Chapter 2

Alexander got home from Sean's place and found a two-and-a-half-hour video from Gavin. In it, Gavin was dressed in a cat-ear butler outfit, while Audrey wore a bold red dress. An array of "toys" lay scattered across a nearby table. They lost themselves in each other from one place to another—the kitchen, the study desk, the entryway—leaving no corner untouched. Audrey was more uninhibited than Alexander had ever seen her, and every scene in the video gnawed at him. Still, like some kind of glutton for punishment, he watched it all the way to the end. Alexander, who had never shed a tear in his life, shook violently, his face wet with tears. This wasn't just about Audrey's betrayal. It was the crushing realization that, despite everything, he still loved her. She wasn't some worn-out shirt he could discard without a second thought. She was flesh and blood. Tearing her out of his life would be like wrenching open his ribs, clawing out his own heart, and watching it break apart in his hands. Alexander sat in a daze for what felt like hours before his body moved on its own, carrying him into the kitchen without conscious thought. Then, as if driven by some unseen force, he began stuffing food into his mouth. He endured frequent abuse as a child, including periods when he nearly starved. As an adult, he developed a destructive habit—whenever the pain overwhelmed him, he binged. The temporary fullness made him feel safe. For years, Audrey had always been there to hold him back when the urge took over. Now, she was too busy sleeping with someone else to bother. Alexander hadn't realized how much he'd eaten. When he finally came to his senses, sharp cramps pulsed through his gut. The pain was so intense that his vision darkened, threatening to knock him out. He gritted his teeth and crawled to the living room, every movement a struggle. His first thought wasn't to call an ambulance. It was to call Audrey. The phone rang continuously before she finally picked up. By then, Alexander was barely holding on. The pain was so overwhelming that he could barely speak. "Where are you? I—" He wanted to tell her how awful he felt and to ask her to come back, but Audrey cut him off. Her voice was tight, like she was barely holding it together. "Honey, there's something really important at work tonight—" A muffled groan escaped her before the words rushed out. "I'm not coming home!" Then, the line went dead. And Alexander blacked out. … When Alexander came to, he found himself in a hospital bed. Sean was beside him, his eyes puffy and red. "You scared the hell out of me! Do you even realize how close you were to dying?" He had called to confirm that everything was set for the staged death, but he couldn't reach Alexander. Concerned that something might be wrong, Sean hurried to Alexander's place. He found the latter passed out on the floor when he opened the door. The doctor explained that his binge eating had triggered severe pancreatitis. By admission, part of his pancreas had already necrotized. Any later, and he'd have been beyond saving. "We need family consent for surgery, but Audrey isn't answering. Should we keep trying?" Sean asked. Alexander gazed vacantly at the wall before letting out a hollow laugh, tears cutting tracks down his face. "Don't contact her again." … Early the next morning, Alexander dragged himself out of the hospital. Audrey didn't return until noon. She shrugged off her coat and waited for the chill to fade before stepping forward to hug Alexander. Then she opened her tablet and showed him an image of an island. "Look what I bought for our baby, honey. I'm already building amusement parks nationwide that'll bear our child's name. We'll hold a 100-day celebration when our baby arrives. Everyone will celebrate with us!" She finished excitedly, only to realize that Alexander hadn't spoken a single word since she arrived. His face was ghostly pale, his hand clutched his stomach, and sweat glistened on his forehead. "What's wrong, honey? Are you sick? I'll take you to the hospital now!" Her voice shook when she saw how much pain he was in. Whatever pain Alexander felt, Audrey felt it a hundredfold. His suffering echoed endlessly through her. The sight of his pale face made her heart twist like a wrung-out rag. "I'm fine," Alexander said, catching her wrist. "You know my stomach's always been weak. I had something cold yesterday, so now it's acting up. My medicine is on the table. Grab them for me, will you?" Audrey rushed out, snatched the pills, and came back with them and a glass of water. But when she glanced at the box, she paused. "Honey, why are these different from your usual stomach meds?" Alexander shrugged it off. "It's just a new prescription from the doctor." "Oh." Audrey didn't push further. "I'll stay home with you all day. What do you want for lunch? I'll make it." "Don't worry about it. I have a class reunion at noon, and I'll be visiting a few of my mentors later in the evening. Just go on with your day as usual." Alexander stood up. He likely wouldn't return after going abroad, so this final gathering with his friends would serve as his goodbye. Audrey didn't like the idea of him going alone and insisted on coming. The second they walked into the private room where the union was being held, the whole group erupted in laughter. "See? I told you that if Alexander came, Audrey would cling to him like glue. She's terrified of losing him." Audrey simply smiled, unfazed by their teasing, and distributed the gifts she'd prepared for everyone. The room erupted in disbelief. "No way! These are the brand-new Chérie Shenae watches. They cost seven figures each! Ms. Scurfield always spoils us with these outrageously fancy presents. Honestly, we're just lucky to be Alexander's friends!" Alexander had always been well-liked in college, and everyone here counted among his closest friends. Audrey was determined to win them over. After all, keeping them happy meant keeping Alexander happy too. They all secretly marveled at the power of love. It had transformed Audrey, once an untouchable ice queen, into a radiant sunflower smiling at everyone around her. "Alexander, you're lucky to have a wife who adores you this much!" Instead of his usual delighted grin, Alexander only managed a polite, half-hearted smile in response. The private room buzzed with laughter and lively conversation until the door suddenly swung open. Gavin strode in, confidence dripping from every pore. "Why didn't I get an invite? Did I suddenly stop being part of this class?"