“Staying out all night is fun, huh? Grace, you
know my temper. If this happens again…”
I interrupted, “Don’t worry, it won’t happen
again.”
I was going to divorce him.
We’d go our separate ways. There wouldn’t
be a next time.
<
eta IICAL Line.
Seeing my calm face, he was stunned.
He didn’t expect me to even ask where he’d
been last night.
After I made the coffee, he frowned, snatched
the cup, took a sip, found it disgusting, and
dumped it.
“Meet me at the parking lot after work. I’ll
take you to dinner.”
I knew it was compensation for his no–show.
And I had something to tell him, so I agreed.
Back at my desk, I saw the
(milk tea
and desserts) and sticky notes that said
“Happy Birthday, Nena” from my coworkers.
I turned sideways and wiped my eyes several
times.
After finishing the treats, I worked hard until
quitting time, then went to the parking lot as
Jack instructed.
When I saw him, he started the engine and
drove right past me
<
drove right past me.
He didn’t even look at me.
He just called, saying he had a last–minute
engagement and told me to wait at the
restaurant.
At the restaurant, I immediately called a
waiter and ordered my favorite red wine
steak.
Jack was always busy. After being with him,
I’d unknowingly gotten used to waiting.
My chronic stomach problems developed
from all that waiting.
This restaurant’s red wine steak was
delicious.
I ate two large portions, so satisfied that even
if Jack stood me up again, I wouldn’t be
angry.
In the early morning hours, Jack came home.
He found the hallway and living room lights
off.
<
For six years, whenever he went out drinking,
no matter how late, I’d prepare hangover
medicine and doze off on the couch waiting
for him.
Jack didn’t like that.
So he often stayed out all night.
Then he’d point at my dark circles from
worrying, joking that I looked older than his
aunt.
“Grace, are you feeling unwell?”
In the bedroom, Jack reached out to check
my temperature.
I barely dodged his hand, frowning slightly.
“It’s late. Go take a shower.”
His smell of alcohol made me nauseous.
Jack sat beside me, squinting at his phone.
No missed calls.
Strange.
Usually, I’d nag him when he drank, telling
him not to drink too much and to get a
<
designated driver.
He cleared his throat and said, “That dinner
was unavoidable. I’ll definitely take you out
tomorrow. Satisfied?”
I blinked.
“No need. You’re busy.
99
My sincere words were met with Jack’s cold
sneer.
数
“You’re getting bold, aren’t you, Grace? I’m
really busy, I don’t have time for your drama.”
My phone buzzed with an email. I opened it
immediately and said without thinking,
“You’re pretty good at managing your time if
you can still watch movies and have tea.”
Jack’s face darkened.
He said he’d known Lily since childhood, and
she was afraid of the dark, so he had to take
her home to her parents last night.
“Grace, do you do anything besides imagine
things? You disappoint me.”
く
Before tonight, “disappoint” was the trigger
to make me cry and beg for his love.
But unexpectedly, after his accusations, I said
nothing, holding my phone.
He didn’t know I was looking at the divorce
papers from my lawyer.
Sensing Jack’s approach, I quickly turned off
my phone screen.
“What are you looking at?”
247
“Nothing. I’m tired. I’m going to sleep.”
Bang! He slammed the door to his study.
This was the classic signal for a cold war.
A year ago, I would’ve been begging him to
talk.
But tonight, there were no tears, only the
printer whirring.
After printing and signing the divorce
agreement, I put it in my bedside drawer.
I turned off the lights. Despite my insomnia, I
slept soundly.
<
The next day, Jack called me to his office on
the top floor.
“Long time no see, Nena.”
Lily sat in his chair, smiling sweetly.
“I see Jack every day. I always tell him to take
you out, but he’s stubborn.‘
“”
Lily was a popular influencer. She was young,
pretty, and loved to dress up.
I always felt inferior to her.
But today, I didn’t feel that way.
I smiled at her.
“I’m a homebody. Don’t worry about me.
Have fun.”
Jack turned from the window to look at me.
His dark circles suggested a sleepless night. “Grace, Lily’s hungry. Give her my lunch.”
For years, I made Jack’s lunch every day. Last
Friday, I heard him complain to his assistant
that my food was inedible, even for a dog. He said, “This is what you get for marrying the
<
wrong woman.”
Thinking of that, I said calmly, “I didn’t make
lunch today.”
Jack looked at me incredulously.
“Why not? You know I only eat your food.”
Lily chimed in, “Jack, you must have upset
Nena. Otherwise, she wouldn’t let you
starve.”
Jack’s face darkened slightly, then he asked
what I wanted to eat, and told his assistant to
order takeout.
“No need. Order Lily’s favorites. I’ll grab
something near the office.”
Seeing me turn to leave, he grabbed his
jacket and insisted on going with me.
So I ended up eating with them.
During the meal, Jack and Lily talked non-
stop. They’d known each other since
childhood.
I tried to join in, but every time I spoke, Jack
L
looked impatient.
At first, he thought I was trying too hard.
Later, when I became quiet, he accused me
of being aloof.
