After Rosalie finished her shower, I was already in bed, waiting with the bedside lamp set to a cozy orange glow.

It was our usual way of signaling that we wanted to be close.

I didn’t actually have any specific plans. I just wanted to test her.

As expected, Rosalie, who had never turned me down before, rejected my advance without hesitation.

“Honey, it’s really late. Let’s talk about this tomorrow,” she said.

“Staying up late isn’t good for your skin. Just go to sleep,” I replied.

I looked at her and said, “Okay, let’s sleep.”

Rosalie lay down, turning her back to me.

I placed my hand gently on her slim waist.

I had wanted a child since we got married, and her parents had been urging us as well.

We had agreed earlier this year that she would start trying after the New Year.

But after Blake showed up, Rosalie changed her mind.

She said she was still young and in a critical phase of her career and having a child would be too disruptive.

I understood and even helped convince her parents to wait a few more years for a grandchild.

Looking back, I realize how naive I was.

Rosalie complained that my hand on her was as heavy as a pig’s trotter and uncomfortable.

It was a stark contrast to how she used to need me to hold her to fall asleep.

Now, it was the complete opposite.

With a heavy heart, I withdrew my hand and turned off the light, settling in for the night.

The next day, Rosalie flew off to Phuket.

For the entire three days she was away, she didn’t send a single message or make a single call.

Her social media was silent too.

But Blake’s social media was noisy.

There were pictures of blue skies, white clouds, and palm-fringed beaches.

There were surfing, diving, and beach parties.

The woman constantly by his side never fully showed her face and wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, but it was unmistakably Rosalie.

After years of sharing a bed, I knew her inside out.

Yet seeing her in those photos felt oddly unfamiliar.

She seemed so relaxed with Blake, her smile wide and genuine.

I’d never seen Rosalie this happy, not even during our early romance.

It was clear who she truly loved.

Seeing those pictures gave me a brief sting, but it quickly passed.

I liked every post and then sent Rosalie a message.

[When you get back from Phuket, let’s get a divorce.]

Within ten seconds, my phone rang.

Rosalie’s voice was filled with anger.

“Eason, what the hell is this about? Why are you suddenly talking about divorce?”

“Did you lose your mind or something?”

I told her I wasn’t crazy, just that I’d given it a lot of thought.

“And what’s the reason? Give me a reason!”

I replied calmly, “Do you remember what I said to you on our wedding day?”

“What are you talking about?”

“If you’ve forgotten, then there’s no point in discussing it.”

I took a deep breath and said, “Rosalie, let’s just say I’m done with this relationship. It’s better if we part ways now.”

“Eason, are you seeing someone else?”

I was caught off guard. I never expected her, the one who had betrayed me, to think this way.

Wasn’t she the one who had strayed?

In a moment of frustration, I snapped, “Yes, I’ve moved on!”

“Eason, you bastard!”

Even over the phone, I could picture Rosalie’s face, her eyes narrowed in anger, and her voice trembling with rage.

“You swore you’d love me forever! And now, just a few years into our marriage, you’re cheating on me?”

“How could you do this to me, to my family?”

The irony of her indignation wasn’t lost on me. She was the one who had strayed, yet she spoke as if she were the wronged party.

I didn’t respond, just listened quietly as she unleashed her anger.

When she was done, she finally said, with venom in her voice, “So, you really want a divorce, Eason?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Fine. If your heart’s not with me anymore, then there’s no point in holding on. I’ll agree to the divorce. Go ahead, pursue your so-called true love.”

“But I have one condition. Let’s wait until after my grandmother’s birthday next week.”

“She’s old, and her heart isn’t strong.”

“You wouldn’t want to upset her with this news and risk her health, would you?”

I agreed.

It was an easy choice. Rosalie’s grandmother had always been good to me.

Since we got married, I made it a habit to visit Rosalie’s grandma twice a week. We’d chat, play cards, and I’d keep her company.

Rain or shine, I never missed a visit, more often than Rosalie herself.

Grandma was always touched by my dedication. She even mentioned leaving me the old family house in her will, a property worth quite a bit.

Whenever she brought it up, I’d just smile and brush it off.

After confronting Rosalie about everything, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

That evening, I picked up some fruit and milk and headed over to see Grandma.

