After that night, everything with Adrian shifted dramatically.

The divorce papers vanished from conversation, as if they'd never existed.


He even became somewhat… demanding.

At seven sharp each morning, he'd drag me from bed to make his breakfast.

"You promised me home-cooked breakfasts, remember? Or is that another convenient memory lapse?"


At eleven, while playing with Milo, my phone would ring.

"I'm off at eleven. Bring spicy shredded potatoes and sweet and sour ribs. You promised to cook lunch for me daily. Did you think claiming amnesia would get you out of kitchen duty?"


During Friday dinner, Adrian casually dropped:

"I'm off this weekend. You registered us for that parent-child activity. Don't forget—early start tomorrow."

Hold up. According to him, I spent virtually every waking moment with or for Adrian.

When exactly would I have found time for secret dinners with other men?

Was I secretly capable of bilocation?

The infuriating part was how matter-of-fact he sounded, leaving me no room to question anything.

I had no choice but to nod and play along with whatever he claimed.

My daily lunch deliveries quickly became hospital gossip. Within a week, every doctor and nurse knew about Adrian's doting wife.

They discovered Adrian had a devoted wife who could cook like a dream, and the compliments started flowing.

"Dr. Young is so lucky! Mrs. Young isn't just gorgeous—she's a culinary genius!"

They branded us the "perfect couple."

I fingered the divorce papers still in my bag, feeling like the world's biggest fraud.

One day, arriving with lunch, I learned Adrian was doing rounds. The nurse suggested I wait in his office.

Browsing his impressive bookshelf, I pulled out the least medical-looking volume.

As I flipped through it, a small travel brochure fell out from between the pages.

Me: ???

Who hides books inside other books after high school?

Curious, I glanced at his computer screen. Several tabs were open, all showing:

"Effective communication strategies for married couples"

"How to strengthen your wife's emotional attachment"

"Family activities that build stronger bonds"

What was the brilliant doctor researching during work hours? Marriage counseling?

Before I could investigate further, the door opened. I slammed the laptop shut.

"What are you doing?"

I snatched up the lunch containers.

"Just waiting to have lunch with you."

Adrian ruffled my hair, offered a rare smile, and handed me a sanitizing wipe.

"Clean up. Let's eat."

Just as I laid out our meal, the door burst open without a knock.

"Something smells amazing! You don't mind if I join, do you?"

Serena. Of course.

I automatically stood and greeted her. "Hello, Serena."

She breezed past me like I was furniture and planted herself next to Adrian.

"Keeping all this delicious food to yourself? You should have called me!"

I stood frozen, completely unsure how to handle this intrusion.

"Get out."

Adrian's two words cut through the air like a whip.

Serena's head snapped toward him.

He didn't even look up from his food.

"Did no one teach you to knock before entering, Dr. Blue?"

Serena's perfect smile vanished instantly.

"Adrian, what are you implying? That I lack basic manners?"

"Barging in unannounced and interrupting a private lunch between husband and wife—you tell me."

Her face drained of color at his words.

She bit her lip, shot me a venomous glare, and stormed out, heels clicking furiously.

The angry click-clack of her retreat sounded like machine gun fire.

What was her problem? I hadn't done anything to her!

I fumed silently.

Chewing thoughtfully, I ventured a question.

"Did something happen between you and Serena?"

"No."

He continued eating, face impassive.

I dropped the subject and focused on my food.

To my surprise, Adrian abruptly set down his chopsticks.

"Can't you act like a proper wife? Serena means nothing to either of us. She's just a colleague.

You were clearly upset when she barged in. Why stay silent? And why address her so familiarly? She hasn't earned your respect."

I stared at him. Had he kicked Serena out because he noticed my discomfort?

Something warm bloomed in my chest.

Did he actually care about me?

Emboldened by this realization, I blurted out:

"Adrian, will you always have my back like this?"

He looked startled by my question. He focused intently on his food.

"Yes, but only if you behave yourself."

I opened my mouth to respond when my phone chimed.

I checked the screen—unknown number.

"Hey sis, I rocked it that night, right? Ready for an encore?"

My hand shook so badly I almost dropped my phone in my food.

I frantically deleted the message and blocked the number!

What kind of sleazy message was that? Had I actually been cheating?

Cold dread washed over me as I glanced at Adrian.

"Adrian… hypothetically speaking… if I had actually cheated…"

"I'd beat the hell out of him."

Well then.