Chapter 3

The next morning, when I opened my eyes, Justin was already sitting on the edge of the bed with breakfast in hand.

"Violet, something came up at work, a big project. I have to go on a business trip."

I stared at him, contempt filling me.

To get to Iceland, he'd actually reached for an excuse this clumsy.

I didn't take the bowl. My voice came out cold. "You absolutely have to go? You can't stay and be with me and our daughter?"

"If it really can't be helped, I'll call your boss and ask for leave on your behalf."

Justin pulled me into his arms.

"I know you just had the baby, and you want me here with you. But this is work. I can't get out of it."

"This is the critical stretch for my career right now. If I land this project, I'll make director."

"And then I can give you and our daughter a better life."

He looked at me, his eyes full of tenderness.

So it turned out love could be acted this convincingly.

Carolyn, sitting and playing with the baby, chimed in to persuade me too.

"Violet, you've got a postpartum nurse for your recovery. You don't really need him at your side."

I turned my head to look at her, my tone even.

"Then I'll let him go on his trip. Carolyn, you stay and take care of me and the baby instead."

Carolyn's smile stiffened for a second, then she waved a hand. "That... won't really work. I've got a project of my own, and it happens I have to travel for it too."

"Well, isn't that a coincidence. Both of you traveling."

Justin's brow was already furrowed.

"Violet, don't be so suspicious. What connection could there possibly be between our two trips?"

"You don't understand how these company things work. Don't just go imagining things."

For the next five days, Justin took care of me himself, hands-on with everything.

The day he left, he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Violet, wait for me. Next month I'll be home with you the whole time."

Too bad. I no longer planned to wait for him.

In our chat, Justin reported his schedule to me every day. I never replied once.

On Carolyn's secret account, the posts updated every day.

The newest one was two figures shot from behind, clinging tightly to each other under the northern lights.

The caption: 【After all the wandering, when will we finally cross every hardship together.】

The day the week was up, Justin called.

"Violet, there's been a hitch with the project. We're behind schedule."

"Looks like it'll be a while before I can get back. Just focus on your recovery."

"The project needs some money fronted, so I'm going to borrow from the fund we set up for our daughter for now."

I swallowed the question I wanted to ask and nodded.

Carolyn's secret account kept updating constantly.

They left Iceland, went to Paris, went to Switzerland.

Every one of these was a place Justin had once promised to take me and our daughter.

And now he was using the money from our daughter's account to make it happen early, with another woman.

The day my confinement ended, Justin showed up travel-worn, holding a bouquet of bright red roses.

"Violet, congratulations on finishing your recovery."

Carolyn followed close behind him, her tone light.

"Violet, I've set up a big dinner out tonight. You've been cooped up for a month, you must be dying for it."

I ignored the flowers he held out.

I pushed the signed divorce papers in front of me across to him.

"Let's get divorced, Justin."

"I already know about the two of you."