I just dropped my head as I silently put away the ultrasound report into my pocket.

However, as he passed by me, I smelt a usual gardenia fragrant from him. Max had never used any floral perfume before. That scent was mixed with the smell of the hospital's disinfectant.

Then when the realization hit me, my heart clenched with devastation.

He had gone to the hospital again, to see his cancer-ridden ex.

Part 2

I opened my social media feed. Just as I suspected, his "first love" had posted the new update.

Her caption read, "Today, I got another critical condition notice. I really think this is the end for me."

Then she posted a picture of her wearing a hospital gown while nestling in the arms of a man.

Although the man's face was not visible, I knew right away that it was Max.

I knew that because he was wearing the same clothes that he wore today. The same clothes that I had given him as a Valentine's gift.

I finally realized that the reason for his depression was Leanne Green. He was worried about his first love's condition.

I numbly closed my phone, walked to the dining table and ate dinner alone. The food tasted like sawdust, utterly flavorless.

As I ate, I remembered the first time we met. Me and Max met on a blind date. However, what he did not know was that I had been pinning for him for eight years.

Of course, when he finally proposed to me. I was overjoyed. Although I knew that he did not love me, I still said yes.

I was making a gamble. I was hoping that he would eventually fall in love with me after our marriage.

Instead, the only thing that I got was the news that his true love had returned from abroad after her divorce.

That night, Max returned home late. He told me he had to work overtime. However, there was a whiff aroma of gardenia on his body.

The reason I knew that it was Leanne was because she was the daughter of the man who had married my mother after she divorced my father.

It was my birthday that day. However, my mother did not care. She had never sent me even a single message to congratulate me. However, her social media was full of pictures of the dumplings she made to welcome her stepdaughter.

At that moment, I could not eat anymore. Maybe I had cooked them too long because they became too bitter to swallow.

Part 3