Chapter 2

2.

"Why are you drinking? The smell is disgusting," she said, wrinkling her nose in annoyance.

I looked at her coldly and didn't say a word.

She blinked, surprised by my silence, then said dismissively:

"The cast had a dinner tonight. I'm late. Sorry."

"But we've been married for so long. An anniversary isn't that big of a deal."

I gave a short, cold nod. "Right. It's not a big deal anymore."

Her tone softened, and she reached out to touch my hand, though she hadn't taken off her velvet gloves yet.

"I was wrong today. Let me make it up to you tonight, okay?"

I pulled my hand away in disgust. Every time she touched me, she used gloves or some other barrier.

Her obsession had supposedly improved over the last two years.

Yet, the few times we were intimate were always just "rewards" for when she did something wrong.

We were like roommates who were polite but distant.

Seeing my cold attitude, her patience snapped, and she flared up at me.

"Don't start acting out again."

"Go take a shower. I'll come to bed soon. Make sure to use plenty of disinfectant spray on yourself."

The words stung. I picked up the bottle of sanitizer.

Her expression softened. "Use a lot. I'm afraid of germs."

I pushed the bottle toward her instead. "I'm afraid of being dirty, too," I said coldly.

She froze, a look of impatience crossing her face.

"Caleb, can you stop being so dramatic? I only took that role because the script was good..."

"Is it really worth all this?"

"Yes, it is," I said firmly.

"Elena, what exactly am I to you?"

She knew the movie would hurt me, yet she hadn't even mentioned she was filming those scenes.

Her face changed, and her voice rose an octave.

"Caleb! Don't push it! That's my job. Jace and I are just coworkers!"

"What are you trying to say? Do you want a divorce?"

I had asked myself that question a thousand times.

But when the word finally came out of her mouth, I realized the answer had been there all along.

"Fine. Let's get a divorce."

I had never spoken harshly to her, let alone sprayed sanitizer at her.

She simply dropped a cold remark―"Calm yourself down"―and went to her room, slamming the door.