Chapter 1
On my birthday, my husband left me and posted a sweet photo with his assistant on Instagram.
In the photo, she was holding a test tube while Joseph lowered his head to record the data.
The caption read: “He said, ‘With me by your side, the journey of research won’t feel lonely.”
I didn’t let myself spiral with questions this time. I simply left a comment: “You two look perfect together.”
My phone buzzed just as I swallowed the last bite of cake.
Joseph’s voice came through, tired and low. “Don’t overthink this… Next time, on your birthday…”
“That won’t be necessary,” I interrupted him.
Joseph Crawford, there won’t be a next timè for us.
申車
That night, I spent six hours baking a cake, and waiting for Joseph to come home.
But when he arrived, he didn’t even glance at me. He said without looking back, “I need to work late, go ahead and eat.”
I stayed quict and ate the entire cake by myself
Around midnight, a photo popped up on my Instagram showing Joseph and his female assistant in the laboratory.
In the photo, she was holding a test tube while Joseph lowered his head to record the data.
The glass window showed the faint reflection of the two standing close together.
The caption under the post said, “He promised I wouldn’t be alone. chasing scientific research.”
I didn’t question him, only wrote in the comment, “You two suit each other.”
I was finishing the last mouthful of cake when my phone buzzed.
Joseph’s voice sounded tired, “Don’t overthink this… Next time, on your birthday…”
“Forget it,” I interrupted him.
I gazed out at the rain falling softly outside. “I understand, research is important.”
But Joseph, there won’t be a next time for us.
***
When Joseph walked in, rain was still falling outside.
Usually, I’d wait by the door with a dry towel, but this time I stayed on the sofa flipping through a magazine.
“Why didn’t you come to pick me up?” His hair dripped with water,
leaving dark, circular stains on the wooden floor.
Without looking up, I turned a page and said, “I’m busy.”
Taking off his damp coat, he quietly asked, “Warm up some milk for me.”
Before, I would’ve hurried to bring him a hot drink.
But now, I simply held my own cup.
“If you want it, get it yourself.”
Suddenly, he reached for my wrist. “Is this because of your birthday….”
I withdrew my hand, and the ceramic cup gently tapped the coffee table.
He rubbed his temples and said, “The project is now at a crucial stage. Emerson Lynch, I really don’t have the energy to deal with you right
now…”
“I know scientific research is important,” I cut him off.
Raindrops struck the window, echoing the rainy night from last year.
I was walking down the hospital corridor when I overheard him reassuring Hailey Paxton, “No matter what happens, I’m here for you. Don’t be scared.”
I signed the consent form for the appendectomy surgery by myself.
Joseph’s gaze moved across my face several times before he let out a tired sigh.
“Emerson, do you really have to make me suffer like this?”
I met his stare without flinching and replied, “You’re overthinking it.”
The silence stretched on.
He suddenly took a velvet box out of his briefcase and dropped it onto the coffee table. “Here, happy birthday.”
Inside the box was a necklace, its pendant slightly askew, as though it had been carelessly tossed inside.
It looked utterly out of place next to the neatly wrapped Van Cleef & Arpels gift Hailey had posted for her birthday.
“Thanks.” I closed the box, my voice as calm as if I were talking about the weather.
Joseph stood up abruptly. “That’s it?”
He held out his hands, “Where’s my present?”
“Oh, I completely forgot.” I grabbed my phone, “I’ll transfer it to your PayPal. You can buy it yourself.”
He looked at me as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning.
After all, we’ve made it a tradition to exchange gifts every year, no matter whose birthday it is.
I’ve been sticking to this for years.
Just like in the past five years, even when he forgot my birthday, I’d always send him a carefully chosen gift right at midnight. Last year, he missed my birthday because of a work trip, and I flew to his city to
surprise him.
Once I sent the money, I stood up, changed into my clothes, slipped on my high heels, and got ready to leave.
Joseph stopped me, clearly annoyed. “It’s late, and it’s raining heavily. Where do you think you’re going?”
I said, putting on my coat, “Joseph, do you want to know what’s the funniest thing?”
He stared at me, confused.
I opened the door and continued, “You always said I was too controlling. Now that I’m not interfering, you’re even angrier and trying to control me.”
With that, I closed the door, ignoring Joseph’s yelling.
The night breeze rushed in, bringing with it a long–missed feeling of freedom.
Since I started dating Joseph, I turned down all evening gatherings because he mentioned he didn’t like me coming home too late.
As a result, my colleagues and friends started thinking I was a killjoy.
They understood that my husband was strict, so they stopped inviting me to any gatherings after that.
Now, I can finally reconnect with the friends I’d pushed away all these years and enjoy the nightlife with them.
