Griffin was furious, "What do you mean 'your' and 'mine'? We're husband and wife, what's yours is mine. What's wrong with me spending my own money to give my junior a gift?"

"Griffin, I never realized you were so shameless!"

Griffin and I had been in a relationship for ten years and the most expensive gift he ever gave me was an eighty dollars necklace. He kept saying that once he graduated with his PhD and found a good job, he'd buy me everything I wanted. I used to think he was just frugal and good at managing money, but now it seemed he was only saving money on me.

"Hey, Wendy, this coat is a too youthful for you. How about I give it to you?"

"Who wants your used clothes anyway?" Wendy complained.

Griffin got impatient, "Janice, you're being rude. I'm having a good day and don't want to argue with you. Stop it!"

Wendy pulled him back, "Hey, Griffin, you gave me your down jacket. Your lips are all white from the cold."

She took Griffin's hands and breathed on them, "Does that make you feel warmer?"

Griffin couldn't help but smile, "Much warmer."

"I'll give the coat back to you. Don't catch a cold." Wendy took off the down jacket and offered it to Griffin.

"I'm a grown man, I'm not afraid of the cold. You're weak and easily chilled, you should wear it."

Wendy stubbornly refused, "No way! It would break my heart to see you cold. I'd rather be sick myself than see you sick. Griffin, just put it on. If you don't wear it, I won't either."

After a long struggle, Griffin finally had no choice but to put on the down jacket. Wendy was shivering uncontrollably, but still stubbornly insisted she wasn't cold.

Griffin suddenly turned his gaze to me, "Take off your down jacket and give it to Wendy."

I couldn't believe what I had just heard and it took me a while to react.

"Why should I?"

"You're not afraid of the cold, why are you wearing such a thick coat?"

"I'm just afraid of the heat, that doesn't mean I'm not afraid of the cold."

"Stop talking nonsense and take off your coat and give it to Wendy."

As he spoke, Griffin reached out.

I immediately backed away, "What are you doing? Did I agree to give her my coat? Let go!"

Ignoring my resistance, Griffin insisted on tearing the down jacket off me. I couldn't possibly give him my clothes, so I clung to them desperately.

Wendy's teeth chattered, "Griffin, please don't make things difficult for Janice. I'm fine, I won't freeze to death."

Hearing her trembling voice, Griffin tightened his grip.

My struggle with him was violent; the ground was slippery and I lost my balance and fell backward, hitting the back of my head. Luckily, I was wearing a thick cotton hat, otherwise I would definitely have bled. Even so, I was dazed for a while after the fall.

Taking advantage of my unconsciousness, Griffin quickly ripped off my down jacket. By the time I came to my senses, my down jacket was already on Wendy.

"Griffin, Janice seems to have fallen pretty hard. Why don't you check on her?"

"We’re Frostvale locals, who hasn't fallen in winter? Besides, she's as strong as an ox, a fall won't kill her."

Then he turned to me, "If you're too cold, just take a taxi home. Anyway, it's not like you've never seen these ice sculptures before. I can keep Wendy company you." Griffin put his arm around Wendy and walked away without looking back.

The tourists in the scenic area were all watching me. Some whispered, some took out their phones to film me. I believe that soon there would be videos of me online, with all sorts of stories attached. Maybe I would even be maliciously portrayed as a mistress.

But none of that matters anymore.

I struggled to sit up. The minus twenty degree wind was nothing compared to the cold in my heart. I really didn't want to admit it, but my ten years of youth had ultimately been wasted.

I stood up and walked outside the scenic area, waiting for almost an hour before I could hail a taxi. I was already frozen stiff; I had no feeling in my body.

The driver asked me with concern, "Young lady, why didn't you wear a down jacket in this freezing weather?"

"Just say I got kicked in the head by a donkey."

If I hadn't gotten kicked in the head by a donkey, how could I have supported Griffin for seven years, supporting his master's and doctoral studies? If I hadn't gotten kicked in the head by a donkey, how could I have bought a ring and proposed to him?

Back home, I huddled under the covers for a long time to recover. Griffin and Wendy didn't come home until dark and Wendy was still wearing my winter jacket.

"Janice, I brought you some barbecue. See how good I am to you, right?"

Griffin held the takeout barbecue in front of me, "Eat it quickly, it'll get cold soon."

"You brought me back your leftovers?" I couldn’t believe what I see.

"What leftovers? I brought this especially for you!"

"Don't you know I don't eat lamb?" I squinted my eyes.

Griffin's expression changed, "Maybe the shopkeeper made a mistake."

I wasn't feeling well and couldn't help coughing twice.

Wendy immediately exclaimed in alarm, "Oh dear, Janice, you haven't caught the flu, have you?! This wave of flu is extremely contagious and it's hard to recover from once you get it."

Griffin was very worried, "Wendy, you're not well, please don't let her catch it."

"Then what should we do? We live under the same roof after all."

"Let's just go to a hotel, this house is already full of viruses." Griffin picked up Wendy's bag, about to take her out.

"Janice, I'll take Wendy to a hotel first, we'll come back when you're better."

I called Wendy back, "Wendy."

Wendy turned around, "Janice, it was Griffin who insisted on taking me to a hotel, I couldn't help it."

"Janice, Wendy and I will get two rooms, don't overthink it." Griffin looked displeased.

"Don't worry, Janice. Even if Griffin and I are in the same room, it's him explaining the topic to me."

"I just wanted to tell Wendy that I'm a soldier," I said casually.

Wendy scoffed, "Janice, so what if you're a soldier? Are you any more noble than us ordinary people?"

Breaking up a military marriage had consequences, that’s what I wanted to say.

I watched them walk away, then called my best friend, Suzy Jackson, "Griffin took his junior to a hotel. Can you check where they went?"

The Jackson Family owned some hotels. Griffin, who cared about his pride, wouldn't stay at a budget hotel with Wendy. Well, they'd most likely stay at one of Suzy's family's chain five-star hotels.

Sure enough, a short while later, Suzy sent me the location and room number. They did indeed book two rooms.

I messaged Suzy, "Keep an eye on them for me."

Ten minutes later, Suzy called me, "Your husband's junior sister went to his room!"

I remained calm, "Do you have time now?"

"Yes! Come with me to catch him cheating."

I rushed to the hotel, started a live stream and even spent a lot of money to buy some viewers.

"Hello everyone, my husband is a PhD student at a research institute. He's incredibly hardworking and considerate. We just had our wedding two days ago and he's already taken his junior colleague to a hotel to conduct research."

Immediately, someone in the live stream asked, "Are you sure your husband is taking his junior colleague to the hotel to conduct research and not just to play cards?"

"Definitely not. My husband took his junior colleague to the hotel to discuss his research so as not to disturb my rest, because I have a slight cold."

"Besides, my husband is about to graduate with his PhD and will go directly to the research institute after graduation. If he has any issues with his conduct, he'll be expelled from the institute and seven years of hard work will be wasted."

"Furthermore, I'm a soldier and his junior colleague is an internet celebrity. I trust their character; they wouldn't break the law or gamble with their future."

The chat then asked which internet celebrity I was referring to and I immediately gave her Wendy's ID. Her account had hundreds of thousands of followers and she cultivated a persona of a beautiful, highly educated and clear-headed woman. Online, she was a self-reliant, strong and clear-headed woman who never flattered men.

"I bought their favorite little cakes to surprise them. Let's go, friends, I can't wait to see my husband's surprised expression."

Suzy grabbed the room key and opened the door with a ding.

I rushed in, phone in hand, "Surprise, honey!"

The two people on the bed, who were making love, were instantly stunned.