I wiped my tears, turned, and walked away. Then I canceled the specialist appointment I'd booked for Vivienne.
The receptionist on the other end of the line was baffled.
"Mr. Caldwell, you pulled every string you had to get Professor Kemistry on board. Why would you cancel now?"
I let out a bitter laugh.
"Because my wife got better. She even had a big, healthy baby boy."
That evening, when Vivienne came home, I nearly lost control. I wanted to rush at her, tear her apart.
I wanted to demand answers. Why? Why would you lie to me like this?
Was it all because I'd exposed what was going on between her and Caleb?
Four years. Four years of agony. From heartbreak to worry, to finally resigning myself to a lifetime of celibacy by her side. And in the end, all of it was nothing but a joke.
I watched Vivienne stroll into the living room without a care in the world. She pulled me into her arms and kissed my forehead.
"Honey, you can try that new technique you learned tonight. Maybe it'll work this time."
My gaze locked onto her face, searching for even the faintest trace of guilt.
In the end, I clenched my jaw and nodded.
"Sure."