare a hot cup of mulled wine for her.

During heavy rainstorms, I would rather get soaked myself just to wait outside her office building with an umbrella.

Yvette didn't like cats or dogs, so we never kept pets at home.

She loved cilantro, and even though the smell made my stomach turn, I forced myself to eat it with her.

I indulged all her little quirks without conditions simply because I loved her.

Yet even now, my phone remained completely silent. Not a single call, not even a text from her.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh. In her eyes, I was completely worthless.

Perhaps I was simply the worst investment Yvette had ever made in her life.