Chapter 3

"Caroline, are you absolutely sure? You know my lab has very strict rules. You’ll have to live on campus and be on call constantly..."

"I'm sure, Dr. Porter. Please make the arrangements."

After hanging up, I booked a one-way flight to New York for a week later.

The next second, Clement’s suspicious voice sounded from behind me.

"Caroline, why are you looking at flights? Where are you going?"

I calmly locked my screen and slipped the phone away.

"Nothing. I just clicked on an ad by mistake."

He frowned, staring at me intensely.

He knew I had no family or friends in this city.

Years ago, I had abandoned everything to follow him to Miami, thousands of miles away from my hometown.

During our years of marriage, I had sacrificed all my hobbies and social life, letting my entire world revolve around him.

Seeing nothing unusual on my face, his expression softened. He handed me a takeout box.

"What do you want to eat tomorrow? I’ll bring it over."

A strong, pungent smell of spicy seafood hit my nose. I recoiled slightly and shook my head.

"No, thank you. I’ve already eaten."

Clement's face immediately darkened.

"Caroline, you're just throwing a tantrum because I brought your food late."

"You have nothing to do but relax in this hospital room all day. Can't you show some appreciation for how hard I work and how much I have to overtime?"

Listening to his typical blame-shifting, I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.

My reaction seemed to infuriate him. He tossed the takeout box straight into the trash can.

"Fine. Starve then."

As Clement was about to walk out of the room, I couldn't help but ask.

"Clement, as a prestigious university professor, do you really not know the basic medical common sense that post-surgery patients cannot have spicy food or seafood?"

His footsteps halted. But he didn't apologize. He walked out without looking back, leaving the room smelling of spicy seafood.

Five days later, I discharged myself and went home. Before I even reached the door, I could hear laughter and music coming from inside.

My hand froze on the doorknob.

I pushed the door open. The living room was covered in Grace’s portrait posters, with birthday balloons floating everywhere. A crowd was throwing a huge birthday party for Grace.

Surrounded by cheering friends, Clement was sharing a drink with a blushing Grace.

Grace looked up, saw me, and smirked.

"Caroline! You're out of the hospital! Why are you just standing at the door? Come in!"

Hearing her voice, everyone turned to look at the entrance.

Clement quickly let go of Grace’s waist and walked over to help me sit on the couch.

"Why didn't you call me to pick you up?"

I looked at him with a faint, tired smile. "I did call you. You didn't pick up."