The Love That Broke Me

On the third anniversary of our marriage, Jade made this huge, public love confession to her first love on the big screen in the central square.

"We're never gonna have to miss each other like this ever again."

Of course, I had to ask her why it had to be tonight.

She shrugged like it was no big deal and said, "Because this day's important to you! When you get mad, it just makes him happier, and that makes him love me even more!"

I posted their little declaration online, captioning it:

'A Blessing for Eternal Love.'

But as soon as the video went viral, Jade logged into my account and quickly deleted it. As expected, the scolding phone call followed.

'I was just trying to make him happy! Do you really have to overreact? Your petty behavior is disgusting!'

The next second, I got a photo of Jade with her first love, Henry James. They were kissing, full-on, in French style. In the past, I would've lost it. But this time, I chose to stay calm and just walk away.

Then, Jade finally came home around dawn.

I woke up to the noise she was making. "Luke, I was only gone for one night! Why are you acting like this is a big deal?"

Glancing at the mess on the dining table, I didn't say anything. I went straight to wash up. Jade is somewhat obsessed with cleanliness, so I knew the sight of the mess I left behind from my solo candlelit dinner would get on her nerves.

Usually, I would've cleaned it up and waited for her, stubbornly hoping she'd come home before morning. But after seeing that photo of them from Henry last night, I felt oddly relieved. I drank some wine, slept soundly, and didn't even bother leaving the lights on or waiting on the couch.

It was peaceful.

"I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?" Jade snapped.

I spat out the toothpaste and replied, "If you can't stand it, clean it up yourself."

Her face darkened. To my surprise, she rolled up her sleeves and cleaned the mess. When she noticed the ten empty wine bottles, her brow furrowed. "You drank all of these by yourself?"

When we got married, we purchased ten bottles of wine together, promising to open one every ten years to celebrate our anniversary. But last night, I only had one glass.

The rest? I poured it down the drain.

Besides, I didn't feel like explaining it, so I just nodded.

Meanwhile, she looked shocked, mistaking my silence for sorrow, and said, "I couldn't get your favorite soup dumplings, but the seafood porridge from next door is just as good. Have some to fill your stomach. I'll make you some hangover soup."

I replied stingily, "Oh."

It was classic Jade.

She would slap me, then try to appease me with a sweet gesture. It was her usual way of manipulating me. But, of course, I didn't call her out on it.

Ten minutes earlier, Henry had posted on his social media:

'Someone went to the pier before dawn to get the freshest seafood just to make me a bowl of seafood porridge, feeling blessed.'

In the photo, the woman who wouldn't normally lift a finger in the kitchen is wearing a dark apron and focused on preparing seafood.

Contrasting with the woman in front of me, I opened Jade's food container to find the porridge cold, with just a few pieces of scallion and celery. There was no seafood. I tossed it in the trash just as she turned around.

"Luke, I waited in line to get that for you, and this is how you act? So ungrateful!" She thought if she told a lie to please me, I should just let it slide.

With a blank expression, I said, "I can't eat seafood right now."

Her hand froze mid-slice as she cut ginger. "Stop being so dramatic!" she snapped.

I knew exactly what she really wanted to say. After venting her frustration, she focused on making the hangover soup, but it was nothing compared to the effort she put into that seafood porridge for Henry. Right then, Jade's phone buzzed. She gestured for me to hand it over.

I glanced at the screen. It was a message from Henry. I read it aloud, "Jade, I feel like the happiest man in the world."

Jade hadn't expected me to read it out loud and in a teasing tone, no less. She immediately exploded, smashing the plate she was holding. "Can you stop being such a jerk for once?"

A shard from the plate cut my foot, and I felt a sharp pain. As the blood started pouring out, I looked at her and said, "Isn't this how Henry talks to you?"

Jade was queasy around blood, so she immediately leaned against the stove, panicking. "You idiot, can't you move? Don't think that getting hurt will make me care about you!"

I ignored her, grabbing the first aid kit to stop the bleeding. When I realized the cut wasn't healing quickly, I wrapped my foot and got ready to head to the hospital. But Jade insisted I drink the hangover soup first. I wasn't drunk at all, and I definitely didn't want to drink anything she made. In a hurry, the hot soup spilled all over her hand, instantly causing blisters.

She let out a soft hiss of pain but didn't curse like she usually would. "You're deliberately making this harder for me, aren't you? Fine, we'll both go to the hospital now."