Chapter 2

Ten past ten at night.

Tilda's mother, my mother-in-law, called.

Like Tilda, she opened with an accusation.

"Humphrey, have you been mistreating my Tilly?"

"No."

"Then why did she call me in tears? Have you forgotten what you promised me when you married her?"

Her voice climbed.

"I haven't forgotten."

"If you haven't, then tell me what happened. If it's your fault, apologize to her. If it's hers, tell me, and I'll set her straight myself."

"Nothing happened. I just want a divorce."

The words landed, and there were four or five full seconds of silence before her mother's voice came back, shrill.

"Divorce? Have you lost your mind? You don't just throw a marriage away. Tell me, what on earth happened?"

I didn't answer.

"Fine. You won't talk. I'll ask Tilly."

The call ended. Two minutes later, the phone rang again.

She wasn't furious this time. She coaxed. "I know all about it now. It's just a misunderstanding. That Aaron is a junior from Tilly's college days. She's always thought of him as a little brother."

Little brother?

The kind of little brother she walks into a love hotel with?

"She told you he's just a little brother, but I saw the two of them go into a hotel together tonight."

Her mother went quiet, then hesitated a few seconds before she spoke. "Humphrey, are you sure you didn't see wrong? Tilly said she was working late at the office tonight."

"See wrong? I've shared a bed with her for five years. You think I couldn't recognize my own wife from behind?"

She fell silent again, longer this time.

"Humphrey, I think you should trust Tilly. She isn't that kind of person."

"Her going into a hotel with that Aaron doesn't have to mean what you're imagining. It could have been for work."

"You, though, you're always suspicious over nothing. How many times have I told you? A man has to be big about these things."

I laughed.

Mother and daughter, no doubt about it. Even the words were identical.

"Just go home. I'll call Tilly and have her give you a proper explanation."

An explanation?

No need. My heart is already dead.

Two years ago, I might have believed whatever Tilda said.

She really was good to me, after all, apart from the occasional temper.

But not now.

Because these past two years I've seen her get close with Aaron more than once.

They'd eat off the same pair of chopsticks, walk hand in hand through the shops, hug in public.

It wasn't as if I never let my face go cold. But Tilda's explanation was always the same handful of lines.

"I wasn't paying attention. Don't make a thing out of something so small."

"A little closeness between an older sister and a younger brother is perfectly normal. You're the one reading too much into it."

"Humphrey, I'm your wife. I'm the person closest to you. Do you really not even trust me?"

Ha.

I've been wondering why I was such a fool. My heart already doubted her, and still I lied to myself, still I refused to face the truth until it cut me to the core.

Five years ago, I married Tilda.

At the wedding, I promised her parents I'd cherish her for life, love her, and never let her suffer the slightest wrong.

For five years, I never wavered.

Whatever she wanted, I gave.

However she wanted me to act, I acted.

Even when we fought, I was always the one to apologize first, to agree to condition after condition.

I don't understand. I'd done everything right, so why did she still have to hurt me?

Then a gust of wind kicked up and blew a flyer against my feet.

【Valentine's Day! Come share a romantic, passionate date with the one you love!】

Looking at that headline, I found my answer.

She just doesn't love me anymore.