Chapter 3

Back home, Elias stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a custom-tailored suit.

His fingertips combed through his sideburns with an Italian handmade comb.

His slicked-back hair highlighted his increasingly handsome and sharp features.

"I have a client dinner tonight," he said without looking up.

Then he pulled out his phone, a smile playing on his lips, and walked out the door.

That smile was identical to the one Vivian posted on her social media.

A laugh so free, so gentle, with an indulgent warmth that lingered in the corners of his eyes and brows.

I remembered three years ago, he used to smile at me like that.

On a snowy street, he'd wrapped my shivering shoulders in a thick coat, then wound a scarf around my neck layer by layer, saying with a smile,

"See, this way my little heir won't turn into a snowman."

But now, he warmed someone else's winter with that same smile.

The starlight in his eyes no longer belonged to me.

I knew he was with Vivian again.

Since I got pregnant, he often came home late. Every time I tried to FaceTime him, I could always see Vivian nearby.

I became anxious, trying every way to hold onto him.

But in the end, all I got was his, "Can you just stop being so annoying?"

That evening, I clicked on Instagram on a whim.

I saw Vivian's new photos.

Elias stood beside her.

Both held the same bottle of champagne, smiling brightly in front of a giant champagne tower.

The caption read: "Wherever you are, it's always radiant."

Below it was a heart emoji from Elias.

"Wherever you are, I'm never alone."

In the past, I would have cried hysterically, then screamed and questioned him like a madwoman,

"Who exactly is your wife? Did you ever consider my feelings?"

But at that moment, I quietly closed my phone and slept through the night.

In the early morning, I was startled awake by a violent banging on the door. Elias, reeking of alcohol, threw back my blanket.

"I said I had a client dinner, but I didn't say I wouldn't eat, did I?"

"Clara, are you too lazy to even prepare a late-night snack for me now? How can you be so cold and heartless!"

His chest heaved violently, leaving me momentarily stunned.

In the past, whenever he had client dinners, no matter how late, I would meticulously prepare a table of late-night snacks.

But each time, he would push them away with a frown, then turn around and post exquisite late-night meals shared with others on social media.

I rubbed my sleepy eyes and said in as calm a tone as possible,

"You didn't say you were coming back to eat. You always eat out for client dinners. I can't exactly chase after you asking if you've eaten, can I? Wouldn't that make you look like you're henpecked? Besides, Vivian was still there."

Before, every time I questioned him, it would provoke his impatience. He hated every text and question from me, especially when he was with Vivian.

So, hearing what I said, his tightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed.

"That's not what I meant. Isn't preparing late-night snacks part of your duty? The only reason I'm with Vivian is for new product launches. Don't make a big deal out of nothing, or stir up trouble."

I nodded, looking like I understood. "I'm not making a big deal, and I'm not stirring up trouble. I just want to sleep now."

With that, I pulled the blanket over my head, no longer paying attention to his expression as I used to.

But that burning gaze didn't leave me for a long time.

That night, the living room light stayed on.

The next day, I woke up early, washed up, and walked straight to the entryway to change my shoes.

Elias sat at the dining table with his arms crossed.

I knew he was waiting for breakfast, but I didn't give him a chance to speak. I closed the door without looking back.

The cold wind bit, and I pulled my coat tighter.

In that moment, I felt no sadness, no grief.

Only a kind of numb calm.

As they say, a heart doesn't die in a sudden storm, but slowly with countless small disappointments, eroding what was once burning passion.

On my way back, Elias sent a text message.

He said the new product had successfully launched, and he was planning a celebration party at home. He asked me, for the sake of our marriage, not to make things awkward.

It was the first time he'd spoken to me in such a pleading tone, and the first time his voice had an almost imperceptible tremor at the end.

The ridiculous thing was, it wasn't because of me.

But I still agreed.

Not for Elias, or for anyone else, but to use this opportunity to bring a conclusion to this broken relationship.

Just my luck, as I opened the door, I saw Vivian sitting in my spot, holding my wine glass, laughing and drinking with Elias.