Chapter 1 The Dinner Table
Mu Jinci scooped a spoonful of soup and said, casual as anything, “I’m heading to Chen Yi’s place.”
Chen Yi was her first love.
In the five years we’d been married, most of our fights started with his name.
I couldn’t stand how she kept in touch with him after we’d said our vows. She called me insecure, said I had no backbone for Being Jealous.
She’d always shut me down with lines like, “Chen Yi and I are just friends. You really think anything would’ve happened between us? Then how did I end up marrying you?”
Those words worked every time.
In the past, if she’d told me she was going to his place and might not come home, I’d have lost it. We’d scream, go silent for days, and I’d always be the one to cave first.
Five years of the same cycle.
Suddenly, it all felt pointless.
Why drag it out?
“Got it,” I said.
“If it gets late, I probably won’t come back.”
“That’s fine. Driving at night isn’t safe.”
“...”
Mu Jinci opened her mouth, then closed it.
After a pause, she actually explained. “Chen Yi fractured his foot. He just got out of the hospital. I’m going to see if he needs anything. That’s all.”
“Okay.”
I nodded calmly.
But she didn’t look happy about it.
Her brows drew together. “Are you mad?”
Mad?
Five years ago, yeah, I would’ve been furious.
Furious that even after marrying me, she still couldn’t cut him off.
Furious that whenever it came down to choosing, I was always the one left behind.
Most of all, furious at myself for ignoring every chance to walk away, for keep betting on a different ending.
Five years of pain and resentment had left me bruised all over.
But now?
I wasn’t mad at all.