When Love Turns to AshChapter 1
My mom lay on the hospital bed, delirious, muttering Kate's name.
Tears streamed down my face as I called my wife.
When she picked up, Kate impatiently said she was busy in a meeting and would call back later.
I could hear the laughter of a man in the background.
As the call ended, the heart monitor flatlined.
My mom closed her eyes and took her last breath.
While I was in the depths of grief, Kate's childhood friend Peter posted a new update on social media, tagging a location at a five-star hotel.
The photo showed them holding hands, the matching couple bracelets on their wrists shining brightly.
"If love lasts, why do we need to be together every day and night?"
At that moment, my heart completely died.
Wiping away my tears, I liked and commented on the post.
"Since the atmosphere is so perfect, why not get married? Then you can be together every day and night, fulfilling your wishes."
——
After handling my mom's funeral alone, I returned home and sat silently on the sofa for an entire day and night, thinking about many things.
At eleven o'clock at night, Kate Walsh finally came home.
Seeing that I was still awake, she looked surprised.
"Tobias, it's so late, why aren't you asleep?"
I replied emotionlessly, "Couldn't sleep."
"Is it because I'm not here?"
Kate sat next to me, her long legs wrapped in black silk crossed, creating a perfect and enticing curve.
She reached out to hug my shoulder.
"We've been married for so many years, and you still like to cling to your wife while sleeping. Aren't you embarrassed?"
She reeked of alcohol, and I could even smell tobacco in her hair.
I frowned and pushed her away.
Kate was taken aback. "Tobias, what's wrong?"
I coldly asked, "Where have you been these past few days?"
"On a business trip, negotiating a big deal in Osciena. I rushed back to the office for a meeting right after landing. It's been exhausting."
To prove she wasn't lying, Kate took out two gift boxes from her bag.
"Look, these are gifts I bought for you and Mrs. George in Osciena."
Even after all these years of marriage, she still called my mom "Mrs. George."
One gift box contained men's cologne, a familiar scent that Peter liked.
The other box had a jade bracelet.
I threw both boxes into the trash.
Kate's eyebrows furrowed in anger. "Honey, what are you doing?"