Chapter 4

"Let's go watch a movie this weekend," Hudson said as he changed his shoes at the door.

"I don't feel like it." I didn't look up from my laptop, continuing to organize my transition files.

"Fiona gave me two tickets. She said it's a great movie."

"You two go."

"She has her own ticket. The three of us are going together."

Hudson walked over and closed my laptop shut.

"Stop locking yourself in the house all day. No wonder you have such a bad attitude lately."

I stared at him. "Okay."

It wasn't until we reached the theater that I realized it was a horror movie.

Fiona held a tub of popcorn, looking completely innocent.

"Angie, aren't you scared? I have the worst courage."

"No."

The lights dimmed. Within the first ten minutes, Fiona let out a sharp shriek.

She threw herself toward Hudson, grabbing his arm tightly and burying her face in his shoulder.

Hudson didn't push her away. Instead, he gently patted her back.

"It's okay. It's just CGI," his voice was incredibly gentle.

I sat on his other side, separated by the armrest where his jacket lay.

When the movie ended, Fiona turned to me.

"Angie, were you really not scared at all?"

"No."

Hudson cut in. "She's tough. She never needs anyone to worry about her."

Right. Because even if I did, it wouldn't be his turn to worry.

The cold wind outside the theater made my stomach cramp again.

"Let's grab a late-night snack," Hudson suggested.

As we passed a Mexican restaurant, I stopped.

I had asked Hudson to take me here three times. Every time, he said "next time."

I didn't say anything and kept walking.

"That one!" Fiona pointed at a seafood bistro ahead. "I've been dying to try that place!"

Without hesitation, Hudson steered us inside.

Once we were seated, the table was loaded with spicy seafood.

In front of me sat a glass of warm water.

Fiona bit into a spicy crab leg and suddenly spoke up.

"Angie, are you on a diet?"

"I noticed you barely touched your food during our last few dinners."

Before I could answer, she giggled.

"But I guess it's good. Girls look better in clothes when they're skinny."

Hudson didn't object. He actually agreed.

"She's always been like this. Eats like a bird."

It wasn't because I ate like a bird. It was because I couldn't eat a single dish you ordered.

The strong scent of spices hit my nose, worsening the spasms in my stomach.

I clenched my hands on my lap.

I suddenly realized something with painful clarity.

He hadn't forgotten that I couldn't eat spicy food. He simply didn't care enough to know.

When we got home, I rushed to the bathroom and threw up. There were traces of blood in the toilet bowl.

My phone rang.

"Home?" Hudson's voice came through.

"Yes."

"Get some sleep."

The call ended. Call duration: eight seconds.

The next day, we had a Zoom meeting.

Albert briefly introduced the project on the screen.

At the end, he added, "Angie, if you have any concerns about moving to Finland, let me know anytime."

"No concerns at all."

After closing the Zoom call, several voice messages popped up on my WhatsApp.

They were from Fiona.

"Angie, I want to tell you something, but please don't get mad at me."

"When Hudson drove me home yesterday, he said you've been so cold lately."

"He felt really hurt."

"Maybe you should show him a little more affection?"

I looked at the screen and suddenly laughed.

He felt hurt.

Okay.

I opened my work email and clicked [Confirm Transfer].

That evening, Hudson came home.

I was packing my documents in the study.

"Next weekend, I'm taking you and Fiona to a hot spring resort upstate to relax," he said, leaning against the doorframe.

"I'm not going."

"What is it this time?" He frowned.

I took the medical reports, doctors' instructions, and biopsy results from the drawer, stacked them neatly, and placed them on the corner of the desk.

"If you have time, read these."

He glanced at them but didn't pick them up.

"Yeah, I'll look at them later. First, about next weekend..."

"I'm tired, Hudson." I stood up, walked into the bedroom, and locked the door behind me.

"Are you throwing another tantrum?!"

His angry, muffled voice came from the hallway.

I ignored him.