I looked at Chase's terminal liver cancer report and emotionlessly stuffed it into the drawer. Although I wanted to see Chase's pained expression upon knowing he had little time left, I feared he would refuse to divorce me if he knew and I also worried the mistress might abandon him. Until I had concrete evidence of their affair to file for divorce, I couldn't break things off with them.
The moment I found out about his affair, I decided to divorce him. If I didn't, I'd have to keep vigil for him when he died and have my name engraved on his tombstone as his wife, which would disgust me for life.
The sound of water from the bathroom stopped. I lay back down and closed my eyes. Soon, Chase habitually pulled me into his arms and kissed my face before falling into a deep sleep. Once I heard his snores, I broke free from his embrace and wiped the spot he kissed. Just thinking about him kissing another woman recently made my stomach churn and I ran to the bathroom to throw up.
When you feel someone is dirty, touching them can indeed make you vomit. Chase endured me for so many years, after all.
I left the bathroom and went to sleep in the guest room to avoid hearing his snores and dreaming of ending him. Once I lay down again, I finally dared to cry out in the dark. Letting go of a ten-year relationship with Chase felt like carving out my heart.
We were considered a model couple by everyone and Chase was known for being devoted to his wife. In life, he treated me with care and tenderness, making me believe I had married for love. Now, I smelled the nauseating stench hidden beneath that love.
I didn't sleep all night and woke up with swollen eyes. There were important matters to attend to, so I couldn't stay in bed. After getting ready and going downstairs, I found Chase, who was supposed to be at work, still at home. Seeing him instantly irritated me, making me want to smash things to vent my frustration.
Chase's eyes lit up when he saw me. "Honey, you're awake? I made your favorite soup dumplings. Come and eat ... Honey, what's wrong with your eyes? Are you allergic? Let's go to the hospital and check."
Taking a deep breath, I couldn't continue pretending to love him. "No, I have urgent matters today. Eat by yourself. I'm not allergic, just didn't sleep well, no need for the hospital."