Chapter 4

The next morning, before I could even go find Chloe, she was already pounding on my door. And of course, she had brought Ethan with her.

I knew she hadn't come to apologize or to make up for our anniversary. She was just terrified that I would show up at her studio and ruin her image as a glamorous single pop star, which would kill her lucrative PR romance with Austin.

"Logan, you are seriously a nightmare! I had to cancel my morning interviews to rush over here. Do you have any idea how exhausting it was dodging the paparazzi?!"

Chloe yanked off her sunglasses and mask, looking like a busy CEO who had just graced a peasant with her presence.

I was in the kitchen cooking and didn't bother to look at her. I was done with her attitude.

The scent of food filled the kitchen. I flipped the vegetables in the pan. Over the past five years, even though I couldn't speak, I had used my free time to learn new things.

Like cooking. And painting, which I had never truly given up.

My cooking was probably the only reason Chloe ever came home. She was a picky eater, but I always found ways to make things she loved.

I ignored her shouting from the living room. But the peace didn't last long.

Ethan walked into the kitchen. Despite being just an assistant, he was wearing an expensive designer suit, leaning against the counter with an arrogant smirk.

"Well, look at Chef Logan. Long time no see."

Ethan sneered, his eyes filled with mockery.

Ethan was the only one in Chloe's circle who knew I was her husband. He had been with her since her debut.

At first, he was incredibly respectful, calling me "sir" and acting very humble. I thought he was a good kid and felt safe having him manage Chloe's schedule. But as Chloe's attitude toward me grew colder, he began to show his true colors.

I kept cooking, ignoring him.

But Ethan wouldn't stop. He started pacing around the kitchen, pointing at things as if he owned the place.

"Is this floor even clean? And this pan looks ancient. Don't tell me you can't afford a new one?" He tapped the edge of the pan with his expensive watch, making a sharp, annoying sound.

"Logan, I remember Chloe used to praise you for being so neat and hardworking. But honestly, this place looks like a dump."

I remained silent. He was clearly trying to get a reaction out of me, but I didn't give him the satisfaction.

"Why aren't you answering?" Ethan leaned in closer, pretending to be surprised. "Oh, right. Silly me. It's been so long, I forgot you're a mute."

Chloe walked into the kitchen then. She saw Ethan making trouble, and her brow furrowed slightly, but she quickly smoothed it over.

"Ethan, why are you in the kitchen?" Chloe's voice was soft, filled with a gentle tolerance she never showed me.

Seeing her, Ethan immediately changed his face. He walked over to Chloe, grabbed her arm gently, and put on a victim act.

"Chloe, I just couldn't help it. The kitchen is such a mess, and I wanted to help Logan clean up."

"But I think he took it the wrong way. And look at this food. You have a cover shoot coming up and need to stay in shape. This stuff is loaded with oil and salt. I just don't want you ruining your diet."

Ethan looked at her with puppy-dog eyes, acting as if he cared so much about her health.

Chloe looked back at Ethan, her eyes filled with a tenderness I hadn't seen in years. "Ethan, thank God I have you. Go wait in the car and help me check my schedule for the week."

Once he left, she turned to me. I didn't react, keeping my face completely blank as I continued cooking.

My lack of emotion only angered her more.

"Logan! What is this silent treatment supposed to be? Acting like you don't care about anything, playing the victim... it's exhausting to look at!"

"You begged me to come back, and now that I'm here, you're giving me attitude!"

It was hilarious. I had begged her to come back *yesterday* for our anniversary. She had missed it, and now she was acting like she was doing me a favor.

She snatched the spatula out of my hand to stop me, but her reckless movement knocked the pan. Hot oil splashed out, landing directly on my wrist.

Chloe froze, not expecting that. I looked down at my wrist. A painful blister was already forming.

My expression didn't change. I felt as if my heart had been stabbed so many times that a little physical pain couldn't even register anymore.

Even with me acting this abnormal, Chloe didn't notice anything wrong. She just gave me a cold, dismissive excuse to ease her own guilt:

"Whatever. Ethan is just blunt, don't take it personally. And besides, a little cheat meal won't kill me."

Whether it was the superstar Austin or this cheap assistant Ethan, it seemed like anyone in Chloe's life deserved her kindness except me.

A random assistant got all her warmth, while my sacrifice was treated like garbage.

I was so, so tired.