Chapter 3

3

"Elara, what is wrong with you? Why the sarcasm?"

"Lydia is sick. As a friend, it's my job to look after her. Besides, your surgery is over and you have nurses there. Why are you being so high-maintenance?"

Grant's words felt like a serrated blade twisting in my heart.

I hung up on him immediately.

Grant didn't show up until late that night.

He dropped a takeout container in front of me.

"You said you weren't hungry earlier. It's late now, so you'd better eat."

His tone was casual, as if nothing had happened today.

I used to think Grant was a stable, calm man. Now I realized that when a person is too calm, they're just cold-blooded.

I opened the box. The greasy sauce had already congealed into clumps. The food was covered in crushed red peppers.

It was obviously leftover or bought hours ago.

"Eat it while it's warm," Grant urged.

I turned my head away. "Do you honestly think I can eat this?"

Grant looked a bit awkward. He coughed and closed the lid.

"Fine. I'll go buy you something else."

As he stood up, his phone rang.

"Wait for me. I'm coming right now," he said into the phone.

He hung up and looked at me. "Lydia's house was broken into. Wait here. I'll be back as soon as I handle it."

I smirked. I didn't try to stop him.

I was well-acquainted with Lydia's little tricks.

Sure enough, Grant never came back. He stayed out all night.

Staring at the cold leftovers, I remembered how Grant used to look at me.

He used to bring me everything he thought tasted good. He'd drive ten miles just for a snack I mentioned in passing.

On our wedding day, he kissed my forehead and swore to love me forever.

When I found out I had trouble conceiving, he told me it was okay. He said as long as he had me, he didn't need a child.

That's why I gave him my heart. That's why I endured IVF―so he could be a father.

But everything changed the moment Lydia appeared.

My needs were always secondary to hers. He couldn't even see me anymore.

Some people just stop loving you, one day at a time.

I picked up my phone and ordered a nutritious meal for myself. When the warm food hit my stomach, I felt a shift.

I realized I didn't need Grant's love to survive anymore.

The next morning, I discharged myself from the hospital.

My first stop was Lydia's house to get Luna.

Luna was the only family I had left in this world.

She was a birthday gift from my mother. After my mom passed away, Luna was the one who kept me going.

For ten years, she was my everything.

I knocked on the door. Lydia opened it, wearing a sexy silk robe and looking sleepy.

Her face went pale when she saw me.

"Elara? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the hospital?"

"Grant was so tired last night. He fell asleep here and couldn't make it back to you. Please don't be mad at him."

I didn't have time for her fake sympathy.

I pushed past her and started searching the house for my cat.

Luna wasn't in the living room, so I marched into the bedroom.

The bed was a disaster. Men's boxers and lace bras were scattered everywhere.

I didn't need a genius to tell me what had happened last night.