Chapter 1

My husband suffered from "Sleeping Beauty syndrome."

Every once in a while, he would fall into a deep, unbroken sleep for days on end.

Whenever his condition flared up, terrified of disturbing his recovery, I took on every single chore in the house myself.

I never once complained or got upset about his lack of companionship.

Until this latest episode.

I had forgotten my keys and turned back home. Standing right outside the front door, I distinctly heard bursts of lively laughter coming from inside.

"Ethan, have you decided where you're taking Maya for vacation this time?"

A familiar voice drifted out.

Peeking through the crack of the door, I saw Ethan openly holding Maya Miller in his arms.

Intimate. Shameless. Utterly brazen.

"Let's just visit a nearby country for a few days. Over the years, Maya and I have vacationed all over the globe. We've hit almost every destination."

"It's been so long—has Chloe really never figured out that you're faking being sick just to sneak off with Maya?"

"Chloe loves me too much. She believes every single word that comes out of my mouth."

"She even bought the whole Sleeping Beauty syndrome bullshit."

I froze on the spot, my mind going completely blank.

My phone screen lit up. It was a text Ethan had sent half an hour ago.

[Babe, it's happening again! Thank you for holding down the fort while I'm out. As soon as I wake up, I'll take you somewhere nice.]

So, the deep sleep was fake.

His desire to be with Maya was real.

In that case, I didn't see any reason for me to stay in this house anymore.

I turned around, walked away, and approved my company's overseas transfer request.

"That's fantastic, Chloe! I'll submit the paperwork right now. With processing and everything, it'll take five days at the earliest."

"Sounds good. Thanks."

Hanging up, I realized my hands were trembling so badly I could barely hold my phone.

A memory from when we first started dating flashed through my mind.

Back then, Ethan would constantly go MIA, disappear, and leave my texts on read.

I had fought, cried, and asked to break up.

That one time, I was completely resolute about walking away.

He didn't argue. Instead, he walked up to the rooftop of our building alone.

Standing on the edge, looking frail and hollow with his head hung low, his voice shook with a heartbreaking vulnerability as he gripped a medical diagnosis in his hand.

"Chloe, please don't leave me. I was diagnosed with Kleine-Levin syndrome—Sleeping Beauty syndrome. That's why I disappear without warning."

"I was terrified of telling you. I was scared you'd look down on me, scared you'd abandon me."

Seeing how broken he looked, my heart shattered. Overwhelmed with guilt, I rushed to comfort him instead.

I promised him that I would never abandon him.

Looking back now, he had been playing me from the very start of our relationship.

Three days later, I came home from the office.

The living room was pitch-black.

Just as I reached for the light switch, a pair of arms pulled me into a firm embrace.

"Hey babe, why're you home so late?"

A faint, lingering fragrance drifted into my nose.

Ethan didn't wear this cologne. It was Maya's signature scent.

A wave of nausea hit me, and I instinctively tried to shove him off.

"What's wrong? Are you mad because I slept for too long?"

Ethan gently covered my eyes, flicked the light on, and lowered his hand to search my expression.

"No. Just had a lot of work. A bit tired."

He let out a sigh of relief.

"Go take a shower, and I'll rub your shoulders to help you unwind."

"Sure."

I brushed him off casually.

"Come on, let me show you what I got you this time. You're gonna love it."

Every time Ethan woke from his "episodes," he bought me gifts.

He always said that taking care of everything while he was asleep was too hard on me.

He claimed he wanted to make it up to me double.

Back then, I felt so lucky, thinking I had found a man who cherished me so deeply.

Now I knew it was nothing more than cheap compensation to ease his cheating conscience.

I let him lead me by the hand toward the couch.

I watched as he pulled a necklace out of a designer box.

I recognized it immediately. I had just seen the exact same piece on Maya's Ins today.

Except in her photos, it had been tossed casually into the corner of the frame.

He had probably grabbed it at random from a pile of leftover luxury hauls.

"Here, babe, let me put it on you."

Ethan carefully fastened the clasp around my neck.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, all I felt against my collarbone was an icy chill.

I knew very well that this was just some scrap Maya didn't want, tossed to me like an afterthought.

Ethan buried his face into the crook of my neck, his voice muffled.

"I hate putting you through this. I picked their newest design just for you. It looks stunning on you."

I nodded, glancing down at the pendant with an empty, emotionless face.

Ethan paused, slightly caught off guard.

Then, he reached out and ruffled my hair affectionately.

His tone was sweet, laced with practiced guilt. "Are you still upset with me? Next time, I'll try my best to manage my episodes so I don't leave you alone like this."

A silent scoff caught in my throat.

Manage his episodes? More like managing his vacation schedule with Maya.

"Ethan, let's get a div—"

Before I could finish, his phone buzzed loudly.

"Hold on, babe, let me take this."

He walked out onto the balcony with his phone pressed to his ear.

Staring at his retreating back, I spaced out.

Ethan had never taken a call in front of me.

"Babe, something came up at the office. I gotta head in right now. I'll bring back those donuts you love on my way home."

Ethan leaned down and kissed my forehead.

I clenched my fists, stomach churning with disgust.

"It's urgent, but I'll wrap it up early. I'm taking you out the day after tomorrow."

I lowered my gaze, masking the cold mockery in my eyes.

"Okay."

Too bad that by the day after tomorrow, you won't even be able to find me.