Chapter 3

03.

Once inside the car, she didn't ask how I was doing. Instead, she casually complained.

"Your dad passed away―why didn't you tell me something so important?"

"If you had told me, I would've made time to be there with you, no matter how busy I was."

"You're not like Wyatt, who grew up completely independent. You can't handle heavy stuff like this on your own."

I said nothing. It was true that I wasn't as worldly as Wyatt.

Wyatt had moved overseas at eighteen to study abroad.

Meanwhile, when I was eighteen, I was busting my back washing dishes in greasy diner kitchens just to pay Darcy's tuition after her family refused to fund her college education.

"Why aren't you answering me?" Darcy demanded.

"I don't feel like talking," I answered calmly.

A flash of annoyance flared in Darcy's eyes.

"Are you giving me attitude just because I missed your dad's funeral?"

Her voice shot up several octaves, piercing straight into my eardrums.

She knew very well that I had undergone ear surgery, and loud noises caused me severe discomfort.

Yet she leaned in close on purpose, raising her voice to interrogate me.

My head buzzed violently, and a dizzying wave of tinnitus washed over me.

In the past, I would have begged her softly to lower her voice while desperately trying to explain myself.

This time, I said nothing. I simply closed my eyes.

"I'm not giving you attitude. I'm just tired."

Darcy finally went quiet, flipping through her phone.

"So, where are we having dinner? I saw a newly opened restaurant with great reviews..."

Before she could finish, a notification popped up at the top of her screen.

Contact Name: "My Dearest Wyatt."

Darcy panicked and instantly locked her screen.

"Someone changed the contact name last night during a game of Truth or Dare. You know how my friends love joking around."

"It's fine. Your relationship definitely deserves that title," I replied.

Surprise flickered across Darcy's face.

Before she could speak, I turned my gaze out the window, already calculating whether I had any connections to prominent divorce lawyers.

Her chat log with Wyatt reflected clearly against the dark glass of the car window.

"Darcy, why did you leave before dinner?"

"I had live Maine lobsters flown in specially for you. I wanted to treat you tonight!"

The man on the other end showered her with intense affection.

Darcy hesitated before typing back, "Stop playing around. Alec's dad passed away. I have to stay with him tonight."

"Fine. Does that mean I can't come over to your place tonight?"

While Darcy was still pondering her reply, something snapped clean inside my chest. I took the initiative and spoke up.

"Invite Wyatt over for dinner tonight."

Darcy looked even more startled, as if she couldn't believe those words had come out of my mouth.

After all, I had always despised this childhood friend of hers.

I used to ban them from keeping in touch and strictly forbade them from hanging out.

Every time she met Wyatt, it turned into an explosive fight between us.

She seemed to have forgotten that I was her husband.

And now, there was no going back for us.