Chapter 3

3

I have no idea how I managed to drive myself home.

By the time I walked into the living room, it was past midnight.

The sunflower pillow on the sofa was smiling at me as usual; it was Zach's favorite.

He always said that seeing that sunflower made his mood better whenever he got home.

But why couldn't I feel any of that joy now?

The flowers on the coffee table were the ones I had bought for him yesterday because it was Valentine's Day.

Normally, those flowers would last a week, but today they had all suddenly wilted.

It felt like an omen for our marriage―everything seemed fine on the surface, but it had reached its end.

I walked through the house like a ghost and slumped onto the sofa.

The sharp pain in my chest made me curl my body into a ball instinctively.

In my dazed state, I actually fell asleep.

All night long, I had countless nightmares, and every single one ended the same way.

It wasn't until the next morning that the sunlight woke me up.

Only then did I realize that Zach hadn't come home all night.

I let out a self-deprecating smirk. How ironic.

The model couple that everyone thought was so deeply in love had spent Valentine's night apart.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Zach walked in, his clothes a mess, moving quietly as if trying not to wake me.

The moment he saw me sitting on the sofa, his face went pale with panic. He forced a smile.

"Babe, why are you sleeping on the couch?"

I stared at him quietly, not saying a word.

Zach walked over slowly. He didn't seem to notice the hickey on his neck from last night's session.

He tried to act natural as he sat beside me, putting a playful arm around my neck.

"Sweetie~"

"Me and the guys went out last night. We went a bit too hard and ended up crashing at a friend's place."

"I sent you a text, didn't you see it?"

My voice was hoarse.

"I didn't see it."

"No wonder," Zach laughed and kissed my cheek. "My lovely baby, are you mad because I didn't spend Valentine's with you?"

"Alright, alright. I'll spend the whole day with you today, okay?"

Suddenly, his sweet, coaxing voice merged with the vulgar sounds I heard in the hotel.

A wave of nausea hit me. I shoved his hand away and almost threw up.

Zach looked shocked, staring at me blankly. "Babe... what's wrong?"

I turned my head to look out the window, unable to look at his face.

"I just remembered I have a research project at school. I have to go."

With that, I bolted out the door as if a monster was chasing me.

I ran into the stairwell and slid down the wall, burying my face in my arms. I cried hysterically, trying to keep it muffled.

Zach, I hate you so much.

Why did you have to destroy our home? Why did you destroy the love we built over ten years?

But Zach, I hate myself even more.

Because even now, I can't stop loving you...