As always, she was thrilled to see me. The moment I walked in, she grabbed my hand and started asking how I’d been.

“Eason, I’ve missed you these past few days. Have you been busy?”

I nodded, saying things had been hectic but were finally calming down.

“And Rosalie? She told me she’d come with you today. Why isn’t she here?”

“Grandma, Rosalie’s on a business trip. She won’t be back until tomorrow.”

Grandma wasn’t easily fooled. She’d seen enough in her life to know when something was off.

“Eason, tell me the truth. Did you and Rosalie fight?”

I quickly denied it.

“Don’t try to hide it from me. I can see it on your face.”

She sighed and spoke softly, her voice full of the wisdom that only comes with age. “Eason, life is unpredictable. You have to cherish the people you love.”

“It wasn’t easy for you and Rosalie to get to this point.”

“Rosalie... She’s always been a bit stubborn and spoiled, but she’s got a good heart. She’s a good wife.”

“So, be patient with her. And if you ever need to talk, I’m here for you.”

I forced a smile and assured her I would.

She seemed relieved. “I know you’re a good, sensible boy. Now, how about we play some cards? I’ve been looking forward to it.”

I was just about to agree when suddenly, Grandma clutched her chest, her face going pale.

Panic hit me hard. I rushed to her side, asking what was wrong.

She started trembling, unable to speak, with drool at the corner of her mouth.

I didn’t waste a second. I grabbed my phone and called for an ambulance immediately.

At the hospital, they rushed Grandma straight into the emergency room.

The doctor didn’t hold back. Her condition was critical. Given her age, there was less than a fifty percent chance she’d make it.

After confirming I was family, he urged me to contact her closest relatives immediately.

I tried Rosalie’s parents first, but both their phones were off.

With no other choice, I called Rosalie.

When someone answered, it wasn’t her voice I heard. It was Blake’s.

“Hello? Who’s this?” he asked, sounding annoyed.

“Where’s Rosalie?” I shot back, ignoring his question.

“Mrs. Lane’s busy tonight. Call back tomorrow,” he replied, ready to brush me off.

Just as Blake was about to hang up, I heard Rosalie’s voice in the background, muffled but unmistakable.

“Blake, I’m done with my shower. Who’s on the phone?”

“Doesn’t matter. Let’s not get distracted…”

The call cut off, leaving me with nothing but a cold dial tone.

Given the time of night and the way she spoke, it didn’t take a genius to figure out what they were up to.

My anger flared, but I forced it down and dialed again.

Blake answered, his tone now laced with impatience. “What the hell is wrong with you? I told you that Mrs. Lane is busy. Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow.”

I kept my voice steady. “This is Eason.”

There was a brief pause before Blake responded, his tone shifting immediately.

“Oh, Mr. Lane... didn’t realize it was you. What’s going on? Something important?”

“I know she’s with you,” I said, my voice cold. “Put her on the phone.”

“Mr. Lane, she’s still in a meeting. Maybe you should…”

“Give her the damn phone,” I cut him off, my patience wearing thin.

Blake reluctantly passed the phone to Rosalie.

“Mrs. Lane, it’s your husband.”

There was a long pause before Rosalie finally spoke, her voice cold and distant.

“Eason, what do you want?”

“Your grandmother’s in the hospital. The doctors say it’s serious. I couldn’t reach your parents, so you need to…”

“Are you serious right now?”

Rosalie’s voice spiked with irritation.

“You’re using my grandmother as an excuse to call me in the middle of the night?”

“I’m not joking. She’s really in the hospital, and it’s bad. You need to get back here.”

“I’m in Phuket, Eason. It’s not like I can just hop over like I’m in the next town.”

“Stop lying. I know you’re back in San Diego.”

There was a brief silence, then she asked, “How do you know that?”

I didn’t bother telling her I’d seen Blake’s social media posts.

He’d probably set them to hide from her.

“It doesn’t matter how I know. If you want to see your grandmother one last time, you better…”

Rosalie cut me off, her voice a mix of anger and uncertainty. “Eason, I’m asking you, how do you know I’m in San Diego?”

“Are you having me followed? Investigating me?”

Her tone was sharp, but there was a hint of anxiety beneath it.