My Husband Cheated With His Childhood Friend

As I choked down the last bite of seafood, my body instantly revolted. A scorching pain seared through my throat, and my chest felt like a huge weight was crushing it. Around me, the laughter kept going, but the room started spinning. I stood up, swaying, my knuckles going white as I gripped the armrest to steady myself.

"I'm heading to my room," I somehow got out.

Not a soul paid me any mind. Zaiden didn't so much as glance my way. Only Mila bothered to answer, her voice dripping with mockery. "Take care of yourself, Kataleya."

I stumbled into the bathroom attached to our bedroom, desperate to vomit up that disgusting food, but nothing would come. I crouched by the toilet, letting the shower run to drown out the sound of my dry heaving. My white lace dress clung to me, soaked through, and dark bruises stained my thighs—just the sight of it made my stomach drop.

I even jammed my fingers down my throat, but all I did was draw blood. Dizzy and out of it, I somehow dragged myself to the bed and collapsed on top of it.

No one knocked. No one cared whether I lived or died.

It wasn't until evening, when Zaiden finally returned to the bedroom, that he even noticed me curled up on the bed. "Honey, what's wrong?" he asked, then it dawned on him. "Are you allergic to seafood?"

I stayed silent, my breathing the only sound filling the room. His sudden panic threw me off. He rushed to get allergy meds and tended to me all night long. Yet, not once did he mutter a single apology.

Even so, the tears still fell. I was grateful for even the tiniest scrap of care.

In my foggy state, it felt like we were tangled together once more, lost in a fleeting moment of tenderness.