Chapter 2

When Jules arrived home, it was already the wee hours of the morning. I had already washed up and gone to bed.

In the past, to make Jules feel the warmth of home, I would leave a light on for him whenever he came back late. I would also curl up on the narrow couch, waiting for him to return.

Even though he would always grumble and say that I was asking for trouble, I still enjoyed it.

I thought he was just being tough on the outside, but kind-hearted on the inside. Now, I realized that he might have been serious.

After I took a bath and lay comfortably on the spacious bed tonight, I actually agreed with Jules.

Instead of sleeping on the two-meter-wide bed, I huddled on the couch. Was I not asking for trouble? I would never do such a foolish thing again.

A warm body snuggled up behind me, and a sweet-smelling perfume wafted into my nose.

I recognized the scent. It was the same scent that Maddie used, the Maison Margiela perfume.

Before this, I loved Jules' embrace and felt extremely safe, like a ship finally reaching the harbor in a storm.

Now, my mind was filled with the image of Maddie buried in his arms at night.

I suddenly felt a bit nauseous, so I pushed his hand away, grabbed the pillow, and headed toward the guest room.

Jules clearly had not expected me to do this.

After all, I used to snuggle into his arms the moment he lay down.

"Sophie Sanders, is something wrong with you? I come home exhausted after a long day, and yet I still have to put up with your attitude. Can't you be a little more considerate?"

Exhausted after a long day?

Hearing his pathetic lie, I found it laughable. He was probably tired from accompanying Maddie and having fun all night.

I looked at him calmly. "Do you even remember what day it is today?"

Jules frowned, his face full of impatience. "What day could it be? The number of days we've been together? What date anniversary? You women love to take random dates so seriously. I just don't understand."

Although I had already decided to end this five-year relationship, hearing these words still caused pangs of pain in my heart.

I remembered that on our first wedding anniversary, I prepared a candlelight dinner at home, ordered takeout from his favorite restaurant, and personally decorated the table and arranged the flowers.

I thought Jules would be pleasantly surprised when he opened the door. Instead, I was met with a barrage of accusations. He said he was already exhausted from a day's work and did not have the energy to deal with these things.

I was incredibly confused then, wondering, 'Shouldn't being together be about feeling happy and energized just seeing each other after coming home tired from work? Why is he acting like I’m a burden instead?'

That day, I said nothing, silently cleaned up the kitchen, and went to the guest room.

I only had myself to blame; A bouquet and an explanation from him were enough to appease me the next day.

He said he was just too tired from work and spoke without thinking, and that he was the kind of person who avoided emotional matters, disliked these formalities, and felt that all that mattered was the two of us being together.

I believed him then.

Looking back now, I was incredibly stupid.

He said he disliked music festivals, but he still went to Coachella with Maddie, holding that pink cotton candy! Look. What emotional avoidance? He was just avoiding me.

"Today is our fifth wedding anniversary. Three days ago, you handed me two Coachella VIP wristbands, saying you'd go with me today. Today, I waited for you outside the VIP entrance for two hours and called you 27 times, but you still didn't come."

Jules' expression froze. "I was too busy at work today and forgot. I'll go with you next time."

As he spoke, he leaned in and tried to put his arm around my waist, which was his usual way of making things up to me.

I used to always forgive him, but this time I took a step back, looking directly into his eyes. "I was going to watch the concert myself, but then I realized my wristbands were gone too."

A hint of guilt flashed in Jules' eyes. He probably assumed I would not go alone, so he never imagined I would discover the wristbands were missing. However, his face remained defiant. "Did you lose it yourself, or did you misplace it? Anyway, I didn't go with you this time, and it's pointless for you to go alone. I'll buy tickets again and go with you next time."

Listening to his endless lies, my heart sank.

They said one lie would lead to 100 more. If I pressed him further, he would probably keep making excuses.

However, I did not want to argue with him.

I opened a trending topic on social media and held up the most popular video to him. "Really? Are you busy with work or busy with Maddie, busy man? Also, I probably didn't lose the wristbands; there must have been a 'thief' at home."