Alpha, Let's break our bond

The next few days were followed in silence. We talked almost nothing. I was busy with my office work and he was never free for me. Even our dinners were going in silence. We would finish our meal and go back to our bed with no talking to each other. He was expecting me to apologize for my rude behavior towards him. He was sulking because according to him he was putting efforts in our marriage while I was not appreciating it. He had no idea how much of my efforts were gone in vain without him noticing it, let alone appreciating.

In the past, I used to be the one who would coax him if he stopped talking to me even for a single day. But now, I don't have the heart for it.

One day, I came back from the office and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner for us. To my surprise, Erick was already there. His back was facing towards me. For the past five years of our marriage and the ten years of living together in his parents’ home, I had never seen him stepping foot in the kitchen. He would call someone even if he needed a glass of water rather than going to the kitchen himself. I was surprised to see him standing there.

“Are you hungry? I just got back from the office, haven't cooked anything yet. How come you came earlier today?” I asked. My voice startled him and he turned to face me. He was wearing an apron yet his face was covered with flour and spices. I was stunned.

“What are you doing here?” I blurted out. He smiled awkwardly before saying excitedly, “Go fresh yourself, Lizzy. I have prepared dinner for us. You don't need to cook today.”

I shot a glance at my kitchen. It looked messy. He seemed to understand my worry and immediately added, “I'll clean everything after the dinner.”

He didn't let me help him in cooking and prepared everything himself. I was sitting on the dining chair while he was serving Chicken Noodle soup to my bowl. He looked excited while asking, “ Come on, hurry up and tell me how it tastes.”

He might forget that I disliked everything containing noodles in it. Besides, it tasted awful. Considering it was his first time cooking and seeing his efforts in trying to make up with me for the first time, I forced a smile on my face and said, “ It tastes delicious.”

He smiled gently and said, “ Then take some more. You are getting thinner day by day.”

I don't know if he said this casually or he was really noticing me. I smiled and forcefully took a few more sips from my bowl. Just then his phone rang. He put the spoon back and excused himself to pick up the call.

Not long after my phone started flickering with notifications. I checked my phone and found another post from Christine. This time she had posted a picture of a man's back. I couldn't ignore the apron tied on his back. It was the same color Erick was wearing a few minutes ago. She had added a caption to her post. [ I was feeling too tired to cook. He made me my favorite Chicken Noodle Soup. To be honest, it was awful. But, he promised to practice it everyday until he would be best at cooking it. My mother told me to find a man who can cook for you. I guess I have already found one.]

There were several love emojis with the caption.

My hands were clenched into fists. I was thinking that he made efforts in making up with me, even if it was preparing an awful dinner for me. Turned out I was just a laboratory rat for him on which he was testing his cooking skills to impress his mistress. I couldn't feel more embarrassed in my eyes than I already was. It was just ridiculous.

I stared at the bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup with burning eyes and pushed it aside. I stood up from the chair without doing dinner. I was about to leave and Erick appeared before my eyes, adding fuel to the fire. He glanced at my unfinished soup and asked me in innocence, “ You didn't finish your dinner?”

“I lost my appetite.” I replied angrily.

“Why are you being angry all of sudden?” He asked with gloomy eyes.

“I’m not angry. I just don't feel hungry anymore.” I replied, the volume of my voice increasing by a few decibels which infuriated Erick as he pursed his lips before yelling, “ Lizzy, Can you stop being dramatic everyday? Can’t you just be happy for sometime?”

After reading Christine’s post, my mind was not at ease. My whole body was shaking in anger. I accepted my husband’s betrayal to me but I could never let him toy me around. However, I didn't want to argue with him over Christine’s matter. I already had enough flights with him over her. I only added, “You know what, Erick, your soup tastes awful. Besides, I don't like noodles. So, if you want to let anyone test it before the final show, at least feed it to someone who actually likes it. Not me, okay?”

“You don't like Noodles? Lizzy, I’m sorry I…” He couldn't finish his words as I ignored him and walked out.

That night I slept without dinner while the sound of dishes continued echoing in my ears. Erick spent the whole night cleaning the mess he had created in the kitchen. For what? Just to impress his childhood sweetheart.

He was doing everything for Christine that I used to do for him. The only difference it had, Christine acknowledged his efforts but he never acknowledged mine.