Chapter 3

The next morning, I saw his post. "You were with me on my eighteenth birthday, and you're with me on my twenty-eighth."

The picture was of her, kissing his cheek.

She had even commented: "And I'll be with you on your eighty-eighth."

Her social media was a shrine to him. But in all our years of marriage, she had never once let me post a picture of her.

She said she didn't like the gossip.

I used to fight with her about it. But now, I was just glad. Less to explain when I was finally free.

I liked his post and then went for my check-up.

When I got back, she was sitting by my bed, wearing a man's shirt, a wide smile on her face as she texted.

The moment she saw me, the smile vanished. "What's the meaning of this? Liking his post?"

"I even brought you breakfast, and you're just trying to piss me off."

After the nurse had left, I just said, "I was just 'liking' your beautiful friendship."

My sarcasm was not lost on her. "Mason, why are you being so passive-aggressive? What's wrong with me taking a picture with a friend? Or are you saying that now that we're married, I'm not allowed to have friends?"

"If that's the case, then let's just get a divorce."

The word "divorce"... a look of triumph, a look she couldn't even hide, flashed in her eyes.

It was her ultimate weapon, the one thing that always made me back down.

But this time, I felt nothing. In fact, it sounded like a great idea.

"Then let's..."

"Mason, I'm here to see you."

Before I could finish, he walked in, his face a mask of fake concern. "I'm so sorry about the bet. I didn't know you had such a strong reaction to beef. I would have stopped her."

She just sneered at me. "He's fine. He's tough."

"Not like you. If you had lost the bet, you would have had to eat that spicy beef. And I know you can't handle spice."

He shot me a look of pure, unadulterated triumph.

He was waiting for me to lose it, for me to start a fight so she could defend him.

But I just felt nothing.

Seeing my indifference, a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

Then, they started to reminisce about the night before.

But he wasn't going to let me off that easily. "Mason," he said, his voice a low, taunting drawl, "Sienna was a little drunk last night, so I took her home. Don't get the wrong idea."

"We just slept in the same bed. Nothing happened."

I just laughed. "I believe you. She's always said you're just friends."

Her temper, which had been building, was instantly deflated.

For the rest of their visit, they did everything they could to get a reaction out of me.

They flirted, they touched, they whispered.

I just ignored them.

Finally, she said she was going on a trip with him, to see the northern lights.

I just said, "Have a safe trip."

Before, I was in love with her. Every little thing she did had the power to destroy me.

But now... I no longer loved her. And she had no power over me.