Chapter 2

2

Kendra snapped up, placing her hands on her hips. “Carson, what is wrong with you? I bought you a car out of the kindness of my heart, and you treat me like this?”

With that, she turned her back to me and began to sob.

In the past, before her tears could even fall, I would have already pulled her into my arms and apologized profusely.

Now, I felt nothing. I walked past her, went into the study, and shut the door.

Ever since we got married, I had never shared a bed with Kendra.

For a thousand days and nights, I had slept alone in this small study.

Staring at the tiny twin bed, I wondered what meaning was left in this marriage.

This one-sided love story had finally reached its end.

I opened my laptop and browsed aimlessly, my mind drifting away.

Kendra was the woman of my dreams; the first time I saw her radiant smile, I fell hopelessly in love.

To win her heart, I gave everything I had, offering her the world on a silver platter.

Eventually, touched by my persistence, she agreed to be with me.

On the day we went public, I bought nearly ten thousand roses for her and swore I would love her for the rest of my life.

Looking at her bright smile back then, I foolishly thought I had won her heart.

After marriage, even though she refused intimacy, I respected her boundaries to the utmost degree.

Trevor’s return made me realize that some people could easily get what I could never obtain in a lifetime of trying.

It was time to wake up from this pathetic dream.

A knock sounded on the study door, and Kendra walked in holding a glass of warm milk.

“Okay, babe, I was being inconsiderate. I shouldn’t have bought you a used car. How about we go to the dealership tomorrow and pick out a brand-new one?”

It was rare to see Kendra lower her pride and apologize to me.

She set down the milk, leaned her soft body over my shoulders from behind, pressing against me while her sweet perfume filled the air.

Her hands drifted over my chest, each touch teasing the long-suppressed desires buried inside me.

For a second, I lost myself in the haze of longing and turned around to pull her into my arms.

Kendra eagerly responded, leaning into my touch as I buried my face into her neck.

Suddenly, a deep purple hickey caught my eye, triggering vivid flashbacks of her lying beneath Trevor in that hotel bed.

All desire evaporated instantly, and I shoved her away.

Gritting my teeth, I said, “Get out. I want to sleep.”

Kendra was stunned by my rejection, looking utterly embarrassed.

Her pretty eyes stared at me with grievance.

I used to adore those eyes the most, but now, that supposedly innocent gaze reeked of thinly veiled contempt.

Seeing that I wasn’t giving her the reaction she expected, a mocking smirk curled on her lips.

“Carson, cut the innocent act! Haven’t you been dying to sleep with me all this time?”

“I’m offering myself to you tonight, so what the hell are you playing at?”

I couldn’t believe those vile words came out of Kendra’s mouth. Looking at her sneer, I felt the flower in my heart wither and die.

“Fine, don’t sleep with me then! I wasn’t thrilled about servicing you anyway!”

She slammed the door shut on her way out.

I pressed my hand against my chest, gasping for air as tears finally spilled down my cheeks.

The pain in my chest felt like my organs were being torn to shreds.

I wiped away the tears and made up my mind: I was definitely getting a divorce.