A Love Gone Cold

After my husband got into a car accident, he started acting strange and unpredictable.

I went to countless doctors, and every one of them told me the same thing—he couldn't be provoked, and I had to go along with whatever he wanted.

When he said he didn't want me in the master bedroom, I moved my things into the guest room next door.

When he said his childhood sweetheart had cancer and he wanted to spend her last days with her, I even brought her into our home.

One night, when I went downstairs to get some medicine for my stomach, I heard Harvey's voice, his tone oh so tender.

"Katie, you have to live on. If you don't, I'll die too."

Katie's breathy, trembling voice followed. "Are you sure Jenna's willing to donate her bone marrow to me?"

"Of course. Even if she had to die for me, she'd do it willingly."

I froze in place. Tears streamed down my face.

That's right. Five years ago, I had donated one of my kidneys to him. Back then, I loved him so much that I really would have died for him.

But now, all I wanted was to leave.

I pressed a hand to my aching stomach while rummaging through the first-aid kit for something to ease the pain.

Suddenly, someone yanked me back by the collar and forced me to turn around.

Harvey Jackson frowned impatiently.

"It's the middle of the night! What's with all the ruckus? You keep saying you want me to get better, but deep down you're just waiting for me to die so you can inherit the Jacksons' fortune and save your useless brother, aren't you?"

My stomach ached even more, and I clung to his shirt.

"Harvey, my stomach hurts," I choked out.

He froze for a moment before prying my fingers off one by one.

"Jenna, I'm the one who's sick. Drop the act. It won't work on me."

My hand slipped down helplessly.

Just then, Katie walked in with a hand over her belly. She wrapped her arms around Harvey's arm and said coyly, "Harvey, I'm hungry. Will you make me barbecued ribs?"

I stood there in stunned silence. I even stopped feeling my stomachache. I just stared at Harvey.

He used to love my barbecued ribs. Sometimes, he'd eat them for both lunch and dinner. I gave up my career just so I could take care of him.

So… It was really for Katie all along?

Harvey shuffled his feet uncomfortably under my gaze, then shoved me aside.

"I'm hungry. Go make barbecued ribs."

"I…" The words got stuck in my throat. In the end, I just pressed a hand to my stomach and went to the kitchen.

From outside, laughter and playful voices drifted in. Harvey, who was once cold and distant, was now warm and lively with Katie.

Over an hour later, I brought out a plate of barbecued ribs and set it on the table.

Katie took one bite before rushing to the trash can and gagging violently. Her face turned pale.

"Harvey, I should leave. If I stay any longer, I won't even last a month."

Harvey shot me a vicious glare.

He rushed over, scooped Katie into his arms, and tenderly wiped the corners of her lips. He even patted her back gently.

When she finally calmed down, he stormed back, grabbed me by the neck, and shoved my head into a pot of soup.

His voice was shrill.

"Jenna, how disgusting can you get? You knew Katie was sick, and you still tried to torment her! Did I really fall in love with someone this evil?"

The greasy broth burned as it flooded my mouth, nose, and eyes.

I coughed and choked until Harvey finally let go.

My hair clung to my face. Soup dripped down my body, leaving me a soaking, filthy mess.

I didn't care about that. I shoved him away with all my strength and stumbled into the bathroom before rinsing my burning eyes under cold water.

After a long while, I lifted my head and met the woman in the mirror with a bitter smile.

'Jenna, was it worth it?' I asked myself.

Suddenly, the bathroom door rattled with heavy pounding. Supporting myself against the wall, I stepped out and saw a flicker of panic in Harvey's eyes. However, it was gone as quickly as it came.

The barbecued ribs lay scattered on the floor. Sauce splattered everywhere.

Harvey pinched me by the waist. His smile was cruel.

"You're my wife. I got into that accident because of you. Cleaning this up shouldn't be a problem, right?"

I nodded while ignoring the pain in my chest and stomach.

I reached for the broom, but Harvey grabbed my wrist and laughed.

"Jenna, don't waste food. Get on your knees and lick it clean."