I pulled up the message Avery had sent me hours ago and held it in front of her. “Avery, is this what you call an explanation...?”
Before I could finish, she slapped the phone out of my hand, her emotions flaring even more intensely.
“Dennis, wasn’t focusing on the career first something we decided together? Do I really need to explain how marketable the ‘perfect housewife’ image is right now? My marriage to Bryan is just for publicity, for the sake of my career! And you—being this petty—do you even count as a man? You’re disgusting!”
After saying her piece, Avery slammed the door and stormed out.
I got up and looked at my swollen left cheek in the mirror, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Eight years of love, and even a fake marriage for publicity couldn’t be mine. I raised my hand and slapped my right cheek hard, a blow to remind myself—never again to be such a spineless fool chasing after someone who didn’t care.
After washing up, I had barely lain down on the bed when I received a message from my mother: