Chapter 3

I just stared at the furious Kael, completely bewildered.

He gave me the file. I delivered it. And he was the one who never showed up.

I pushed the scattered papers aside and continued to eat my porridge. "I texted you that I was coming home."

"And you were the one who gave me the file."

My words just made him angrier. "If it was the wrong one, why didn't you say something? You're colorblind, not stupid! Can't you ask?"

"You can't even deliver a simple file! You did this on purpose, didn't you? To get back at me for yesterday!"

He threw a small gift box at me. "And I even went to pick up your custom-made birthday present."

"I should have just thrown it away! What a waste of my good intentions!"

The box fell to the floor and opened. Inside was a "red" silk scarf.

I looked up and met his resentful gaze. "You should have," I said coldly.

Because I had seen that same scarf on Lyra's social media yesterday.

【Promotion gift. My boyfriend loves me so much.】 The picture was of Kael picking out jewelry for her, with the scarf visible in the background, a free gift with purchase. The style and packaging were identical to the one he had just given me.

He had even commented on her post: They always give away these ugly scarves. I wouldn't even give it to someone as a gift.

Kael's voice rose in a furious shout. "What's that supposed to mean, Elara?"

I just held up my phone and showed him Lyra's post.

"I…" For once, he was speechless.

I was so tired of his lies. "Just throw it away. I hate silk scarves."

For the past six months, he had been giving me silk scarves as gifts.

I thought about the row of "unwanted gifts" in my closet and felt a wave of pity for myself. He used to say that red suited me. I must have been so in love to have deluded myself into believing that the scarves he gave me were actually red.

He was still trying to make excuses. "You can't even tell the difference between red and green anyway, so what's the big deal…"

I just ignored him and went into the guest room, shutting the door behind me.

We had been sleeping in separate rooms for the past six months. He said he couldn't sleep with any light, and I liked to sleep with a nightlight on.

When we were first together, I had tried to adjust to his habits. But then I started having stomach problems. One night, I got up to get some medicine and woke him up. He flew into a rage and, despite my pain, kicked me out of the room. He never asked me to come back.

Looking back, that's probably when our relationship started to fall apart.

I contacted a lawyer friend and asked him to draft the divorce papers as soon as possible.

After taking some medicine, I was starting to feel drowsy when a loud pounding on the door startled me awake. It sounded like he wouldn't stop until I opened it.

Kael was standing there, his voice unusually gentle. "Elara, it's not what you think."

"Don't be angry. I'll get you another birthday present."

"I've arranged a party for you at the winery this afternoon. I'll come and pick you up."

"Whatever," I mumbled, and slammed the door in his face.