Chapter 2

"Nina? Why are you just standing by the door staring into space?"

Julian walked out of the study, holding an empty coffee mug.

"Chloe didn't bring an umbrella. It’s pouring outside."

I turned around to grab the umbrella from the entryway rack.

"She’s a grown girl. She can just call an Uber," Julian said smoothly.

His tone was warm and gentle.

It was as if the cold, power-tripping man in the study just minutes ago didn't exist.

"She has autism, Julian. When it rains, she gets too overwhelmed to even speak to strangers. She can’t call an Uber."

I quickly slipped on my shoes and ran out into the pouring rain.

By the time I reached the bus stop, the last bus heading to the outer suburbs was already pulling away.

The icy rain pelted my face, freezing me to the bone.

When I got back home, I didn’t even take off my soaked coat. I marched straight to the living room medicine cabinet.

Chloe had gotten drenched. She was already physically weak from the stress, and the last time she ran a high fever, she almost had a seizure.

I opened the white first-aid kit.

The three boxes of imported cooling patches and liquid fever reducers that I always kept on the top shelf were gone.

"Don't bother looking, Nina."

Julian walked in from the balcony, just finishing a phone call.

He casually took off his suit jacket and handed it to me.

"Scarlett caught a cold from the rain and was sneezing. She has a delicate immune system, so I stopped by and gave her those meds just in case."

He said it so naturally, as if he were merely telling me what he wanted for dinner.

My hand holding the empty medicine box froze in mid-air.

"Chloe almost had a seizure the last time she had a fever. Those specific meds were prescribed and imported just for her."

I stared at him, my voice cracking.

Julian sighed, walking over to wrap his arms around me.

"Don't be so sensitive all the time, Nina."

"Chloe has autism. Her pain tolerance is much higher than normal people."

"But Scarlett is different. She has a major art exhibition tomorrow. She can’t afford to be sick."

"Be a good girl. You can just buy more for Chloe tomorrow."

I took a step back, dodging his touch.

"Those are Chloe’s emergency meds. You didn't even bother to ask me before giving them all to Scarlett?"

Julian frowned slightly, looking at me with the patronizing patience one might show to a throwing-tantrum child.

"Scarlett is Serena’s sister. Serena trusted me to look after her before she moved to Europe."

"I can't just stand by and watch her sickness ruin her future."

"Besides, Chloe’s disciplinary case isn’t finalized yet, and Scarlett is the key witness."

"If you treat Scarlett a little better right now, maybe she'll soften up and drop the cheating accusation against Chloe."

I stared at the handsome, sophisticated man in front of me.

He always found the most noble excuses to justify his cruelest actions.

"Chloe did not cheat," I said, pronouncing every single word clearly.

"She was the only one in that room."

"Scarlett accuses her with zero proof, and you just blindly believe her."

"You'd rather trust an outsider than my sister?"

Julian rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking exhausted.

"I am the Head of the Academic Integrity Board. I have to be responsible for all students."

"Scarlett has been an honors student her whole life. She has no reason to frame Chloe."

"And let's be real—Chloe can barely speak a coherent sentence on normal days. How could she suddenly solve the extra-credit advanced calculus problem at the end of the exam?"

He turned toward the bathroom.

"Is my bath ready? I have an important district board meeting tomorrow morning."

I stood frozen, watching his tall back walk away.

We had been married for three years. To take care of his daily life, I had resigned from my dream job as a senior data analyst.

I thought my sacrifices and patience would buy his respect and care for Chloe.

But instead, he dragged my boundaries through the mud just to please his ex-girlfriend's sister.

"Run the water yourself," I said quietly.

Julian stopped in his tracks and looked back at me, seemingly surprised.

"Nina, stop throwing a tantrum. Go make me some hot ginger soup. I want it after my bath."

He wasn't angry. He just spoke in that usual, commanding tone, absolutely certain that I wouldn't dare refuse him.

I ignored him completely. I pulled out my phone and called Chloe’s landlady.

"Hi, Mrs. Gable. Could you please check on Chloe for me? If she has a fever, please call me immediately."

After hanging up, I threw Julian’s suit jacket onto the sofa.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom.

I walked out to the balcony, staring into the pitch-black, rainy night.

My phone screen lit up. It was a Snapchat message from Scarlett.

"Thanks for the meds, Nina! Julian is such a lifesaver. The cooling patches work like a charm! ❤️"

Attached was a selfie of her with a cooling patch on her forehead. The background was the luxurious leather interior of the sports car Julian had gifted her.

I didn't reply. I just swiped left on her chat and deleted it.

The rain grew heavier, rattling against the glass.

One by one, I turned off all the lights in the living room.

Julian came out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel.

"Nina, where’s my soup?"

In the darkness, the only sound was the water dripping from his towel onto the floor.

"I didn't make any," I said from the sofa, my voice flat.

He paused, then switched on the light.

"What is wrong with you today? Are you seriously throwing a fit over a few boxes of cheap medicine?"

"Fine. Tomorrow I’ll have my assistant buy ten boxes and send them to Chloe. Satisfied?"

He walked over, towering over me.

"I've had a exhausting day at work. Can you please be a little supportive?"

I looked up into his eyes.

"Julian, do you honestly think this is just about a few boxes of medicine?"

His frown deepened.

"Then what? What else do you want me to do?"

"Go apologize to Chloe? Or humiliate Scarlett?"

"Nina, you’re an adult. Stop acting like a prickly teenager."

I looked down, digging my nails into my palms.

I didn't say another word.

Because I realized that no matter what I said, in this man's eyes, I would always be the one who was "unreasonable."

He honestly believed that a few cheap favors could always keep me quiet and obedient.

I stood up, walked past him, and headed to the bedroom.

"I’m staying somewhere else for a few days starting tomorrow."

Julian let out a soft, arrogant chuckle behind me.

"Sure. Take a few days to cool off. Just don't forget to pack my daily stomach meds into my organizer before you go."