Chains in the Deep - Chapter 1

Our marriage was filled with silent cracks from the very beginning.

The night before setting sail, I handed the pills and a glass of water to Alistair.

He took them silently, without looking at me, and tilted his head back to swallow both the pills and water. His Adam’s apple moved, the action swift. Then, with a routine indifference, he leaned over me.

Just like every time in the past twelve years.

Afterwards, a hollow sense of satisfaction made me drowsy. He lay on top of me, his voice low as he called my name: “Vivian.”

“Mm.”

“Let’s watch the sunrise at sea tomorrow,” he said. “We’ll have to get up early.”

“Okay,” I mumbled, my consciousness already sinking into chaos.

It felt like I had just closed my eyes when I was awakened. A little past three in the morning, Alistair was already dressed. He patiently helped me into my clothes, wrapped me in a thick coat, and then lifted me horizontally.

By the time I was fully awake, we were already on the rocking boat.

The sky, like a dome, covered the boundless blue sea. On the distant horizon, the crimson of dawn had quietly seeped in, tearing through the deep blue sky.

Alistair faced this breathtaking sea sunrise, yet his face showed no trace of joy.

It was then that a cold thought pierced through my drowsiness: why would Alistair suggest this?

In our marriage, he was always the passive recipient. He calmly and submissively cooperated with me to maintain appearances, reluctantly fulfilling his duties as a husband. He dutifully completed what was expected of him, but was stingy in giving more.

He had no expectations for me, no impulses, no love, and naturally, no desire to share the world’s beauty with me.

So, it was impossible for him to take the initiative to bring me on a trip, to watch the sunrise at sea, and even less likely to enthusiastically invite me to the side of the boat to see jellyfish-unless there was some ulterior motive behind it all.

I should have sensed the anomaly in the air sooner.

He was known for his restraint and propriety, but ultimately, I had pushed him to this point.