Chapter 2

2.

My marriage to Vivian was called a strategic merger, but in reality, she was forced to marry down to be with me.

My mother died saving Vivian's grandfather.

To repay that debt of gratitude, Vivian married me.

We had seen each other a few times at school, but that was the extent of it.

We only exchanged contact information to discuss the wedding arrangements.

Getting married didn't bridge the distance between us.

We exchanged daily greetings, but our conversations never went beyond what was for dinner.

For a long time after the wedding, we even slept in separate rooms.

We didn't have any sexual relationship at all during that period.

That was until a year into our marriage.

Vivian had gotten drunk one night.

In her stupor, she stumbled into the wrong bedroom.

I was delirious with a high fever at the time, and things just happened.

When I woke up, the room was a disaster.

She had been wild that night, lacking any of her usual reserve.

And I, truthfully, had lost all control.

Vivian apologized to me afterward.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean for that to happen last night."

I touched my forehead to see if the fever was gone and replied, "It was my fault too... I should have tried harder to stop it."

That one night resulted in our son.

But her attitude toward me remained lukewarm.

We stayed perfectly polite.

Still, I always remembered that night―May 20th, six years ago.

It was a strange coincidence.

The variety show on TV had been recorded on that very same day.

On the program, Sebastian had denied being in a relationship with Vivian.

Thinking back to her desperation that night, it all made sense.

I finally understood why Vivian, who usually hated alcohol, had gotten so drunk that day.

"Daddy, is that Uncle Sebastian on TV?"

My son Leo's voice snapped me back to reality.

Before I could answer, he ran to the TV and hugged it with open arms.

"Uncle Sebastian! He's back! Daddy, hurry up and make something delicious for him!"

"I'm not letting him leave!"

I bit my lip.

Leo had only met Sebastian once, yet he remembered him perfectly and was more affectionate toward him than his own father.

When I didn't respond, Leo shouted at me.

"Go make the food, now!"

Over the last few years, he had become increasingly spoiled.

If I tried to discipline him, he would go cry to the grandparents.

Then, both sets of parents would scold me.

But if Vivian disciplined him, he wouldn't dare utter a word.

I felt a wave of helplessness and heartache.

Just then, Vivian walked in.

She frowned when she heard Leo shouting.

Then she asked me what I had prepared for dinner.

Before I could speak, Sebastian's voice drifted in from the door.

"Long time no see, Caleb."

"Uncle Sebastian!"

Leo lunged forward and grabbed Sebastian's leg.

Sebastian hoisted the boy onto his shoulders, laughing as he teased him.

"Little Leo, you've gotten heavy! I can barely lift you anymore."

"No, I haven't! Give me a airplane ride!"

Vivian, who rarely smiled, had a wide grin on her face.

"Stop pestering Uncle Sebastian!"

The three of them were laughing and talking, looking exactly like a happy family.

Meanwhile, I stood there like an awkward intruder.

Eventually, Sebastian offered me a polite apology.

"I hope my dropping by unannounced isn't too much of an intrusion."

He said the words, but there wasn't a hint of genuine regret in his eyes.

Before I could say anything, Vivian spoke for me.

"He doesn't mind."

My hands clenched at my sides, but I eventually forced myself to relax.

"Right. I don't mind. Let's eat."