Chapter 2

The next morning, I met Howard.

"Sorry, I got caught up with something last night." As he spoke, he handed me a beautifully wrapped box. "This is a gift for you."

I opened the exquisitely packaged box and looked at the necklace inside, feeling no joy at all.

Noticing my indifference, he asked, "Don't you like it?"

I closed the box and said, "I like it." But I didn't let him put it on me like he used to.

"Do you want me to help you put it on?" Howard asked, frowning slightly.

I shook my head. "Can you come home early tonight? I need to talk to you about something important."

"Sorry, I am fully occupied tonight." Howard turned me down, almost the only request I've made of him in years. "If you have something to say, just say it now."

I smiled at him and said, "Let's get a divorce." I'm fed up with being the only one putting effort into this marriage.

"Alright." He paused while changing his clothes, perhaps surprised by my proposal.

"I'm off to work." I picked up my bag, for the first time in years, not watching his departing figure with a sense of inferiority.

Recently, our team took on a major advertising project. The boss announced that the team leader who successfully led their team to win the contract would take over the department head position.

Not having to stress about making dinner every night might be a good thing for me, as it allowed me to focus more on work.

After handling the initial details of the proposal, I stretched and relaxed. It was already past noon, and a few friends had messaged me on WhatsApp, but Howard hadn't contacted me.

"Have some milk." A warm cup of milk appeared on my desk, accompanied by a deep male voice.

I looked around. All my colleagues had left, leaving just me and him. "Why haven't you left yet?"

"The team leader hasn't left. How could an intern like me leave early?" he said.

"Fair enough, kid." I laughed, patting his shoulder, and glanced at his name badge, Brandon Nash. "Let's go, I'll treat you to lunch."

"Any recommendation?" I asked him.

Brandon didn't hold back and suggested a place. Unfortunately, I had never been there before. "Can you drive?"

"Yes." He readily took the keys from my hand and opened the passenger door for me.

My heart was touched. It had been so long since someone had opened a car door for me. Howard would only say, "Hey, what are you doing? Hurry up and get in."

On the road, Brandon's gaze flickered as if he wanted to say something but didn't know where to start. So, I broke the silence first. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

He quickly replied, "No," with a hint of panic in his eyes.

"Why so nervous?" I teased, looking at him playfully. "I'm not your professor, and you're not a minor either. You're old enough to date. Do you have a girl you like?"

Brandon's face turned bright red. Suddenly, I found him refreshingly cute compared to those scheming mature men.

I was surprised when Brandon took me to eat street stall hamburgers. "Good choice, young man." I loved having street stall hamburgers as they had the best pickle. They were really delicious when mixed with meat and cheese.

Halfway through the meal, I received a belated WhatsApp message from Howard: "When are you coming home?"

It was downright ridiculous. A man who had his fun outside now expected his wife to wait on him hand and foot. Was he missing a towel or his underwear? I had meticulously cared for him for three years, yet I still hadn't won his heart.

There was a time when I had my pride too.

I put my phone back in my bag, not bothering to reply to Howard. He wouldn't care anyway. "Do you have anywhere to go afterward?"

Brandon looked at me quietly and blurted out, "How about my place?"

I looked at him, pressed my lips together, and smiled.