Chapter 3

When we got home, Li Kai saw the dinner and cake on the table and only then realized it was our first wedding anniversary.

I had the day off today. When I woke up this morning, I had specifically asked him, “Do you have any work dinners tonight? If not, come home to eat.”

He had readily agreed.

I thought he was pretending not to know, planning a surprise of his own.

But he had truly forgotten.

And I had been so full of joy, preparing a surprise and gifts for him.

Heh… how ironic and laughable it seems now.

“Honey, I’m sorry. We were both too sensitive today.”

Li Kai tried to hug me, but I sidestepped him.

A flicker of guilt crossed his face. “I’ll go heat up the food and cut the cake,” he said sheepishly.

We ate dinner, each lost in our own thoughts.

The food, reheated, had lost its original flavor, just like our marriage.

This was our first wedding anniversary, what people call a paper anniversary.

Was my marriage to Li Kai really as fragile as a piece of paper, so easily torn?

After my shower, I lay in bed, pretending to be asleep.

A moment later, I heard the cap of a pill bottle by the bed being twisted open.

It was the melatonin he took without fail every day. Usually, he took it five hours before bed, but he was late tonight.

A little while later, I felt the mattress dip beside me.

I didn’t dare move, trying my best to keep my breathing even.

Li Kai leaned over to kiss me. When I didn’t respond, he pulled back.

We both knew the other was awake.

After a long time, the sound of steady, deep breathing filled the room. I knew Li Kai was in a deep sleep.

But my mind was wide awake.

The seed of doubt was rooted in my heart, leaving me tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

I knew I had to do something.