Vivian's POV

"Elaine... ah..."

The shower was still running, but Theodore's low, breathless moan came clearly through the bathroom door.

I clapped a hand over my mouth, my whole body shaking as I stumbled backward.

My foot caught on something.

I slammed into the sink.

A sharp crack of pain shot through my old knee injury. My bad leg gave out instantly, and I collapsed onto the floor, cold water splashing across my nightgown.

The pain was so intense I could barely breathe.

But it wasn't my leg that hurt the most.

It was the thought that the man behind that door was using the very legs I'd ruined to save his life while losing himself over another woman.

We'd been married for five years.

Not once had he ever called my name like that.

"Vivian?"

The bathroom door opened.

Theodore stepped out in a loose bathrobe, water still dripping from his hair. His belt, however, was tied neatly in place. He was always put together, no matter what.

He looked down at me with a slight frown and reached out a hand.

"Did you hurt yourself? Let me help you."

"No."

My voice shook as I slapped his hand away.

I gripped the edge of the sink with both hands and forced myself upright. Then I limped toward the bedroom as fast as I could.

Theodore followed.

"Are you sure you're okay? Let me take a look."

"I'm fine."

I hurried into bed and pulled the covers tightly around myself, hiding my trembling legs beneath them.

"All right." His voice was still calm. "Oh, and today is our anniversary."

He took out a beautifully wrapped box and set it on the nightstand.

"Open it tomorrow. I hope you like it."

"Okay."

I didn't need to look.

I already knew what was inside.

Counting the watches he'd given me for my birthdays over the years, there were already nine identical ones in my drawer.

This would be the tenth.

I used to tell myself he was just bad at picking gifts.

Later, I realized the truth.

He simply didn't want to spend any real thought on me.

Or maybe this was his way of paying back the debt he believed he owed me for saving his life.

Years ago, after Elaine Avalon left the country, Theodore drank himself numb.

One summer night, he was stumbling across the street, drunk and barely aware of what was happening around him. A car came speeding toward him.

I didn't hesitate.

I pushed him out of the way.

The car hit me instead.

Both my legs were crushed beneath the wheels.

I had just graduated from dance school that year.

The accident took away my career, my stage, and the ability to walk normally ever again.

Theodore proposed to me while I was still in the hospital.

That huge diamond ring made me believe, for a little while, that I'd finally gotten the love I'd spent years waiting for.

But slowly, I came to understand what it really was.

Responsibility.

Guilt.

A debt he felt obligated to repay.

Anything but love.

After the lights went out, the king-size bed felt colder than ever.

I slept on one side.

Theodore stayed as far away from me as possible on the other.

There was enough empty space between us for three more people.

Neither of us mentioned her name.

Elaine.

Elaine Avalon. His college classmate. His first love. The woman who had always occupied a place in his heart that I could never reach.

In the dark, I pulled out my phone and opened the email again. An acceptance letter from a university overseas.

My finger hovered over the confirmation button, trembling.

I was afraid.

If I took this step, I might lose even the little bit of stability I had left in this marriage.

But I was even more afraid that five years from now, I'd still be that pathetic woman sitting on the floor, making excuses for him and lying to myself.

I counted to seven.

Then I stopped hesitating and hit **Confirm Payment**.

A second later, the message appeared.

**Payment successful.**

My hands were still shaking. Tears were still running down my face.

But for the first time in five years, the weight pressing down on my chest finally broke apart.

---

Theodore was already gone the next morning.

Usually, I'd feel empty whenever I woke up and found him gone.

Today, I felt something else first.

Relief.

When I thought about that confirmation email, I realized something I'd never allowed myself to think before.

There was a life beyond Theodore Ashford.

And this time, I was going to choose my own path.

I had a language exam the next day, and the test center was a long way from home. I pulled out a suitcase and started packing for a hotel nearby.

Mrs. Yates walked in with a glass of milk and froze when she saw me.

"Mrs. Ashford, where are you going?"

"I'm meeting a college friend. She's performing tonight."

"But your leg..." She hesitated. "Let me come with you."

"No. It's just a girls' night."

"Then I should let Mr. Ashford know."

"Don't. He's busy."

I left the house almost as if I were running away.

The sunlight was painfully bright. Out of habit, I lowered my head and pulled my cap farther down.

Then, after a moment, I straightened my back.

After checking into the hotel, I went out to find the easiest route to the test center.

That was when I spotted Theodore's black Maybach parked on the corner.

For a moment, my old habits took over.

I pulled out my phone.

But before I could type anything, a new post from Elaine appeared on my screen.

It was a selfie of her smiling brightly, followed by a schedule of dinners and get-togethers for the week.

Wednesday stood out in bold letters:

**Theo is hosting. ❤️**

My fingers went still.

So she had never really left his world.

She still had their friends. Their memories. Their place in the same social circle.

And me?

Aside from being Mrs. Ashford, I had nothing.

Still, I couldn't let it go.

For five years, I'd kept wanting to get a little closer, to check one more time, to see if there would ever be a moment when Theodore would choose my side.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the upscale restaurant.

A server led me down a hallway and stopped outside a private dining room with frosted glass doors.

Loud laughter spilled through the glass.

"Come on, Theo. Seriously. With your money and looks, you could have anyone. Why settle for someone who can barely walk?"

"At least Mrs. Ashford is still a normal woman. It's just her leg that's messed up."

"You know what I mean!" another man said, his voice getting louder. "I'm just saying it's a waste. Theo has everything—money, looks, connections. And now he has to stay home and take care of a porcelain doll who needs help walking a few steps."

He laughed.

"What is that supposed to be? A marriage or an adoption?"

The room went silent.

Theodore didn't say a word.

Somehow, his silence hurt more than their insults.

"Come on, guys," Elaine said softly. "Don't talk about her like that. She got hurt saving Theo, after all. He owes her that much."

Then she let out a soft laugh.

"But honestly, I've always been curious. What does she actually look like when she walks?"

The laughter exploded again.

Through the glass, I saw one of Theodore's friends holding up a water glass as he exaggerated a limp, twisting his body from side to side.

"Th-eo... I'm thirsty... Theo, help me! I'm gonna fall..."

Elaine collapsed against Theodore's shoulder, laughing.

And Theodore simply looked at her with a smile, doing nothing to stop it.

My mind went blank.

Heat rushed to my head.

I shoved the door open.

I locked eyes with Theodore.

After everything I'd given him—my legs and five years of my life—there was only one thing I wanted to know.

How much colder could my husband possibly be?