And now, today, she had done something unimaginable: selling the gifts she had once given them.
A heavy discomfort pressed against Raiden’s chest, like a thick block of cotton, suffocating him with its weight.
Astrella had turned into something cold, a lifeless stone. The warmth and light she once radiated toward him had disappeared, leaving only emptiness.
The thought of it made his heart tighten. As his hand rose to knock on the door, his phone rang, breaking his troubled thoughts.
"Raiden, the university needs you to go on a business trip to Maplewood. With the year winding down, considering your situation, you’re allowed to bring your wife and child. It’ll be a good chance to relax and all expenses will be covered."
Something stirred deep inside him.
Astrella was from Maplewood, yet after their marriage, she had never once returned. She’d been too busy caring for him.
Without thinking, Raiden found himself agreeing to the offer, the words slipping out of him as if they were the only solution.