Chapter 10
To ensure I’d be ready for my move to Seattle, I checked myself out of the hospital on the sixth evening. Serena had called earlier, saying she’d be delayed.
At home, I busied myself with packing, ignoring my phone as it lit up repeatedly with notifications.
It wasn’t until Serena was banging on my door, furious, that I realized how late it had gotten.
I opened the door and pushed three large suitcases toward her.
Her face fell in shock. “What’s this supposed to mean?”
I replied coldly, “I’ve packed all your clothes. Take them.”
Her expression shifted to unease as she stammered, “Did you… go into my closet?”
I scoffed, nodding toward the suitcases. “That wooden box of yours? It’s in there too.”
In five years of marriage, I had never stepped foot into Serena’s walk–in closet. I didn’t realize she had placed the wooden box in such an obvious spot.
Inside was an aged journal, detailing her infatuation
Every word dripped with emotion.
Bath Lucas Stone when she was 18.
Tucked between the pages was a carefully preserved photo of Lucas’s
Seeing my darkened expression, Serena scrambled to explain. “Dope.
misunderstand. I haven’t opened that box in years. Lucas and I-”
“Enough, Serena,” I interrupted. “I don’t want to hear another word about
1 pushed the suitcases and Serena out the door.
That night, she didn’t leave. She stood downstairs, waiting, while I sat by the window, lost in thought under the moonlight.
When had things changed between us?
When had things changed between us?
Perhaps it was the first time Lucas and I had both wanted the same limited–edition watch.
The day before, Serena had told me she’d managed to buy it. But after returning from a business trip, she said she hadn’t.
When I pressed her, she snapped, “I misspoke. I didn’t buy it.”
So why did that same watch appear on Lucas’s wrist at his company’s grand opening?
The crowd marveled at his ability to acquire something so rare.
Serena probably thought I didn’t notice. But from the moment I decided to leave her, I began investigating everything.
Even though I was prepared for the truth, seeing the evidence laid out still hurt more than I expected.
At that moment, I felt relieved that Serena and I had no children.
Over the years, whenever the topic of kids came up at gatherings, Serena would deflect, claiming I was too busy with work. I played along, aking the blame to save face for her.
But the truth was, Serena never wanted children with me.
Her journal revealed her true thoughts: she only wanted to have children with one person in this lifetime.
It wasn’t with me.
