Chapter 3

The air was silent for a full half minute.

The panic in Nathan's eyes flashed for only an instant before he forcibly suppressed it.

He slowly unbuttoned his suit jacket and walked toward me.

"Didn't you promise me you'd let your employees take jobs? Why are you still taking appointments yourself? Are you tired?"

His tone was so natural, as if he were just asking about a trivial matter.

I watched him quietly.

Nathan's eyes flickered away, then he explained:

"I'm just taking care of her like a sister, don't overthink it."

I asked back:

"Taking care of a sister requires bringing her roses?"

"That's just politeness."

He was still making excuses, so I pulled out that belt that symbolized our ridiculous love.

Nathan's pupils contracted when he saw the belt.

He was silent for a while, realizing he couldn't talk his way out:

"Iris, in front of you, I'm always that poor boy who needed your support, who needed you working three jobs to support me."

"But Leah is different. Without me, she'd starve. She needs me."

"You can understand that, right?"

I understood him too well.

When we'd just graduated from college, inexperienced Nathan couldn't find work. His pride wouldn't let him do dirty, exhausting jobs.

I'd nodded understandingly, then went out and found three jobs to support him for over half a year.

Later, when his career took off and he needed a presentable wife, I'd nodded understandingly and transitioned from hands-on organizing to managing employees behind the scenes.

I'd thought no one understood him better than I did.

Never imagining I could no longer understand the boy who once loved me desperately.

Leah's eyes darted between the two of us.

She immediately grasped the situation, and seeing Nathan's somewhat guilty expression, a sharp edge flashed in her eyes.

At some point, my eyes had filled with tears.

Seeing my tears, a trace of guilt crossed Nathan's eyes. But before he could speak, a sharp scream interrupted him.

"Nathan! I'm bleeding!!!"

Nathan rushed out almost reflexively. He didn't even look back at me, swaying unsteadily.

He gently checked Leah's injury—just a finger scratched by the sofa, with a tiny bit of blood.

Leah cried pitifully, truly worthy of sympathy.

"Nathan, it hurts so much!"

Watching Leah act coy and seek affection, I could understand why Nathan was so bewitched by her.

After all, after being cared for by me for so long, the novelty of someone needing his care outweighed our ten years together.

I raised my hand and wiped the tears from my eyes.

I took a garbage bag from my toolbox.

Calmly, I packed everything Nathan had stolen from home into the garbage bag.

Including the specialty condoms, and that utterly ridiculous belt.

Then I put on my most professional smile and looked at Leah:

"Ms. Martinez, I've finished organizing your home. Thank you for your support."

"I'll take care of this useless garbage for you. No need to thank me."

I shook the garbage bag in my hand, my peripheral vision catching that Nathan was now wearing the new belt I'd made for him.

I grabbed the scissors and snipped his belt right off with one cut.

I pulled his belt free.

"This garbage—I'll throw it away too."

Some garbage needs to be cleared out promptly, including people.

I ignored Nathan's furious shouting behind me and walked past them out of this foul-smelling house.