Chapter 3

3.

The next morning, I opened my door to find Tatiana and Justin eating breakfast together.

Justin was wearing the designer shirt Tatiana had bought for me last year.

I had kept it tucked away like a treasure.

Seeing my eyes on the shirt, Tatiana explained casually, "Justin didn't have a change of clothes. I found that for him."

I didn't react. I just gave a lazy nod and went to brew some coffee.

"Kaelen, come join us," Justin said in a condescending tone.

I glanced at Tatiana. She didn't say a word.

Five years of marriage, and I needed another man's permission to sit at my own table with my wife.

What a pathetic joke.

I looked down at my coffee and spoke quietly.

"No thanks. I prefer eating alone."

Justin acted surprised. "Have you and Tati been eating separately this whole time?"

Tatiana put down her fork. "Kaelen, just sit down. My symptoms aren't that severe anymore. You don't have to be so walking on eggshells."

I shook my head. "I'm good. I mind it."

Tatiana's eyes widened. She clearly didn't expect a rejection.

She thought I'd be groveling with gratitude the moment she offered me a crumb of intimacy.

Her expression soon shifted back to normal.

"Are you upset about yesterday? That was just a story Justin and I agreed on to help the exhibition's PR. You didn't actually think I was cured, did you?"

"You know I've known Justin forever. That's why he can be close. If you stay with me longer, we can get there too."

That was the carrot she had dangled in front of me for years.

She always told me that if I just waited, she would eventually accept me.

Before I saw those paintings, I was stupid enough to believe her.

I used to tell her I could wait forever.

But today, I didn't say anything. I just put on my shoes and went to work.

When I got to the office, I handed in my resignation.

My boss was shocked. "Does Tatiana know about this?"

This company belonged to Tatiana's uncle. Her family always treated me like a leech who lived off her.

They gave me all the dirty work, and I took it for her sake.

I smiled. "I don't need anyone's permission to quit. I never signed a formal contract here anyway. This is just a courtesy."

I walked out and didn't look back.

The news reached Tatiana fast. She called me during work hours for the first time ever.

"Kaelen, what are you doing? Where are you going to find a job this good?"

"I already found something else," I said coldly.

"What else can you do besides cooking and cleaning? Stop throwing a tantrum."

Before I could answer, I heard Justin's voice on her end.

"Tati, how do I wear this…?"

"Forget about quitting," she snapped into the phone. "I'll come home and have dinner with you tonight."

She hung up immediately.

That night, I reheated the food five times. Tatiana never showed up.

I checked social media and saw Justin had posted a selfie of them pressed together.

The caption read: "You said I'll always be your most special person."

I put my phone down and dumped the cold food into the trash.