Chapter 3

From that day on, Jerome became noticeably more attentive. I never realized how much he could actually talk back in high school. Now he messaged me constantly, asking what I was doing, what I was eating, sending pouty emojis, and saying he missed me. With his sudden appearance in my life, the loneliness faded more than I expected. … Three days later, Hector sent me a photo. It looked like he was home having dinner with his parents. "Honey, it's been two days. Why haven't you called me? How's the new place? Sleeping without my arms around you must feel uncomfortable, huh?" If I wasn't mistaken, that pale arm peeking in the photo was Nellie's. So I went straight to the point. "Looks like you and Nellie are doing just fine." "She insisted on coming. I didn't really have a choice, but my parents actually like her a lot. "She's great at charming older folks, always makes them happy. I'll have her teach you sometime." After all, I was an orphan. No one had ever taught me how to get along with elders. He knew that better than anyone. "You married me, not my parents. You don't need to learn how to deal with them." The sourness I'd barely managed to suppress welled up again. I stopped replying. … That evening, Hector called. "The cleaning service said you haven't been there. Where did you go?" I let out a breath. "I didn't feel like going." Hearing the edge in my voice, he chuckled. "What's wrong with you? Are you learning to throw little tantrums like Nellie now? I told you, it's just for show. Once I get bored with her, I'll still live my life with you. "Where are you right now? I'll come get you." I thought about it. After all these years, it was better to cut things off completely, so I said softly, "I'm at the place I used to stay before I got married. You know where." He had always acted on impulse. I forced myself up and waited in the living room, worrying he'd come rushing over. Outside, a light drizzle fell, and the wind tousled my hair. The night rain was cold. As I closed the window, I called him. The call was cut off almost instantly, and a voice message quickly followed. "Ugh, so dramatic. I bought her a brand-new apartment, and she won't even live there. Why does she insist on going back to that neighborhood? "Who even likes her? At first, she just seemed kind of cute. I didn't expect her to fall for me just over a bag of warm cinnamon rolls every year—like she'd never had anything good before, haha! "I only married her because I couldn't get the woman I really wanted and didn't feel like looking anywhere else. She was clean and obedient, convenient enough. She's too old-fashioned in bed. Boring. "Nellie's way better. More lively, more fun. Come here, baby, let me give you a kiss." The voice message cut off abruptly. My heart felt like it had been torn in two. I knew then that I would never be able to part peacefully with Hector. I sat there numbly until morning. The metal door rattled softly, and a man's voice came through. "Louisa. It's me." I walked over and opened the door in a daze. It had been a long time since I'd seen Jerome. He looked calmer now, far more composed than before, nothing like the playful boy I remembered. He was holding a bag of cinnamon rolls. For a split second, he looked just like Hector in my eyes. The voice message replayed again, and I yanked the bag from his hands. Cinnamon rolls scattered everywhere, my vision swimming. "Get out! I don't want to see you!" … Hector's company didn't have much going on, so he took Nellie traveling and partying nonstop. He and his friends rented out a lodge on a mountaintop. That afternoon, while everyone was dozing in the hot springs, a sudden voice cut through the haze. "Holy shit, the Lloyd family's heir is back in the country! Hector, didn't you have a project you wanted to pitch to the Lloyd family? Now that the heir's back, maybe you should try getting close." Hector yanked the towel off his forehead and swam over to check if it was true, but his friend's expression turned strange as he clutched the phone tighter. "Ah, never mind. I saw it wrong." Hardly anyone caught the hint. Once he said that, everyone crowded over. "What do you mean? Let me see." "Yeah, I've met the Lloyd family's heir before. I can tell if it's real." The phone's owner couldn't hold onto it. It was snatched away. Someone took one look and exclaimed, "Oh damn, back in the country already chasing women? He's carrying one in his arms!" "Wait… She looks really familiar…" Now they finally understood why the friend had suddenly said he'd seen wrong. It appeared that Hector had been cuckolded. Who dared say it out loud? Hector sensed something was off and grabbed the phone. In the photo, Jerome carried a woman in his arms toward a car through the light rain. Her face was partially hidden, but Hector recognized the shoes instantly. It was the same pair he'd bought for Louisa Reed. The moment the thought hit him, he jumped up and got dressed in a hurry. Someone asked in confusion, "Dude, where are you going? Nellie's coming over in a bit." Hector cursed through clenched teeth, his face cold. "Louisa left with someone else." The moment those words left his mouth, everyone froze. His blood was boiling, his head pounding. He knew instinctively that if he didn't move fast, he'd never see Louisa again. He slammed into his car and sped toward the neighborhood, frantically dialing her number. He didn't even notice the luxury car coming the other way. On the other end, the phone rang, but no one picked up. Hector's heart was pounding violently. He charged up the familiar stairs and kicked the door open. The apartment was completely empty. There was nothing left. He stood there, stunned, finally facing the truth. Louisa was really done with him.