chapter 2
Taylor's words pierced my heart like silver needles.
All these Christmas memories came flooding back, and I realized she never had any phobia at allshe simply didn't love me.
Those two words "want to throw up" wrapped around my throat like iron chains, making it impossible to breathe.
She knew me better than anyone, which is exactly why she could strike at my soft spots with such precision, using them as leverage for her betrayal.
I remembered the name Jayden all too clearly.
He was the new intern who joined Taylor's company at the beginning of this Christmas season.
The first time she mentioned him, her voice was filled with barely concealed admiration.
She told me how Jayden had messed up an important partnership project.
But he refused to give up, blocking the departing business partner and tearfully begging for another chance, nearly fainting from emotional distress.
This kind of unwavering determination was something many college students today lacked.
In the end, Taylor couldn't stand watching anymore. She angrily confronted the aggressive business partner and pulled Jayden out of the conference room.
At the time, I didn't understand: "Isn't this just making a scene? He screwed up the company's partnershipthe responsibility is entirely his. The business partner has every right to terminate the deal. You can't force them to accept the partnership just because you feel sorry for Jayden."
Taylor rarely got angry with me, but this time her eyes flashed with disappointment: "And you call yourself a doctor? You don't have an ounce of empathy. I'm really disappointed in you."
I didn't doubt my perspective because of her anger and continued trying to correct her thinking.
But she stubbornly sided with Jayden, even suggesting that I'd been too sheltered.
Because of this incident, we didn't speak for several days.
In the end, I was the one who apologized, swallowing my pride to win her back.
From that day on, I remembered Jayden's name.
I just never imagined that Jayden would transform into Taylor's assistant.
It was also from that moment that an invisible barrier formed between Taylor and me.
When you love someone, you can't help but want to share every little detail of your life with them. When you stop sharing, that's when the love is gone.
All the signs had already surfaced.
After work, I went to bed early. I felt subtle movement beside me.
Familiar warmth pressed against me as Taylor's soft body wrapped around mine.
I fought back the urge to vomit, quickly rolling away and saying coldly, "It's too hot."
Her hand froze in mid-air, as if she hadn't expected me to pull away.
I could sense she was in a good mood tonightinitiating physical contact was already the most intimate gesture between us.
She didn't pursue it further, tucking the covers around me before turning away to look at her phone.
I don't know when it started, but Taylor, who never used to stay up late, began scrolling through her phone until the early hours, even clutching it when she went to the bathroom.
Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I suddenly received a text message. My instincts told me it was from Jayden.
I took a deep breath, my fingertips trembling as I opened it.
Jayden had sent me a screenshot of his chat with Taylor from five minutes earlier.
He'd sent Taylor a photo of himself in a bathrobe, along with a room number.
I don't dare ask you to divorce for me. I just want to stay by your side, to hold you when you're sad.
If you don't come tonight, I'll keep waiting.
And Taylor had softened, replying: Wait for me.
I'd never seen such a shameless man before. For a moment, I was stunned.