Chapter 5

My eyes automatically drifted to Chloe. Her beautiful face still wore that familiar expression of arrogance and disdain—a look I had endured for six years.

But this time, I caught a brief flash of panic in her eyes.

But she quickly recovered, looking at me with a cold glare and raising her chin.

"What are you staring at? Am I wrong?"

For the first time in my life, I didn't argue. I walked straight into the bedroom.

I didn't have much money left, so I decided to put this house on the market.

It was time to finally start loving myself.

I was on the phone with a real estate agent, sorting out the details, when someone pounded loudly on the door.

"Leo, get out here!"

My hands paused for a second before I went back to packing, completely ignoring her.

"Leo, it was just a little bit of money! I'll pay you back later! Why are you giving me this silent treatment?"

She said it so casually, as if she didn't know that money was literally keeping me alive.

Seeing that I wasn't responding, Chloe spat out, "Leo, don't you dare regret this."

The heavy front door slammed shut, leaving the apartment dead silent. I let out a long, slow sigh.

The real estate agent was a really nice guy. The house was in a great location, so it sold quickly.

Seeing that I was in a rush to move, he even helped me find a small rental near the hospital and set me up with a moving company.

Once everything was packed, the movers came.

I had decorated every inch of this home myself. I used to fantasize about our married life here—maybe we'd have a kid, maybe we'd laugh and cook together. But none of my dreams ever came true.

My phone buzzed repeatedly on the counter. I looked down and saw "Wife" flashing on the screen.

I picked up, and Chloe’s slurred, drunken voice blasted through the receiver.

"Leo, come to the club and pick me up right now. Hurry up!"

Before I could say a word, she hung up, just like she always did. I sighed. Maybe because I had strained myself packing, my bones were aching with a sharp, deep pain.

I took a deep breath. I wanted to lay everything out clearly before checking into the hospital, so I pushed through the pain and drove to the club she pinned.