Chapter 3

3

The next day, Audrey used her office phone to summon me straight to her office.

"Long time no see, bro!"

Bryce was sitting in her office chair, smirking at me provocatively.

"Audrey and I see each other every single day, though!"

"I always tell her to bring you along to hang out with us," Bryce sighed mockingly.

"But she always says you're as dull as a piece of wood and totally boring."

Bryce was a locally famous pro basketball player.

He came from a wealthy family, was handsome, and dressed like a model.

Besides being a substitute for the state league team, he constantly streamed on Twitch and made TikToks.

This earned him a massive local fanbase.

In the past, seeing Bryce always made me hang my head in shame.

I used to feel terribly insecure about my ordinary looks and plain clothes compared to his charm.

But today, Bryce didn't see a shred of insecurity in my eyes.

Instead, I just smiled right back at him.

"I'm a homebody anyway, so don't mind me. As long as you guys have fun, that's what matters."

Hearing this, Audrey turned away from the floor-to-ceiling window to look at me.

The faint dark circles under her eyes showed she hadn't slept well last night.

"Leo, Bryce is hungry. Give him the gourmet lunchbox you made for me!"

After ten years of marriage, I had become an excellent cook.

I used to wake up every day to prepare different, beautiful meals just for her.

I always felt the cafeteria food was garbage.

Back when I loved her deeply, I couldn't bear the thought of her eating bad food.

But just last Wednesday, I overheard Audrey complaining to Bianca, the English teacher.

"Leo's cooking is literal dog food, and even a dog wouldn't eat it," she had said.

Audrey even added, "I seriously regret settling for such a useless man!"

Thinking of this, I spoke in a flat tone.

"I didn't pack a lunchbox today."

Audrey looked at me in disbelief and asked a ridiculously naive question.

"Why didn't you? You know I only eat the meals you make at school!"

Bryce immediately chimed in with a passive-aggressive tone.

"Audrey, you must have done something to upset him. Otherwise, why would he let you starve?"

Audrey looked annoyed and abruptly asked what I wanted to eat so she could order takeout.

"No need. Just order whatever Bryce likes. I'll just grab a bite in the cafeteria."

Seeing me turn to leave, Audrey grabbed her designer bag.

Without taking no for an answer, she insisted on walking with me.

As a result, I was forced to eat with her and Bryce.

During the meal, Audrey and Bryce never stopped chatting.

They grew up together, so they talked about people and memories I knew nothing about.

I used to force a smile and try to join their conversations.

But every time I spoke, a look of extreme impatience would cross Audrey's eyes.

At first, she complained that I was awkward and couldn't hold a conversation.

Later, when I grew quiet, she accused me of acting snobby and icing out her brother.

Since I couldn't win either way, I chose to say absolutely nothing.

I just focused purely on enjoying the delicious food.

After I was full, I went to the restroom. By the time I returned, Bryce was gone.

"You didn't wear your glasses today, Leo. You look like a handsome college student."

Seeing me pay the bill, Audrey looked at me with flushed cheeks.

I pointed at her slightly messy hair and told her she needed to fix her appearance.

The funny thing was, while I was in the restroom, she was touching up her makeup.

She had been looking into her compact mirror just moments ago.

At my reminder, a rare flash of panic appeared in Audrey's eyes.

"Don't misunderstand! Bryce was just joking that I had something on my face, so... this happened."

She frowned deeply, looking more anxious the more she explained.

I just said "Oh" and started walking ahead.

Audrey froze in place for a moment before rushing to catch up in her heels.

As we neared the school gates, I spoke without looking back.

"I'll go in first. You can go to your office in a few minutes."

Besides her best friend Bianca, nobody at school knew I was Audrey's husband.

When we first started dating, Audrey found it annoying and refused to go public.

Over time, even if we crossed paths in the hallways, we pretended to be strangers.

That afternoon, Audrey got off work right on time.

She brought home a luxury Bluetooth speaker worth thousands of dollars.

I loved high-quality audio, and she knew I had eyed that model for a long time.

However, while she waited eagerly for praise, I pulled out a document.

"Let's get a divorce!"

The speaker was instantly thrown onto the floor.

Throwing a massive tantrum, Audrey didn't even glance at the papers.

"You're really taking this joke far! You even printed fake divorce papers!"

I replied, as calm as still water, "I am completely serious this time."

Audrey sneered mockingly.

"When are you not serious, Leo? This time it's papers. Next time, are you going to hire actors to stage a whole courtroom trial in our living room?"

Hearing this, I didn't say another word.

No matter what I said, it would just lead to another pointless argument.

I left the divorce papers in the study and went back to the bedroom.

I just minded my own business.

Bang!

Not long after, a massive slam shook the front door.

Then, the roar of a car engine echoed from outside.

As soon as Audrey left, I immediately contacted a leasing agent to find a new place.