No More Trust, No More Deception

A few days later, Kate was recovering well.

I had a pressing project at work, and my boss was pushing for progress, so I couldn't take a long leave.

Instead of asking Angelina to care for Kate, I hired a caregiver.

After a long day at work, I arrived at the hospital late in the evening.

Kate saw me and mentioned that Angelina had visited and cried.

She had a soft spot for Angelina and urged me to make amends with Angelina, suggesting that compromises were key in a relationship.

I assured Kate that I would take care of everything and not to worry.

The next day, I resumed work.

In the evenings, I would be by Kate's side, taking care of her.

For seven consecutive days, I didn't contact Angelina, didn't go home, and felt no urge to return.

In the past, even a short separation would have worried me, leading to self-reflection.

Now, those feelings had faded.

Occasionally, I would recall the kindness Angelina had shown me, but it all hinged on the absence of her ex-boyfriend.

A few days later, Kate was discharged.

I continued to stay with Kate to look after her.

As my mother expressed her concerns about the escalating conflicts between my wife and me, she urged me to prioritize our marriage.

While I was washing her feet, she emphasized, "Son, you should go back. I'm fine.

"Your relationship with your wife is what truly matters.

"You know, during the day when you're at work, it's Angelina who's been taking care of me.

"She's been on leave to look after me, but that girl has a strange temper. She asked me not to tell you."

Witnessing our strained relationship, my mother felt anxious.

This confession touched me deeply.

Reflecting on the past, I remembered how Angelina and I met in college.

Despite many admirers, she chose Troy.

But they broke up soon after, and Troy chose a girl named Julia Roberts.

I seized the opportunity to confess my feelings.

She readily accepted.

Our courtship was sweet and memorable.

Angelina would buy me breakfast every morning and have it delivered to my dorm.

We'd stroll around the campus, counting the stars together in innocence.

I even stood outside her dorm in the rain, serenading her.

When I fell ill, she disregarded social norms and tended to me in the male dorm, fetching medicine and doing my laundry.

She even saved up her living expenses to buy me my first computer.

Her kindness was etched in my memory.

However, post-marriage, we discovered she couldn't conceive. Despite this, I didn't resent her and fabricated reasons to avoid discussing children with my mother.

What I couldn't accept was Angelina's continued interactions with her ex-boyfriend after our marriage.

The night of Kate's surgery was a moment of profound despair and heartache for me.

"Son, listen to me. Go back and stay there. I can manage on my own. You're not needed here," Kate earnestly advised me.

"Alright, Mom."

I nodded, not wanting to worry her.

Late one night, Angelina messaged me, asking about Kate's health.

It was her first contact in half a month since our argument, a gesture of reconciliation.

I could tell she was trying to give me a way out.

It was the first time she had taken the initiative and also the first time she had softened after a fight.

Despite this olive branch, I remained unfazed and turned off my phone, heading straight to bed.