Chapter 1

My wife is a famous fashion buyer in our city. Lately, she only seems to shop at one particular vintage accessory store.

Every time she comes home from that shop, she brings me a new tie as a gift.

I used to think it was a sweet gesture of her love.

Until our wedding anniversary, when I saw a post on her Instagram that she had forgotten to hide from me:

"Life is more brilliant than fireworks because you are here!"

The photo showed her and the shop owner watching a firework display, looking incredibly intimate.

That night, she handed me the eleventh tie she had bought from him.

This time, I didn't take it.

1.

"Just leave it there."

I didn't even look up. I kept focused on the plate of extra-hot Nashville wings in front of me.

Kiki didn't notice anything was wrong. She was too busy giggling at something on her phone screen.

After a long moment, she looked up, her voice tinged with confusion.

"Wait, why aren't you opening it?"

In the past, whenever she bought me anything, I couldn't wait to rip the paper off.

I'd take photos and post them all over social media to brag about how much she loved me.

My lack of reaction today clearly felt strange to her.

"Why are you eating something so spicy?"

Kiki wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I told you I can't stand the smell of spicy food."

Her usual tone of casual criticism made my hands freeze.

A wave of nameless anger surged from my gut, making my throat feel tight.

"Because I like it."

Before we met, I put hot sauce on everything. But since being with her, I hadn't touched spicy food for seven years just to please her.

In this house, it felt like only she was allowed to have preferences.

Anything she disliked was banned from our lives.

And I was just expected to play along.

Kiki blinked, then frowned. "Spicy food causes breakouts. And the sweat makes you smell."

"Can't you be a bit more refined, like Ashton?"

I raised my eyes and stared at her calmly. A flicker of guilt crossed her face.

She brushed it off and opened the gift box herself, waving the tie in front of me.

"Look, I just bought it. Do you like it?"

Green. Again.

For the past three months, every single tie she bought me was green.

I thought they were tokens of our affection. Now I knew they were just her tally marks for being cuckolded.

"You've been really into green lately, haven't you?"

She rubbed her nose. "Green is sophisticated. It looks expensive. You don't know anything about fashion."

"Just wear what I pick for you and be happy."

I let out a short, dry laugh and said nothing else.

She probably didn't realize she always rubs her nose when she's lying.

Kiki leaned in and put her arm around my shoulder. "I'm sorry I got back late. For our anniversary, do you want me to...?"

I held up a hand to stop her. "I'm exhausted today."

Disappointment flashed in her eyes. She turned around and headed for the bathroom.